BONTOC, Mountain Province – “Thank you for giving me the trust and confidence to be your caretaker.” This was the statement of Kalinga Representative Allen Jesse Capuyan Mangaoang and legislative caretaker of Mountain Province during the regular Monday flag-raising ceremony. This is the first public appearance of the legislative caretaker after being invited by the provincial government on August 07, 2017.
In will be recalled that on July 5, 2017, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez appointed him as the legislative caretaker for the lone district of Mountain Province to fill up the vacancy of the term left by the late Representative Maximo Dalog.
Congressman Mangaoang is also from Mountain Province. He was born on July 21, 1959, to Jesus Puyao Mangaoang, an engineer from Balbalasang, Balbalan, Kalinga and Rose Capuyan, an educator from Sagada, Mountain Province.
Mangaoang has always been an achiever. He graduated as salutatorian from the Balbalasang Elementary School and as valedictorian from the St. Paul’s Memorial School where he finished high school.
Before he became the congressman of Kalinga province, he was first elected as vice-mayor then mayor of the municipality of Balbalan for three terms and was elected as governor for two terms. He is a first-term district representative.
In his message, Mangaoang thanked the provincial government for the invitation to join the people of the province for the regular Monday program in his capacity as the province legislative caretaker. He said that the designation was not his wish but it was the prayer of the family of the late Dalog.
Serving as the legislative caretaker, he underscored three things he would like to achieve. First is to continue the legislative agenda, plans, programs, projects, and advocacies of the late Rep. Dalog for the best interest of Mountain Province including the continuation of the medical assistance, educational assistance, infrastructure development, livelihood projects, TESDA training and all other social services for the people of the province.
Second, together with the staff of the Representative, he shall work closely with local officials and agency heads to make sure that the necessary funds for the province will not be wasted but reach the grassroots in every village, barangay and municipality.
Lastly, the congressman, called upon the government leaders and the constituents of the province to unite and continue sharing the vision of a “Gawis ay Mountain Province” as envisioned and introduced by Dalog.
“I urge all of us to forget all about political aspirations and differences for the moment, in favor of our beloved province. Let us prioritize development, rather than disunity. Let us accord each other the needed care and support, rather than introducing hindrance. Let us choose peace and reconciliation rather than hatred,” the legislator emphasized in his message asking everyone’s support to work hand in hand for a Gawis ay Mountain Province.
For the part of the provincial government, Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr. welcomed and thanked the legislative caretaker as he expressed the full support of the provincial government and the elected officials of the province in the caretaker’s pursuit to continue the programs and laid down by the late Congressman Maximo Dalog.
By Wabilyn M. Lomong-oy