41 provincial governors support PRRD’s VP bid

Forty-one provincial governors in the Philippines have expressed support on the bid of President Rodrigo R. Duterte for vice president in the 2022 elections.

“We laud and support President Duterte’s decision to accept the offer of the administration PDP-Laban party to run for Vice President in next year’s elections,” the governors said in a press statement.

The governors said as vice president, Duterte could influence his successor to pursue his war on drugs, his Build, Build, Build infrastructure plan, projects for the poor, and his post-Covid 19 pandemic economic recovery roadmap, among others.

They said despite the inroads in the campaign against illegal drugs, the drug menace continues to persist. “Indeed, this problem is no longer confined to urban areas; it has spread to the countryside. The next administration, with the help of President Duterte, should relentlessly pursue the war on drugs,” they added.

“We, provincial governors, are witness to the gains of the Build, Build, Build program. New road networks, school buildings, airports, seaports, medical facilities, and river protection and drainage systems have mushroomed in the provinces, generating economic activities, jobs and income for our people. We have to continue building and improving infrastructure to speed up urban and rural development,” the provincial chief executives said.

The nation was on a high economic growth path until the pandemic struck in early 2020. It’s unfortunate that Covid-19 derailed economic progress. But with President Duterte’s guiding hand, the next leadership could do it. The President’s war on drugs, his campaign against corruption, his prudent use of government resources, and his incessant pursuit of good governance will all contribute to a post-pandemic environment conducive for faster economic growth.

The 41 provincial governors who signed the statement are:

Jose Alvarez- Palawan; Gov. Dale Corvera – Agusan Norte; Gov. Damian Mercado – Southern Leyte; Humerlito Dolor – Oriental Mindoro; Gov. Sakur Tan – Sulu; Dakila Cua – Quirino; Nancy Catamco – Cotabato; Art Yap – Bohol; Edgardo Tallado – Camarines Norte; Gov. Wilter Palma – Zamboanga Sibugay; Francisco Matugas – Surigao Norte; Jim Salliman – Basilan; Gov. Reynolds Michael Tan – Samar; Esteban Contreras – Capiz; Edwin Ong – Northern Samar; Dominic Petilla – Leyte; Roger Espina -Biliran; Antonio Kho – Masbate; Imelda Dimaporo – Lanao del Norte;

Vic Yu – Zamboanga del Sur; Philip Tan – Misamis Occidental; Ayik Pimentel – Surigao del Sur; Jecoy Villa – Siquijor; Pacoy Ortega – La Union; Joel Degamo- Negros Oriental; Joseph Cua – Catanduanes; Eduardo Gadiano – Occidental Mindoro; Samuel Gumarin – Guimaras; Steve Solon – Sarangani; Jim Hataman – Basilan; Jun Ebdane- Zambales; Migs Villafuerte – Camarines Sur; Bai Mariam Mangudadatu – Maguindanao; Suharto Mangudadatu- Sultan Kudarat; Samuel Gumarin- Guimaras; Joe Riano-Romblon; Rodora Cadiao – Antique; Al Francis Bicharado- Southern Leyte; Bonifacio Lacwasan – Mountain Province; Florencio Miraflores – Aklan; and Ben Evardone – Eastern Samar. (PR)