Patrick Alain Azanza, 7th president of Catanduanes State University, has been sworn in as the 13th governor of the island province of Catanduanes.
He took oath of office Monday June 30 from Ricardo Tevar, the barangay captain of JMA Tucao, one of the most remote island barrios located in San Miguel,Catanduanes.
Azanza succeeds Joseph Chua Cua who has served for a total of three terms.
The new governor has designated every Tuesday of the week as People’s Day. “That day is when the governor can see islanders without making any appointment and going through bureaucratic red tape. For the rest of the week, I shall be making the rounds to various communities, reaching out to the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas of the province.”
He said that would be part of his open-door policy that allows each and every Catandunganon direct access to the Governor’s Office: “We now open the Capitol to everyone especially the poorest of the poor.”
During his university presidency, Azanza, a graduate of MA Sociology, PhD in Educational Administration, and Juris Doctor (JD) at University of the Philippines, he made ripples in the island in his first 100 days. He did management audit and immediately identified areas that needed urgent reforms.
To top it all, he uncovered corrupt practices that resulted in many infrastructure projects in the university being abandoned.
For another, there was widespread injustice that caused dissatisfaction among employees and faculty members. Students especially those coming from poor families were neglected and with no emocratized access to online learning.
As the new governor of Catanduanes, he wants transparency, integrity and accountability to be the same hallmark of the new era governance in the island.
While the turnover of former Virac Mayor Sammy Laynes to the new mayor Sinforoso Sarmiento was smooth with solemn turnover speeches, Azanza was not given the courtesy of getting best wishes from former governor Cua who did not show up in the turnover ceremony.
While the turnover in the capital town was a class act, Azanza found the former governor’s absence a big disappointment.
“I had to ‘receive’ the submitted documents subject to audit and confirmation of the veracity and completeness by my team. The turnover was just done by an impromptu designated staff who was called by the emcee because in the program it was supposed to be the outgoing governor who was supposed to do that,” Azanza reported.
When he entered the mayor’s office, he found out there were no working computers with all files erased and with some parts like connecting cords were missing and the filing cabinets were empty. Office supplies were not available — no bond paper, no ball pen, not even a soap in the governor’s toilet. “That means, I will have to start from zero as I take over. Experienced staff or civil servants were not around to orient the incoming staff and officials at the Governor’s Office. The staff who talked to me did not even know how many total vehicles the provincial government owns, and did not have copies of the titles of government lands, and no ready consolidated inventory of the actual distribution of assets per office. Which means we have to start from zero.”
The new governor posted on FB: “I assure you, my fellow kababayans, I will not do this to my future successor.”
In his message to the islanders, Azanza promised a new era of governance in the province. “As your governor, I pledge to stand for the truth, to honor our heritage, and to ensure that our story is told accurately and with pride. We will not let our history be distorted or forgotten. We will remember the struggles, the sacrifices,and the triumphs that have brought us to where we are today. We have a daunting task ahead. We need to overcome the shackles of dynasty, monopoly and widespread poverty in our island.”
Azanza said his platform for transformation, is built on several key pillars. “First, we will prioritize serving the poor and the most in need. We will ensure that our programs and services are designed to uplift and empower those who have been left behind. We will also prioritize healthcare which means bringing annual X-ray and laboratory check-ups to the barangay and municipal level and providing free maintenance medicine to the barangay level.”
Azanza said modernizing the island is another priority. “We have to do it in a sustainable manner. We will harness the power of renewable energy, protect our environment, and promote eco-tourism. We will make sure that our development is inclusive, equitable, and environmentally responsible. We will attract investments, support local businesses, and create opportunities for economic growth for all the municipalities and the whole island province.”
The new governor also pointed out the province will open the island economy to all investors and establish economic zones in partnership with the Catanduanes State University (CatSU). This will create new opportunities for our people, drive innovation, and stimulate economic growth. “We have already shown that we can make a difference by lowering the prices of gasoline. Now, we are working to increase the price of abaca and copra per kilo, ensuring that our farmers get a fair deal for their hard work.
We will also support our fisherfolks, ensuring that they have the resources and support they need to thrive.We will protect our marine resources and fight against illegal fishing. In addition, we will drive digitalization and improve connectivity across the island.”
To those who have served the island with integrity and dedication, the new governor pointed out: “I respect your career and commitment to public service. You have nothing to fear from this new administration. “
He made it clear that he has no tolerance to corruption and illegal activities. He warned those who have allowed themselves to be used in the past and took part in illegal activities: “You will have to take responsibility for your actions. Either you turn state witnesses for us to catch the big fish, or you will be part of those who will be charged. We will not shield anyone who has contributed to the suffering of our people.”
While his focus is on the health care and economic fronts, he also pointed at the importance of the arts in the island.
A fan of pianist Cecile Licad whom he saw in an online concert in New York, Azanza approved the first island concert of the world-acclaimed pianist in October 2025 in time for the island 80th Foundation Day. “We have no budget for culture but I will personally finance this as my personal advocacy. Licad has to perform here not just for the seasoned music lovers but with the poor also represented in the audience. In that way, that concert would be more meaningful.”
