As national chairman of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte will host its 2nd General Assembly scheduled on February 13 & 14, 2008 at the Villa Del Rey, Capitol Complex, Cadlan, Pili with some 40-45 provincial governors from all over the country expected to arrive as early as February 12, 2008 to attend and join in the assembly with no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as guest of honor.

        The theme for this assembly is “Enhancing national and local government partnership in improving environmental governance and national resources stewardship.” Thus, it is to expected that priority topics that will arise and be discussed will have something to do with the current environmental issues that continuously affect local and national governance, its impact and implication, and its adaptability and effective implementation.

        The provincial governors will start to arrive a day before the actual assembly day which is February 13 whereupon President GMA will make an appearance and meet with them by lunchtime of the same date.

        After a fruitful congregation, the governors are scheduled to head back to their provinces immediately the following day, February 14, Valentine’s Day.

        Aside from Gov. Villafuerte, the other officers of the LPP are: Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos of Misamis Occidental, president; Gov. Joel T. Reyes of Palawan, executive vice president; Gov. Deogracia Victor Savellano of Ilocos Sur, vice president for Northern Luzon; Gov. Arnan C. Panaligan of Oriental Mindoro, vice president for Southern Luzon; Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez of Antique, vice president for Visayas; Gov. Rolando Yebes of Zamboanga del Norte, vice president for Mindanao; Gov. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, secretary-general; Gov. Victor Yap of Tarlac, deputy secretary-general for Northern Luzon; Gov. Sally Lee of Sorsogon, deputy secretary-general for Southern Luzon; Gov. Orlando Fua, Jr. of Siquijor, deputy secretary-general for Visayas; Gov. Ma. Valentina Plaza of Agusan del Sur, deputy secretary-general for Mindanao; Gov. Casimiro Ynares III of Rizal, treasurer; Gov. Natalio Beltran III of Romblon, assistant treasurer; and Gov. Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental, auditor.

        It is hoped that Gov. Villafuerte’s hosting of this national assembly will further broaden the attention and deepen the commitment and support of the national government to the innovative thrusts and programs of the Camarines Sur provincial government that have significantly helped raise awareness and renew focus on the many wonders that the province has to offer the world. JMTSantelices