Pooten electedLMP-MP president

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Besao mayor Wellington Pooten was elected president of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP)-Mountain Province Chapter in an election held August 20 at here at the provincial capitol.

Pooten won over Sadanga mayor Gabino Gangangan who later was elected as vice president.

The other officers are: secretary, Pascual Sacgaca, Bontoc; treasurer; Edwardo Latawan Jr, (Sagada); auditor, Edmundo Sidchayao (Barlig); public relations officer, Anthony Wooden (Tadian) and business manager, Donato Danglose, Sabangan.

Immediately after the election the officers were sworn into office by the most senior mayor Simon Lacwasan of Bauko.

In his message, Pooten thanked the members for giving him the trust and confidence as president of the chapter.

He requested them to give their full support for the good of the organization and the province.

The election and oath taking ceremony were witnessed by outgoing LMP president Franklin Odsey, Local Government provincial director Rufina Fegcan and Jeanlee Pedrialva from LMP national office.

According to Odsey who presided over the meeting, he said there are three major programs of LMP which are the One-Town, One Scholar, ambulance grant with 60:40 counterpart scheme and computerization (e-governance) of municipal/city transactions.

The League of Municipalities in the Philippines was created by virtue of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.

Its mission is “to enable members to reinvent their advocacy and mobilization strategies and delivery of social, economic and environmental services to benefit their constituents and the future generation.”

Meanwhile, Norma Enriqueta Rafael of Paracelis was elected president of the Vice Mayors’ League of Mountain Province that was conducted on August 19.

Other officers of the chapter are: vice president- William Aspilan, Bontoc; secretary-Richard Yoodng, Sagada; treasurer-Laurence Atipen, Tadian; auditor-Rodolfo Liwanen, Natonin; and press relations officer- Rodolfo Patnaan, Bauko. Jr.

The board of directors is composed of Pio Lupasan-Barlig, Joseph Apopot-Sadanga, Harry Baliaga-Besao and Joseph Bernardez of Sabangan.-- Francis B. Degay