Panaboans mourn Mayor's death

PANABO CITY, Davao del Norte – The Philippine flag at the Panabo City hall, schools and other public offices are now lowered to half mast placing the city in a state of mourning on Tuesday, January 19, 2015. City officials and Government employees said that the death of Mayor Jose L. Silvosa, Sr. is a big loss to the city and expressed that his memory continues to be an inspiration for others in government. He was 73.

He’s bereaved family Mrs. Virginia Silvosa, a retired Public School teacher and his children were Jose, Jr., Jovi, Joy and Josephine cited his father’s humble beginnings at Cateel, from the family of farmer.

Mayor Silvosa has been a father and chief executive of the Panabo City for almost nine (9) years. He also proved to his constituents by serving them to its best and leading his people to his legacy by showing honesty, competence and credibility.

“We’ve lost a very good man and an outstanding government official. I will never forget the way he leads his people, a generous person, manggihatagon sa nanginahanlan, full of vision and find innovative ways for the good of the city under his admirable stewardship,” stressed by the City Administrator Ramon G. Sawan during an interview.

Atty. Jose Dela Luz Silvosa, Sr. was born on December 30, 1941 at Cateel, Davao Oriental. He took his Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Visayas, Cebu City. He finished his studies with a bachelor’s degree of Philippine of Laws at University of Southern Philippines and passed the Bar Exam in 1971 in Manila.

He started his career as a public servant in 1972 up to 1980 in Municipality of Cateel, Davao Oriental. He was appointed as OIC- Vice Mayor of Municipality of Panabo. He was elected as 2nd District Provincial Board Member in the province of Davao del Norte from1998 to 2007.Silvosa was a member of “Kiwanis Club” Panabo chapter and a member of “Integrated Bar of the Philippines” and also a K3 Chairman of the Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP) Davao del Norte Chapter.

Among of the awards and recognition he received was the Gawad Public Service Award “Serbisyong Tapat” as 2008 Most Outstanding City Mayor of the Year awarded by Gawad International Inc. in Manila. The City Government of Panabo received the award of Seal of Good Housekeeping in 2012 by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, United States Agency International Development and Balay Mindanaw.

He was also a Sandugo Outstanding Local Government Executive Hall of Fame for five (5) consecutive years of Outstanding Support, Commitment and Active Involvement in the Promotion of Voluntary Blood Donation awarded by the Department of Health, Pasay City in 2012.

His service to the community is guided with the line “Programang Pang Gobyerno Para sa Tao” and “Ang Gobyerno Iya Sa Katawhan Kung Ang Serbisyo Matagamtaman Sa Kabarangayan.”

The schedule of funeral rites is as follows; January 20-22 at St. Peter Chapel, Panacan Davao City; January 23-24 at Panabo City hall. On January 25-27 at Silvosa’s residence. Funeral Mass will be on January 28 at Sto. Niňo Parish and internment at the Panabo City Eternal Garden, Barangay Datu Abdul.(Jasz/Mcoy – City Information Office)