| "A
man of mission... 26 years of improving the barangays for
progress” (Rang-ay ti Away). This is a simple phrase
that would best describe Governor Deogracias Victor Savellano
in his more than two decades of public service.
DV,
as he is fondly called, is the only son of the brood of five
of the late former COMELEC Commissioner Victorino Ancheta
Savellano and Virginia Barbers Savellano of Cabugao, Ilocos
Sur. He himself has five children.
Young DV dreamt of becoming a businessman when he finished
his degree in Economics at the University of the Philippines.
After graduating in 1981, he became the youngest vice mayor
in the Philippines, which signaled his debut into politics.
He attributes his political career to his family who were
then into public service. He later went to the United States
for his Masters in International Business Administration (MIBA)
at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. After
completing his studies abroad, he expanded their family banking
business, which he still maintains until now.
In
1987, during the height of the campaign, members of the New
People’s Army held him captive. This incident stirred
the sympathy and raised the confidence of the Ilocos Sur constituents
in DV, which propelled him to victory and eventually emerge
as the number one Sanggunian Panlalawigan member of Ilocos
Sur.
Due to the untimely death of Gov. Evaristo “Titong”
Singson on December 25, 1988, he assumed the vice gubernatorial
seat, and on the succeeding election in 1992, he was elected
as vice-governor – a mandate he carried on for four
terms. He was then one of the youngest legislators in the
country.
During his incumbency as vice-governor (December 1988 to 1992,
then from July 2001 to June 2007), he authored numerous legislations
on various development concerns but gave more focus on tourism
and trade because he is confident that with the existing resources
and potentials of this heritage province, Ilocos Sur will
eventually emerge as a prime tourist destination in the Philippines.
He also became chairman of the League of Vice Governors of
the Philippines and initiated the establishment of the LVGP
office.
In 2001, he was elected as Governor of Ilocos Sur and spearheaded
the delivery of various barangay services (DVBS) programs.
He advocated for community participation to harness development
in the countryside. A hands-on and work-oriented governor
that he is, he elicits feedbacks from the people and key development
players to enable him to address their needs and to determine
which services the provincial government should deliver.
When
he again assumed the highest responsibility in the province
on July 2007, Governor DV aims to sustain the gains achieved
during the previous administrations and to open opportunities
for advancement and economic prosperity for Ilocos Sur to
soar high.
He is also currently the vice president for Luzon of the League
of Provinces of the Philippines and sits in the National Executive
Board as regional chairman for the Ilocos Region.
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