Vice Governor Isidro Zayco  took his oath as the 33rd governor of Negros Occidental yesterday, vowing to continue the programs Gov. Joseph Marañon had started for the province.Zayco took his oath before Judge Renato Muñez of the Regional Trial Court of Cadiz City at the Governor’s Office at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City at 8:14 a.m.

Board Member Emilio Yulo III took his oath as vice governor before Muñez at 10 a.m.

Zayco said he will retain Jose Ma. Valencia as chief of staff and Provincial Legal Officer, Enrique Pinongan as Provincial Administrator, and the rest of the governor’s staff.

“I will retain the governor’s entire staff, the status quo will remain,” he said.

The Negros Sangguniang Panlungsod held a special session yesterday afternoon and passed a resolution expressing the condolences of the people of Negros Occidental to the family of the governor. The SP also approved the appointment of Valencia and Pinongan to their posts under the new governor, Yulo said.

Since their positions were co-terminus with Gov. Marañon, their re-appointments under Zayco needed to be concurred by the SP to prevent a hiatus in the running of the provincial government, Yulo explained.

Zayco said Marañon was a low key and simple man who achieved a lot for Negros Occidental.

Even from his sickbed he continued to give instructions on what to do about ongoing projects, Zayco said.

Yulo said “We have great shoes to fill, we know what our governor has done in the last seven years.”

“We know that a huge responsibility is on our shoulders, the legacy of the governor will be our guiding light, particularly the programs the governor instructed us to continue. We hope we can call on the support of each and every Negrense,” Yulo said.

The vacancy in the provincial board with Yulo’s moving up to vice governor will have to be filled with an appointee from the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, Zayco said. This is because Yulo is a member of KAMPI, he explained.

Marañon passed away 6:40 p.m. Thursday after he succumbed to cardio pulmonary arrest at his residence at Santa Clara Subdivision in Bacolod City.

Zayco directed all mayors to fly the Philippine flags at half-mast in their towns and cities starting yesterday until the day of Marañon’s interment.

Former Gov. Daniel Lacson Jr. said “Gov. Joseph delivered very well on his promise and has raised the bar of performance not only in Negros Occidental, but for the rest of the country.  He was everybody’s friend and loyal ally. He is reaping his reward now in Heaven. We will all miss him.”

Former Gov. Rafael Coscolluela said “319 was the quintessential politician of the old school. Ma-alwan, great friend but formidable foe, seasoned but sensitive, and generous to a fault. He will be sorely missed. My sincere condolences to his bereaved family.”

Former Rep. Carlos Cojuangco (Neg. Occ., 4th District) said Marañon “had a very colorful life and a long and distinguished political career, saving the best for last by leading us in the last seven years, truly uniting the province politically.”

“In the end, I know he was ready to meet his creator as he humbly accepted, through his illness,  the Lord as his Savior. Isn’t that a great way to go? By the grace of God, he led ‘the good fight and finished the race.’ God bless you, 3-1-9!” Cojuangco said.

Meanwhile, Acting Bacolod Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson issued Executive Order No. 6, Series of 2008, giving honor and recognition to Marañon for his significant contributions to Bacolod City and ordering the flying of the flag at a half-mast in mourning of his death.

The resolution said Marañon was an institution and a well-loved and respected political and civic figure in Bacolod City during his tenure as governor of Negros Occidental from year 2001 to 2008. 

His contributions to the betterment of Bacolod and Negros Occidental will forever be etched in our minds, the resolution said.*CPG