News update Dy takes oath of office as Isabela governor

ILAGAN, Isabela — Faustino “Bojie" Dy III on Wednesday took his oath of office as governor of the province, formalizing the return of the Dy political clan in the provincial capitol.

Dy’s closest rival in the May 10 elections, former Isabela governor Grace Padaca, did not attend the oath-taking. She was reportedly in Manila attending the inauguration of President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III.

Dy and Vice Governor Rodolfo Albano III took their oaths of office before Regional Trial Court-Cauayan City executive judge Raymundo Aumentado.

Dy later presided the induction into office of three out of the province’s four congressmen: Rodolfo Albano Jr. (1st District), Ana Cristina Go (2nd District) and Napoleon Dy (3rd District).

Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao (4th District) was a no-show at the oath-taking as he was reportedly also in Manila for Aquino’s inauguration.

The new governor also administered the oath of the elected mayors and board members while the new vice governor presided the oath-taking of vice mayors and town councilors in the province.

Dy said that just like Padaca, his administration will go after big time illegal loggers in the province. His marching order to the provincial board was to review the existing logging concessionaires in Dinapigue town where illegal logging activities are allegedly rampant.

He also said he will adopt a “no chainsaw" policy to prevent illegal tree-cutting activities, earning applause from about 5,000 government leaders and residents who attended the program.

Dumping plans for carbon mining, the new governor vowed to push for a renewable energy program with solar and wind energies as possible sources of electricity. He also promised to form a task force for mini-hydro projects in towns in need of the facilities.

In education, he pushed for at least a one-college-graduate-per-family scheme with the scholarship program of the provincial government and pledged to release funds for construction of more classrooms.

He said he will create a Bantay Ani task force to monitor and address the urgent problems of farmers in the province.

“We must be prepared to face and resolve the problems long before they come. We must be willing to accept new innovations that could accelerate our agricultural productivity," he said. - KBK