Gov. Malanyaon opens new basilica-white house-inspired Davao Oriental capitol

By FERDINAND ZUASOLA

CITY OF MATI, DAVAO ORIENTAL— Clad in white and blue dress, the ever amiable chief executive of Davao Oriental, Gov. Corazon Malanyaon, exudes extreme happiness as she leads the historic transfer of employees of the provincial government to its modern three-storey Capitol that was patterned after the world-famous architectures, the White House and the Saint Peter’s Basilica.

“We are all dressed up for this very special, historic moment. I am so excited, all of us are so excited to enter the new Capitol,” says Gov. Malanyaon who characteristically speaks with deep passion as she was being surrounded by hundreds of Capitol employees in the ground floor of the three-storey edifice.

With the new Capitol equipped with modern office equipment and fabulous paintings, Gov. Malanyaon urged fellow provincial government officials and employees to improve even more their services to the people.

“It doesn’t look like the traditional government offices. The setting here is very much like that of the corporate world. Surely, this will be one of the best tourism landmarks of Davao Oriental,” says Juancho Serrano, the provincial tourism officer of Davao Oriental.

Interestingly, however, Gov. Malanyaon has invited her predecessor, former Gov. Maria Elena Palma Gil, to the opening ceremony citing the fact that the former governor, whom she defeated in the 2007 gubernatorial race, also played an important role in the construction of the new Capitol. It was during former Gov. Palma Gil’s administration when the edifice was first constructed. When Gov. Malanyaon assumed governorship in 2007 with an overwhelming mandate, she pursued the completion of the edifice in a bid to introduce a new and “unifying brand of politics” in Davao Oriental that advocates for unity and total reconciliation among political players in the province.

For her part, former Gov. Palma Gil have expressed her “deepest gratitude” to Gov. Malanyaon for recognizing her efforts and achievements and vowed to reciprocate the goodwill gesture of her erstwhile political nemesis by extending her all-out support to Gov. Malanyaon’s development agenda for the province.

“Cora, salamatay gayud. This is our dream. This will be our legacy to the whole people of Davao Oriental,” says former Gov. Palma Gil during her speech before hundreds of Capitol employees here She has also extended a hand of reconciliation to erstwhile political rival, Thelma Almario, whom she has also credited for the construction of the new Capitol.

“I hope and pray that this will set a precedent for our future leaders in the province because if we continue to pursue a divisive brand of politics, all our best efforts will just be put to naught. If we continue to espouse a peaceful and unifying brand of politics, we will be able to deliver the right services to the people and ultimately, we will be able to realize our beautiful dreams for Davao Oriental,” says Gov. Malanyaon.

VERY COMFY OFFICES

Capitol workers are one in saying that their new offices are “very comfortable” and conducive to a high work productivity. “It’s so nice, so comfortable,” says employee Alicia Tabonda of the Provincial Administrator’s Office. “Everything is in order. It relaxes the mind especially when you’ve got lots of works piled up,” says another Capitol worker Siria Lad.

The new Capitol has also fascinated the probing minds of local media who are most of the time critical to local leaders. “Many people in other local government units were questioning their officials on how they spent their budget given the virtual absence of government programs and projects in their localities. But here in the Davao Oriental, we are overwhelmed with many great development projects and the people wondered and ask: How was she (Gov. Malanyaon) able to do all these great things and where did she (Gov. Malanyaon) get the amount to fund all these many big projects when we all know that the provincial government do not have a luxury fund? Clearly, this chief executive of Davao Oriental is the most efficient and most innovative leader we ever have. Gov. Malanyaon is truly God’s greatest gift to the people of Davao Oriental. She was able to accomplish many great projects like this one, the new Capitol,  despite scarce government resources,” says Raul Antupuesto, president of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas in Davao Oriental.

“This is the result of choosing a right leader, leader with a strong sense of decency and a sense of mission in making a positive difference to the lives of her people. Me and my fellow crusading journalists in the province can only hope that this kind of politics can be replicated in other places. Only then can the people’s widespread cynical distrust of politicians can change,” says Antupuesto.