| Governor
Daisy P. Avance Fuentes, “Inday Daisy” as close
relatives and friends call her, is the 5th governor of the
Province of South Cotabato.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science
from the Central Philippine University in Iloilo City. While
studying law at Central Philippine University in Iloilo City,
she actually represented the College of Law in beauty pageants,
intercollegiate debates and writing tilts. She was later awarded
as Best Alumna by the College of Law and Centralian Distinguished
Award by the CPU Alumni Association.
After
graduation in 1984, she went back to her home province South
Cotabato to begin her law practice.
In 1988, she was elected as the senior member of the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan of the then undivided South Cotabato. (Sarangani
was then still a part of the province).
Her
outstanding performance as a local legislator propelled her
to win a seat in the House of Representatives via the province’s
second congressional district in 1992. While in congress,
she was the vice chair of the Committee on Justice, and in
1995, she became assistant minority leader.
From
1998 to 2001, she held the prestigious post of Deputy Speaker
of the House of Representatives.
While in Congress, she served as the chairperson for the Center
for Legislative Development and the Mindanao Legislators Association.
The people of South Cotabato gave her a fresh mandate, by
giving her an overwhelming support in 2001, as the new provincial
governor.
From
day one, she has introduced many innovations and major changes
in governance.
Among
her major accomplishments are in infrastructure development
– the ProTech Center, the Finance Building, the Pay-Wing
of the Provincial Hospital, farm-to-market roads, concrete
bridges, school building, day care and health centers, among
others. She likewise supported and strengthened the Philippine
National Police and the Philippine Army in their campaign
against the proliferation of illegal drugs, criminalities
and acts of terrorism. Through such initiative, a guerilla
front of the New People’s Army in the province was neutralized.
That experience paved the way for the creation of a convergence
model, the Development Alternative Framework or Project DAF.
At
the home front, she introduced the use of the computerized
identification system and a new formula for the placement
or hiring and in the promotion of the right persons to the
right positions.
Her international speaking stints, notably on subjects close
to her heart, brought her to Bangkok, Thailand where she shared
her views on “The Violence Against Women” at the
prestigious Harvard University in the United States on “Leaders
in Development.” She also had the opportunity to speak
at the “Parliamentarians for Global Action” in
New York, and at the 102nd IPU Conference in Berlin, Germany.
She also shared her views on women issues in various conferences
in Tokyo, Washington and Florida, and in Chile.
She authored a number of publications on the role of women
in development and women in the workplace issues.
Through the years, Gov Daisy has touched people’s lives
and ultimately made a difference, not only in the province
but in the regional and national scenes as well.
Gov. Fuentes is married to Wilfredo C. Fuentes, with whom
she bore two sons, Vance and Carl.
|
.gif)
