LINGAYEN–Not too fast, Sir.

This is what Provincial Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. was telling Gov. Amado Espino Jr. on his appointment of Rafael Baraan as provincial administrator of Pangasinan.

Bince, who is proving to be the lead voice of the opposition in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, vowed to oppose the appointment of Baraan, former Dagupan City administrator, when it is brought before the provincial board for confirmation, due to his residency.

Bince has raised the fact that Baraan is a resident of Dagupan, a chartered city that is independent of Pangasinan and whose electorate do not vote for provincial governor, vice governor and board members.

“I would like to know where Mr. Baraan’s loyalty will be, whether it is going to be to Dagupan or Pangasinan,” said Bince.

Baraan has been a resident and a registered voter of Dagupan having served as city administrator of Dagupan for six years ending June 30, 2007. Prior to this, he was city administrator from 1992 to 1995 during the first term of Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr.

Bince said he recognizes that the appointment of a provincial administrator is a prerogative of the governor because their positions are co-terminus, but the appointee, he said, must first meet the qualification requirements set forth in the Local Government Code.

The Local Government Code states that no person shall be appointed Provincial Administrator unless he or she is a citizen of the Philippines and a resident of the Local Government Unit where he will serve.

Interviewed by newsmen after his oath-taking, Bince admitted that Gov. Espino personally asked him to support the confirmation of Baraan when his appointment reaches the provincial board.

All appointees of the governor classified as department heads will have to be confirmed, by the provincial board.

“If we don’t confirm then the governor will have to replace his appointee,” Bince said.

Gov. Espino acknowledged that the issues raised by Bince were valid legal issues which he said he will study thoroughly although Bince said that Baraan told him that he can always transfer his residence to Lingayen.

But Bince concedes that as far as competence and qualifications are concerned, Baraan is very much qualified to become a provincial administrator of Pangasinan.

Bince will head the Blue Ribbon committee that is tasked to investigate malfeasance of provincial as well as city and municipal officials. —LM

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