After filing COCs for 2010 polls Celso: let’s buckle down to work
After filing his certificate of candidacy for re-election Tuesday, Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday said it is time to buckle down to work stressing that so much more needs to be done to ensure the well-being of the residents.
“We will buckle down to work, the campaign period is still four months away. We have so many things to do,” the mayor said when asked what’s next after the filing of his COC December 1st.
The COMELEC has set December 1st as the deadline for the filing of COCs for all who wish to vie for elective posts in the 2010 polls nationwide. However, the campaign period will start in March. The early filing was purposely to give the electoral body, ample time to prepare for the automated elections.
Lobregat and his vice mayoralty aspirant Cesar Iturralde led in filing their bids for candidacy for the 2010 elections, under the local Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) and the Adelante Zamboanga Party (LDP-AZaP). The party adopts Cong. Beng Climaco of the Liberal Party and Cong. Erbie Fabian of the Nationalista Party as the candidate for Congress in Districts 1 and 2 respectively.
As of November 15 this year, projects implemented to include the ongoing and those with the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) total to 2,022 amounting to P2.107 billion since 2007.
These projects include road concreting, school buildings, health centers, police and fire sub-stations, barangay halls, shore protection and irrigation projects and other infrastructure projects.
Among the significant projects that are ongoing are the Plaza del Pilar, slaughterhouse and development of cemeteries among others. Lobregat said he also hopes to submit the budget for the implementation of sidewalk rehabilitation project at the R.T. Lim Boulevard and other infrastructure programs.
“We have so many projects. Falta el dia na un año para inagura maga proyecto que ta implimenta el gobierno local,” the mayor emphasized.
Lobregat’s LDP-AZaP ticket is a powerhouse team whose members encompass many sectors and have a good balance between men and women and the young and the old.
The Council slate in District 1 includes re-electionists Rudy Lim, Jimmy Cabato, Luis Biel III and Gerky Valesco and newcomers Myra Valderrosa Abubakar, an active civic leader representing the Muslim and women sector; dynamic Talisayan chairperson Josephine Pareja; sports buff Prof. Elbert Atilano of the Universidad de Zamboanga and young businessman Kaiser Olaso of Ayala.
The District 2 slate includes four incumbent councilors – Lilia Nuño, Rey Candido, Eddie Saavedra and Nonong Guingona– with new aspirants Roseller “Ller” Natividad, who was the hardworking mayor’s chief executive assistant of Tugbungan; young businessman Michael Alavar of Vitali, television personality and active youth leader VP Elago of Tetuan and the good-natured and vibrant Percival “Pers” Ramos, the mayor’s executive assistant on infrastructure projects.
Lobregat’s record-breaking projects, effective and efficient management and governance skills and a clean track record in public service are among his aces against his opponents to the position.
Vice Mayoralty aspirant Iturralde, a three-term councilor, is a man of integrity and credibility whose reputation since his days in the Sangguniang Kabataan is beyond reproach. He has a remarkable 9-year track record of performance in the City Council. (PR)