Former Senator and Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP) senatorial candidate Bam Aquino paid a courtesy visit to Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia today (Friday), lauding the governor for her recent recognition as “Outstanding Public Servant of the Year.”
During their meeting, the two discussed various programs of the provincial government, including Cebu’s upcoming initiative to sell ₱20 rice starting next week.
Aquino lauded the move and expressed his full support for the program, which will be implemented using a modern QR code system for smoother transactions.
If elected to the Senate, the former Senator also committed to address issues raised by Gov. Garcia—particularly the need to strengthen the autonomy of local government units (LGUs) in implementing their own projects, especially under public-private partnership (PPP) schemes. Cebu Province has been doing local PPPs since 2012.
Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia and former Senator Bam Aquino discuss key Cebu matters in his courtesy visit.
Aquino also promised to look into the governor’s concerns regarding Cebu Technological University (CTU) and its challenges in securing a Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Gov. Garcia, who intervened on behalf of the students, said some of them were unable to graduate due to sudden COPC requirements, which she said may not be legally justified.
“Masaya akong marinig ang mga naging programa at mga susunod pang mga programa para sa ikauunlad ng bawat pamilyang Cebuano, partikular sa edukasyon, imprastraktura, at pagsisigurong ang mga programa ng gobyerno ay umaabot sa ating mga kababayan,” Aquino said on Facebook.
“Daghang salamat for your leadership, Gov. Gwen, at makakaasa kayo na sa pagbabalik natin sa Senado, kasama natin ang mga Cebuano sa pagsulong ng mas maunlad na Pilipinas na may mas malawak na Libreng Kolehiyo at Siguradong Trabaho!” he added.
