Public officials of Mindoro Province are in Cebu

Some 130 elected public officials of Mindoro Province are in Cebu to study and adopt some of its programs.

Mindoro Vice Governor Humerlito Atienza Dolor, one of officials who are in Cebu for a three-day capacity building training, said they have chosen Cebu as one of their models.

During their visit to Capitol Thursday, the Mindoro officials were shown Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia's 12-point agenda.

Dolor, said he has been following the governor's programs since 2008 when he first visited Cebu as chairman of the Provincial Board Members' League.

He said if the governor seeks a post in the Senate, he will campaign for her.

The officials from Mindoro were not able to meet with the governor because she was in Sogod town for the inauguration of some projects.

Among the governor's programs they wanted to follow are the senior citizen's program, disaster risk reduction and mangrove planting.

Dolor said their province is an emerging tourist destination in Luzon, and they can learn a lot from Cebu.

They also aim to be a center of investment in their region, just like Cebu.

Officials from the province of Iloilo also visited Capitol recently, and the governor's program was also shown to them.

The Cebu Provincial Government's program against insurgency was also replicated by Bukidnon Province.

Bukidnon Gov. Alex Calingasan adopted the social integration program of Cebu province that gives rebels a chance to return to the fold of the law.

Capitol would also give financial assistance to those who avail of the program.

In 2006, the governor declared an all-out war against insurgency, while conceptualizing a comprehensive package of services for rebel returnees.

Calingasan said more than 200 rebels have surrendered to the government since they started the program in their own province last year.