CEBU CITY – The newly appointed Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) vowed to work closely with local government officials in the three Visayan regions.

Terence Calatrava said OPAV will provide a “backbone support structure in the implementation of the Visayas-specific socio-economic agenda” of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“The projects and programs of the President, I will make sure that it will reach the grassroots. That’s why we were appointed here so that his programs will reach the grassroots,” Calatrava said in a press briefing on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
To achieve his goal, Calatrava, 45, said he will reach out to the governors and mayors in the Eastern, Central, and Western Visayas.
Aside from ensuring the implementation of the government’s programs, Calatrava said he will help address problems hounding provinces in the Visayas.
“We will visit the three Visayan regions to meet the 16 governors and mayors. I will provide them a listening ear to get their concerns and needs. Different provinces so there will be different concerns,” Calatrava said.
Calatrava noted that if needed, he will continue the projects that his predecessor, Michael Dino, initiated such as housing programs and the Malasakit Center.
“They have their successes, we will try to do better,” he said. “We will check where did their projects stop and we will try to continue if possible.”
Calatrava said he is not new to public service as he served as regional coordinator of Tingog Party-list for five years.
His wife is the younger sister of Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez, who is the spouse of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The House Speaker is a cousin of the President.
Calatrava said he did not expect that the President will appoint him as OPAV Secretary but emphasized that family affiliation has nothing to do with his appointment. “As far as I know, the President chooses his people based on merits,” said Calatrava.
Calatrava, a businessman who hails from Cebu, said he will hold office in Mandaue City.