FOUR out of the seven governors of Central Luzon are included in the pool of provincial leaders who endorsed the candidacy for vice president of Senator Christopher "Bong" Go.
Crossing their respective partylines, Governors Jun Ebdane of Zambales, Gerardo Noveras of Aurora, Oyie Umali of Nueva Ecija, and Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III of Pangasinan have expressed their support for Go's bid in the coming 2022 polls.
They joined 34 more provincial leaders from across the country who also vowed to back Go's candidacy in their area.
Among Go's supporters are Eastern Samar's Ben Evardone, Northern's Samar Edwin Ong, Western Samar's Michael Tan, Leyte's Dominic Petilla, Southern Leyte's Damian Mercado, Biliran's Roger Espina, Quirino's Dax Cua, Basilan's Jim S Hataman Salliman, Palawan's Jose Alvarez, Siquijor's Zaldy Villa, Lanao del Norte's Imelda Dimaporo, Camarines Norte's Edgar Tallado, Camarines Sur's Migz Villafuerte, Romblon's Jose Riano, and Agusan del Norte's Dale Corvera.
Also manifesting suppport are Cotabato's Nancy Catamco, Bohol's Arthur Yap, Zamboanga Sibugay's Wilter Palma, Benguet's Melchor Diclas, Zamboanga del Norte's Roberto Uy, Cebu's Gwen Garcia, Negros Oriental's Noel Degamo, Camiguin's Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, Marinduque's Presby Velasco, Abra's Maria Jocelyn Bernos, Batangas' Hernilando Mandanas, Oriental Mindoro's Bonz Dolor, Albay's Al Francis Bichara, Aklan's Joven Miraflores, Surigao del Sur's Ayik Pimentel, Zamboanga del Sur's Vic Yu, Sulu's Sakor Tan, Catanduanes' Joseph Cua, and Surigao del Norte's Frank Matugas.
The provincial leaders have cited his wide and valuable insights on and has had to confront problems relating to both local and national governance, which he gained as long-time close aide to then-Davao City mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte, as reasons for their support on Go.
"Such experience has prepared him adequately for elective public office - as senator and hopefully as vice president. Having come from the ranks of local public servants, we have no doubt that Bong Go understands the issues we face 24/7 in our respective provinces," they noted in the letter of manifestation.
They also noted the institutionalization of Malasakit Center through Republic Act No. 11463, of which Go was principal author.
Go also spearheaded the establishment of 138 Malasakit Centers in the country even prior to his election as senator, and was then the closest aide of Duterte.
They said Malasakit Centers, which is a one-stop shop for medical and financial assistance, made affordable healthcare accessible to Filipinos as beneficiaries have to go to just one office instead of laboriously seeking help from one agency to another.
"With our support, if he is elected vice president, Bong Go promises to continue President Duterte’s programs, particularly his campaign against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption. These are some of the problems we continue to face as local officials, despite the administration’s gains in stamping out such nefarious activities," the governors further noted.
Go is also promising to pursue the President’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program, which hastens economic development and provides jobs and incomes to our people in the country.