Piñol served as governor for three terms before trading his post with his three-term vice governor now Governor Jesus Sacdalan.
"I felt like a grade one pupil this morning, on his way to his first day in school, on the way to meet his grade one teacher for the first time," Vice Governor Piñol said.
"I am just as excited to serve as your vice governor, as I was excited to serve as your governor before," he added.
Governor Sacdalan was meanwhile the guest of honor during the SP's inaugural session Tuesday where he emphasized his administration's commitment to pursue the development agenda outlined in the platform of governance he presented to the people of the province in the last elections.
"We want to see our province continuously climbing up the ladder as one of the country's most progressive," Sacdalan said.
"More than that, we want to see a more empowered people - economically, educationally, and health-wise," he added.
Vice Governor Piñol meanwhile assured the governor that they are one in building a common vision for the province. He also assured Sacdalan that just as he (Sacdalan) had served him well as vice governor would he (Piñol) serve him as well or even better.
"Let me assure you that this is a partnership built on a common vision. You have served me well as my Vice Governor for the past nine years. I will also serve you well as your Vice Governor," Piñol said.
The Vice Governor also called on the provincial board members to set aside the personal hurt caused by the last elections and work together with him and the Governor for the good of the people.
"We may not like each other's face that much, we may not be dreaming of each other, but certainly we are dreaming of the same dreams that our people dream; and that is what is most important. Our personal feelings should have to take the back seat in favor of the interests of our people," Piñol said.
Among the first actions taken by the 12th SP were the passing of the House Rules and the formation of the different legislative committees.
The Office of the Governor meanwhile will keep pursuing their "Vision: Cotabato 100" program where the platform of governance identifies key interventions aimed at bringing North Cotabato further up the development ladder.
Among the key targets identified in the development agenda are full coverage of all indigent families in the province in the Cotabato Health Insurance Program (Chip), the establishment of a primary hospital in each of the nine municipalities where there is still no government hospital, an expanded college scholarship program for poor but deserving high school graduates, a strengthened livestock based livelihood program in tandem with the ongoing high-value crops program of the Provincial Government, and the creation of 50,000 new jobs in the province.
Under the previous administration, the province jumped from the 5th poorest in the country in 1998 to number 39 in the list of provinces with the least poverty incidence two years ago.
