REGIONAL parties are reconvening for the anticipated shift to a federal system of government. As the party founder and a native of both Maliliput, Albay and Masbate City, I am announcing plans for a 2018 reunion of Bicol Saro members.
To recall, in the 1978 elections called by former president Ferdinand Marcos, Laban in Manila, Pusyon Bisaya in Cebu and Bicol Saro and other regional parties contended with the powerful Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) for seats in the National Assembly. I believe that a similar scenario may ensue with the reconvened regional parties contending with the PDP-Laban and other national parties for seats in the forthcoming unicameral parliamentary elections.
I believe that the true spirit of federalism and local autonomy can best be embodied in a region-based party like Bicol Saro. There is also the possibility of a coalition with the PDP-Laban or whichever official party President Duterte endorses as long as this coalition is based on common points of agreement and unifying issues.
I have already contacted the provincial chairmen of the Bicol Saro to lay out the planned party convention in either Naga, Legaspi or Masbate cities. Retired Judge Pepe Fortuno, the current provincial chair for Masbate of Bicol Saro, has offered to host participants of the convention if it were held in Masbate city.
The planned Bicol Saro convention will be held on Sept. 28, 2018, which coincides with the 108th birth anniversary of Wenceslao Vinzons, the Bicol hero who led the region’s resistance during World War 2. This would give time for adequate preparations and start the vetting of Bicol Saro candidates that the party will field if the parliamentary elections in 2019 pushes through.
I may have to lead the Bicol Saro candidate slate to provide institutional memories since I was a candidate during the historic 1978 elections. At that time, I was the youngest member of the Bicol Saro slate.--Joseph Barlet Bunao
Need for tow truck
Traffic at the Cebu South Coastal Road, especially the viaduct connecting to the South Road Properties, often gets clogged up when vehicles break down. Why not assign a tow truck there?--Derlo Enriquez of Talisay City