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Thursday, March 01, 2007
Mark is administration bet for Pampanga guv
By Marna H. Dagumboy
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Pampanga Governor Mark Lapid said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's coalition team has declared him as the official candidate for the province's chief executive post.
Lapid said he is set to meet with Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) national chairman and House Speaker Jose de Venecia to accept his official nomination for the upcoming May elections.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007
Lapid, addressing some 150 leaders from different Pampanga municipalities, said the Lakas Party campaign would soon start after the caucus, if only to address the issues hurled against him by his political detractors.
He criticized his opponents' "dirty tactics", saying their malicious attacks on his administration "are a poor attempt to get the votes they want."
"We will not patronize their dirty tactics. We, in this party, will stand in front of the people dignified and proud of our accomplishments and would represent ourselves as fair and respectable candidates. We will be known for our accomplishments, our efforts and our platform of governments and not for anything else," the governor said.
Four of the five mayors who remain loyal to Lapid were present during the consultative meeting. They were Mayors Marino Morales of Mabalacat, Peter Flores of Masantol, Leonardo Flores of Macabebe and Edgardo Flores of Minalin.
San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, another ally of Lapid, had a prior appointment and was not able to attend.
Morales, meanwhile, denied earlier reports that he and the four other mayors will bolt from the Lakas party. He said he believes in Lapid's capability to lead the province as the governor has the needed vision to propel Pampanga towards global competitiveness.
Citing the National Statistics Coordination Board's (NSCB) data naming Pampanga as one of the top 10 outstanding provinces in good governance, Morales said under the stewardship of Lapid, the province "will even soar higher towards economic stability."
Mayor Flores of Masantol said the Floreses are united in support of the governor.
Pampanga, at present, has an income of P946 million without any loan or liability in any financial institution. Pampanga was also reportedly recorded as having the lowest crime rate in the country, with 4.5 percent for 2006 under Lapid's term.
Lapid's programs and projects for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), local exporters and traders, as well as for the tourism sector were also part of his accomplishments for 2006. He led the launching of the provincial branding project--the Vida Pampanga seal, which aims to boost the quality and excellence of Kapampangan products.
Other candidates for Pampanga mayors and vice mayors were also present during the meeting. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (March 1, 2007 issue)
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