ILOILO – Former provincial administrator and former Concepcion mayor, Dr. Raul Banias, returned to the Iloilo provincial capitol.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. confirmed that Banias formally assumed the role of provincial administrator on Monday, May 15.
“He has come back as provincial administrator, and we are happy [Banias] is on board with us,” said Defensor.
Banias took over from acting provincial administrator, Atty. Dennis Ventilacion, who has now returned to his post as provincial legal officer.
Banias served as a provincial administrator during the administration of former Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.
“We want him because he is our developmental provincial administrator, makabulig gid sa aton trabaho. He is the prime implementer of the programs of the province, sia ang administrator sang aton provincial government bureaucracy,” said Defensor.
The governor believed that Banias’ experience as a previous provincial administrator and former local chief executive of Concepcion would help in the efficient implementation of the provincial government’s programs.
Banias stepped down as provincial administrator in November 2018 to run for mayor of Concepcion. He won and sought re-election during the May 2022 elections but lost to former vice mayor and now Mayor Milliard Villanueva.
Meanwhile, Banias is looking forward to achieving the development mantra of the Defensor administration, “Movement for Resurgent, Progressive, Globally Competitive and Resilient” or “MoReProGRes”.
“MoReProGRes” has the following specific goals:
* to increase investments and employment opportunities
* to attain food security
* to provide accessible health and social services
* to promote public safety
* to protect and manage the resources and assets of the province
* to provide effective, efficient and transparent government administrative service.
On his first day in office, he attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the P12-million two-storey school-based multi-purpose teen center building in Iloilo National High School./PN
