Author Topic: Women in Tagbilaran City Politics  (Read 836 times)

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Women in Tagbilaran City Politics
« on: April 17, 2010, 10:29:07 AM »
By Bohol Chronicle

Aware of the importance of women representation in the Tagbilaran City Council, the Lakas-CMD-Kampi Party has the most qualified women candidates in their slate in the persons of City Councilor Anne Mariquit "Kit" Derikito-Oppus and long-serving Cogon Barangay Captain and former Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) President/ City Councilor Alberta "Betty" Co-Torralba.

Anne Mariquit "Kit" Derikito-Oppus Kit Oppus is the only woman legislator in the 10th Sangguniang Panlungsod and is known for her independent views, advocacy for transparency and good governance, and her all-out support for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and children. She is the chairperson of two (2) vital committees: the SP Committee on Public Accountability & Investigations and the SP Committee on Social Welfare, Men, Women, Children & Family Relations.

Among the major legislations she sponsored at the council are the following: a resolution to grant the salary adjustments of City Hall employees; an ordinance seeking to protect children 7 years and below; riding motorcycles on a highway; amendments to the Blue Card Ordinance; strengthening the mechanisms on the implementation of RA 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act; and a resolution on Anti-Trafficking in Persons.

The eldest child
of the former Bohol Provincial Hospital Director, Dr. Quintin Torralba Derikito, and Ma. Asuncion Sumampong Caberte, Kit first joined local politics when she assumed as Executive Assistant at the Governor's Office in 2000 during the term of Gov. Rene Relampagos. She then served as Chief of Staff of the Vice-Governor's Office in 2001 until in 2007 when some local leaders prodded her to run as City Kagawad and she won.

Personally, though, she believes that God leads her to her present position in serving her fellow Tagbilaranons. In a country where politics has become almost synonymous with corruption, Oppus has maintained her integrity and sincerity in public office. "If there's one thing politics has lost and needs to regain, it is integrity. Very few people trust politicians because of their own experiences of graft and corruption. And the only way to regain the trust and confidence of people is through a no-nonsense drive for transparency and good governance," she quipped.
         
Padayon Bol-anon will not be surprised if the party traitors in Bohol will speculate against Teodoro and Chatto's group using the presidential candidate's "wise option" resigning from national party chairmanship to focus on his nationwide campaign.

After all, the group said, the Lakas faction now proven to have slept with strangers has been deceiving the people whose trust it has otherwise sought.

At the helm of the Lakas advocacy group includes vice gubernatorial candidate Lim congressional bets ex-Gov. Rene Relampagos, Trinidad Mayor Judith Cajes and former Sec. Arthur Yap of the First, Second and Third Districts, and Rep. Roberto Cajes who is now vying for Trinidad mayor. It is also composed of mayors and leading party candidates in Bohol's 47 towns.

As early as her elementary and high school years at Holy Spirit School, Kit has already shown sterling leadership qualities. Today, she is an active officer of the HSS Alumni Association and member of the Girl Scouts of the Philippine (GSP) Bohol Council. She obtained her B. A. in Political Science at the University of the Philippines and Bachelor of Laws at the University of San Carlos, where she was class president, member of the debating team and champion in women's lawn tennis competitions. She pursued her Masters in Public Administration at Holy Name University. She used to be a director of the Videogram Regulatory Board at the Office of the President in Manila and was Vice-president for Personnel and Administration of the Protectors of Assets and Personnel Services, Inc.

Kit is married to P/SSUPT Louie T. Oppus, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1984, who has given her unreserved support to all her undertakings.

They are blessed with three children: Marie Louise, 19; Daniel Thaddeus, 14; and Gabrielle Mirin, 9 years old Alberta "Betty" Co- Torralba ,the wife of the former Tagbilaran City Mayor, Alberta "Betty" Co-Torralba is in her own right a public servant with a track record to beat as Barangay Captain of the city's largest district for almost two decades.

She first served as barangay kagawad of Cogon in the 1980s. In January, 1989 she topped among all elected kagawads and assumed as Cogon Barangay Captain and Tagbilaran ABC President thereby representing the city's districts as City Councilor until 1993. She was elected as Barangay Captain in January 1994-Aug. 2002. In her third term as Barangay Captain (2002-2007) she was again ABC President and sat at the City Council for another 5 years.

During her terms as Barangay Captain, Cogon District flourished and several basic social services and institutions were established for the residents. It was under her leadership that the barangay was able to construct a spacious and modern barangay hall with a covered court that used to serve as badminton hall and now, a basketball court. Several day care and health centers as well as basketball courts also rose in different puroks within the barangay in her leadership.

It was also under her incumbency that the Cogon Night High School was conceptualized and established. At present, the said institution is home to financially-challenged learners and former out-of-school youth.

Helping ordinary folks and dealing with people comes naturally with Betty whose father, the late Co Hok Sing, was among the pioneering leaders of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Bohol and her mother, Pastora Sarabia, coming from one of the largest clans and original residents of Tagbilaran. The better half of the former City Mayor Jose V. Torraba, she has always been in support of her husband's political career, which started out early after he was elected as kagawad of Tagbilaran at the age of 23 and later serving as City Chief Executive for several terms.

Aside from being an enduring public servant that she has become, Betty takes pride in nurturing five successful children who have all given her strength, support, and several grandchildren that she dotingly treasures. Eldest child, Miriam, is an employee at the Philippine National Bank and married to Rudy Ocio. Third daughter, Melina, runs a tour and travel agency in the city and is married to Noel Darunday Bullecer. The Torralbas' three other children are based in the United States: Madonna, a nurse married to Ramil Borja Robles; Melita, also a nurse married to Karl Hao Cuenco; and only son, Malvin Misael (more known as Atoy) is a physical therapist married to Carmelina Lagura Borja.

Betty's long experience in baranggay governance as well as her natural knack for public service will make her an invaluable member of the Tagbilaran City Council.

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Re: Women in Tagbilaran City Politics
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2010, 01:05:57 PM »
a marriage can never be perfect.. but the love can be!

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