Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Uy assumes Lakas chair in Compostela Valley
COMPOSTELA Valley Governor Arturo "Chiongkee" Uy formally assumes his post as provincial chair of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) after former Davao del Norte governor Prospero Amatong resigned from the post last month.
In a ceremony in Nabunturan on Monday, attended by municipal mayors and congressmen of the province, Uy took his oath before Lakas-CMD regional chair and Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario.
Also appointed as part of the party's provincial directorate were Representative Rommel Amatong as vice chair; Board Member Ma. Carmen Apsay as secretary general; Vice Governor Ramil Gentugaya as treasurer; and Representative Manuel Zamora, Mayors Reynaldo Castillo, Lorenzo Balbin Jr., Macario Jumol, and Reynaldo Navarro as chair of the various committees.
The 78-year-old Amatong is anointed as Lakas-CMD's chair-emeritus for the province.
In his acceptance speech, Uy expressed gratitude to Amatong for "passing on the torch" to him.
He said the new post would surely be an added challenge to him, but vowed he would weather all the challenges if he has the support of all party members.
Uy said he envisions Compostela Valley Lakas-CMD to be a political party that would espouse unity among all political leaders in the province, regardless of political affiliations. He vowed that "no single party-mate will be left behind come 2010."
First order of the day as Lakas chair, Uy said, is for all of them ComValeños to help in addressing the food and fuel crisis facing the country.
"We have already constructed the bridge of unity here in Comval, now let us walk across that bridge of unity together," Uy told his partymates.
Among the attendees in the said event was Monkayo Mayor Manuel Brillantes Jr. who used to be a staunch political opponent of the governor until Uy extended his hand of friendship, which the mayor gladly accepted. (BOT)
