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Monday, October 10, 2005
Palace to consider former guv as agri chief
Malacañang Palace is reportedly considering appointing former South Cotabato governor Hilario de Pedro III as secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes said the former governor is reportedly emerging as a top choice for the post that is currently held in an acting capacity by Undersecretary Nasser Pangandaman.
"If this materializes, it would be one of the biggest accomplishments of our province. We are supporting his appointment because we know he is very much capable for the position," Fuentes said.
Fuentes, who also chairs the Regional Development Council of Region 12 or Soccsksargen Region, said appointment of De Pedro would augur well for the entire Region, as it will have a direct link to the Arroyo cabinet.
The South Cotabato provincial board unanimously passed a resolution last Tuesday strongly endorsing Malacañang's appointment of de Pedro to the top DAR post.
The city council of Koronadal is also set to pass a similar resolution, which it plans to submit to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who would keynote the 6th Regional Cooperative Summit in Koronadal City on Friday.
"We believe that the former governor possesses the required qualification, experience, education and administrative skills and acumen that will make him an excellent DAR secretary," said Provincial Board member Dardanilo Dar, who authored the resolution.
De Pedro confirmed that he is being considered by Malacañang to be the next DAR chief but stressed that no decision has been made yet.
"I am overwhelmed by the display of support. I hope that this will materialize," De Pedro said in a radio interview.
De Pedro, a staunch ally of Arroyo, served as provincial governor for three straight terms from 1992 to 2001.
De Pedro represented the province's second district in the House of Representatives from 1987 to 1991. He was the principal co-author of the Local Government Code of 1991.
De Pedro, a lawyer, was appointed as acting mayor of the then municipality of Koronadal after the 1986 Edsa Revolution. (Allen V. Estabillo)
(October 10, 2005 issue)
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