Agustin Ramon “Tuting” Miciano Perdices made history Wednesday by assuming the governorship of the Province of Negros Oriental after serving as Vice-Governor for only five minutes. {{more}}
Perdices, 75, who ran and won a tight three-way race for Vice-Governor despite the absence of support from any incumbent elected official, succeeded the governorship to fill the vacancy in the governorship created by the death of reelected Gov. Emilio Macias II, who died of liver cancer last June 13.
Senior Board Member Roel Degamo also succeeded Perdices as Vice-Governor.
“I will never forget the reality that it was my good friend, incumbent Gov. Emilio Macias II, who was elected to office. I am only filling in for his unexpired term,” Perdices said in his extemporaneous address after he took his oath before Executive Judge Fe Lualhati Bustamante.
“For me, though his body died, his spirit lives on,” Perdices said.
Perdices said he was already very happy after being elected as vice governor of the province, but did not know God’s plans for him that eventually placed him in the highest position of the province.
He also said he will carry out plans and programs of the late governor that deserve to be implemented. “There has to be a continuity of good programs. I have looked at [Macias’] programs and I see that they are for the good of the province,” Perdices said.
Perdices said he will continue to provide more classrooms and teachers for the children, expand the delivery of health services, not only in the provincial hospital, but also in district hospitals, and community primary hospitals all over the province.
In agriculture, Perdices also promised to pursue organic farming, among others.
He said he has no specific programs to pursue yet, adding that it all depends on funding allocations.
But Perdices made it clear that he will focus first on how to elevate the living conditions of Negrenses, especially in poverty-stricken areas.
He said the provincial government should come out with programs that will uplift the living conditions of the people, not through dole-outs but with a helping hand.
Perdices is seeking the advice of two former governors, Rep. George Arnaiz (Neg. Or., 2nd District) and Rep. Herminio Teves (3rd District), as well as the support of the vice governor, members of the provincial board and local government units to propel the province to greater heights.
“I don’t find any problem working with different political parties in the province because I’m not a member of any political party,” he said, adding that he is a team player, whose style of governance is consultative and participatory.
Also taking their oath of office in ceremonies at the Negros Oriental Convention Center were Reps. George Arnaiz and Henry Pryde Teves, provincial board members of the three districts and officials of the cities of Tanjay and Guihulngan and the municipalities of Sta. Catalina and Valencia.
Among Perdices’ first acts was to extend the Province’s Job Order (casual) employees by 60 days to give him time to evaluate their performance. Asked on the number of Job Order workers at the Province, Acting Provincial Administrator Paul Honculada said they still do not have a specific figure. “We’re like groping for the light switch as we enter a dark room,” he said.