Lawmaker willing to face odds in bid to become mayor

OUTGOING An Waray party-list lawmaker Florencio Noel said he is willing to face the odds in his bid for mayoral seat knowing that incumbent Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez has a vast arsenal in his disposal.

Noel, 46, earlier declared his intention to run for mayor of the city. He said what he considers as his “potent” political machinery in his bid is the “overwhelming” support from the people of Tacloban who are clamoring for “change” in the City Government’s leadership.

“The people of Tacloban want change and I want to be part of this change (of system and governance),” he said in an interview after he declared his intention to challenge Romualdez last Sunday.

The lawmaker said he was overwhelmed by the support of those who attended his birthday celebration last Sunday.

While Noel represents An Waray party-list group, he is also politically affiliated with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), which is in coalition with the ruling Liberal Party.

He said he is sure to have the support of President Benigno Aquino III, titular head of the Liberal Party.

Asked on the big task ahead with his political clash with Mayor Romualdez, the lawmaker said it could not be denied that the city mayor is at the advantage considering that he is the incumbent occupant of the City Hall, but he is not afraid to challenge him.

“We’re up to that challenge and I had accepted that challenge for change. He has vast resources but many Taclobans want change,” he said.

Noel’s wife, lawmaker Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel of Malabon, said she is glad her husband decided to seek the mayoralty post.

“Wherever and whatever he will do, I will give my 100 percent support. His passion and heart is here because he is really from Tacloban,” Lacson-Noel said.

She said her husband’s performance as party-list representative for almost a decade has benefited the Warays across the country.

And whatever dedication and passion he gave to the Warays, he would do the same to the people of Tacloban, she added.

“Nothing can go wrong with Florencio Noel,” she said. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)