Vice Mayors hold national confab here

By Jose B. Perez, Editor NAGA CITY --- Vice Mayor and Presidential son Paolo Duterte of Davao City leads other vice mayors from all over the country for the 2nd Quarter National Executive Board Meeting that also serves as a 3-day nationwide convention of the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines (VMLP) that formally opened yesterday (June 21) at the Capitol Convention Center in nearby Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur, about 5km from here. Provincial tours around the deer farm in Ocampo, Camarines Sur and at the Water Sports Complex within the Capitol grounds preceded the opening program that started at noon at the convention center with acknowledgement of guests and provincial officials by Calabanga (Camarines Sur) Vice Mayor Ramoncito Robles, who also serves as President and Chairman of both the Bicol and Camarines Sur chapters of the VMLP. Camarines Sur Gov. Miguel Luiz ‘Migz’ Villaguerte then gave an inspirational message, followed by special message by Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund ‘LRay’ Villafuerte. The first day wound up with fellowship and party night at the Capitol Complex. VM Robles expressed elation over the big attendance with delegates coming all the way from Manila and other parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. He said the 560-plus delegates are expected to balloon to as much as 700 as more participants continue to come to what is dubbed as “VMLP goes to Camarines Sur.” He said the guests are billeted in the various hotels in the city and at the watersports complex in nearby Pili, Camarines Sur. Among the delegates are known Bicolano vice mayors who have earned the position elsewhere, such as Jose Fabian Cadiz of Marikina City and Luis Bustamante, a native of Magarao, Camarines who has been vice mayor of Las Piñas City for several terms already. Also coming or had already arrived here are Joy Belmonte, the Quezon City vice mayor daughter of former House Speaker Sonny Belmonte; Anabel Estrada, the San Juan vice mayor daughter of detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, and many others. Robles said the event will also launch the league’s Academy of Presiding Officers, wherein vice-mayors who have not completed their regular schooling will undergo crash programs that will be considered as completion of their educational requirements. The modules for this crash program will be conducted by professors and experts from UP. Delegates to the national gathering will also be oriented to such issues as “Federalism 101” and techniques on Parliamentary Procedures, and enactment of local laws that vice mayors as lawmakers’ presiding officers should competently practice and observe. The second day of the executive board meeting will be held at Villa Caceres Hotel here with welcome remarks by Naga City Vice Mayor Nelson Legacion before the start of the plenary sessions. At 7:00 p.m. will be the VMLP Camarines Sur Chapter’s Night, this time to be held at The Tent of the Avenue Plaza Hotel. VM Robles as host will deliver the welcome remarks while VMLP National President VM Donnabel Joy F. Mejia of Davao del Sur will give a message. Robles said movie stars, bands, and artists from Manila, led by Vina Morales, Ian Veneracion and Kathryn Bernardo, among others, will provide special performances and entertainment during the cocktails and party night. Check out and farewell will be on Friday, June 22. jbp