WITH barely a few days leading to the May 13 2019 mid-term elections, SunStar Baguio will be coming out with stories on candidates seeking different positions in the local posts.
The race to Benguet’s vice gubernatorial seat will be a head-to-head match between incumbent Vice Governor Florence Tingbaoen and Board Member Johnny Waguis.
Florence Tingbaeon
Florence Tingbaoen is seeking re-election soliciting the help of the people to give women a place in the political arena.
“Let us give women a place in the political arena. When it comes to legislation, we passed the enhanced gender and development code that include protection of women rights, senior citizens, persons with disability and children in focus,” she added.
Tingboaen said the passing of the gender development code in 2018 covers the prohibition of gender-biased discrimination in recruitment, work-assignments and promotion.
“No person shall be deprived of job training, employment or promotion on account of gender, age, ethnicity, religion and marital status,” the provincial law states.
The gender and development code affirms local efforts in protecting women’s rights and marginalized people towards the attainment of gender equality.
Tingbaoen said with Benguet being a family oriented province, she is keen on continuing services to women, senior citizens, and persons with disability sector by providing additional livelihood, which will extend to parents with special children.
The re-electionist is also seeking to provide training for forest rangers in the wake of recent forest fires in the province.
In the agriculture sector, Tingbaoen highlighted continuous support by providing seedlings to farmers and to back programs of the office of the provincial agriculturist.
Tingboaen added there has to be strong information education campaign on Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title, Certificate of Ancestral Domain Land and imminent domain concerning indigenous peoples.
“The law is there but we must strengthen the information and education campaign by knowing their rights and being educated,” she added.
The lawmaker is also pushing for the enhancement or assessment of the Environment Code, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Code and ordinance on Sister Cities Agreement.
Tingbaoen boasts of 21 years in government service, becoming a three termer municipal councilor of Mankayan from 1998 to 2007, three termer provincial board member from 2007 to 2016, and vice governor from 2016 to present.
During her stint as a board member, she was able to pass 49 ordinances.
Johnny Waguis
Challenging the second top post is incumbent board member and lawyer Johnny Waguis, stressed if elected as Vice – Governor, his leadership will attend to measures empowering barangay health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, child development workers, barangay tanods, Lupon Tagapamayapa and other barangay volunteer workers.
“I want to stand guard on authored ordinances especially in barangay and health workers. If budget allows, I will push for the increase of their benefits because I believe in the need for more support from local government units. They are relying on the assistance given only by barangay and municipality,” Waguis said.
Coming to know that other barangay volunteer workers receives P400 monthly and P1,500 annually in the municipal level, the incumbent board member is eyeing to possibly obtain balance benefits, to add more funds to barangay and municipal volunteers with low benefits.
Waguis also wants to contribute to the settlement of boundary disputes.
“I want to focus on settling and resolving the boundary dispute between municipalities within the province and also the province of Benguet with other provinces like Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan and La Union which until now is unresolved. Some leaders cannot decide because it might affect their political career and I understand. We would exert effort to settle with the parties, if not settled, we will endorse it to the courts,” Waguis added.
He is keen to studying resolutions and ordinances for the welfare of Benguet activating sports program supporting trainors of Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association and the provincial meet.
“They need to be trained and update their knowledge. I will admit that the provincial government lack support such as training of coaches, trainors” Waguis continued.
Once chosen as the presiding officer and head of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, other programs he plans to work out are:
1. Strengthen the programs of the provincial government particularly on education, agriculture and mining, tourism, livelihood and others.
2. Involve all sectors including the youth, senior citizens, women, Indigenous Peoples, private organizations/associations, cooperatives, transport groups, OFWs, religious groups, academe, businesses and others in the programs of the provincial government.
3. Enhance the delivery of health and other basic services, push for the increase of number of scholars and the amount of assistance.
Waguis rose to the ranks of being a legislator for nine years as board member of District 1 of Benguet from 2010 to 2019.