In Cebu, Durano scion to challenge Garcia

CEBU CITY — The gubernatorial race in Cebu will be a battle between scions of two big political families in the province – the Duranos and the Garcias.

Joseph “Ace” Durano, a former tourism secretary who was also representative of Cebu’s fifth district, the bailiwick of the Durano clan, filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Friday to challenge the reelection bid of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Durano admitted that going against Garcia would be “like climbing Mt. Apo,” the highest mountain in the country, after many of his political allies shifted to Garcia’s One Cebu party.

But he said he was ready to take on the challenge with a platform centering on effective COVID-19 response, upgrading the provincial hospitals, and bringing in more foreign tourists to the province.“That is why we are here now because we will be the voice for all those who are unsatisfied with the COVID-19 response of the provincial government,” the 51-year-old Durano said. “We can see that the hospitals are neglected. That is why Cebu has one of the highest COVID-19 mortalities.”

No mandatory air purifiers

Durano said he would push for the reopening of the tourism industry and would reach out to his former contacts in the Department of Tourism.

“Many of us are tired of the pandemic. And I think that there is still so much more that the provincial government can do to ease our problems,” he said. He said he would not force people to wear personal air purifiers and would launch a massive information drive to curb vaccine hesitancy. Garcia recently mandated the wearing of personal air purifiers for all public transport drivers and conductors as well as employees of enclosed establishments, a move that drew protests from the province’s transport and service sectors.

Garcia, however, downplayed the criticisms hurled by Durano, calling him a “Johnny-come-late” who was not around at the peak of the pandemic and came out only when the elections were near.

Both Garcia and Durano have not decided which presidential candidate to support in 2022.

Durano filed his COC on Thursday under the Partido Pilipino sa Pagbabago, which pushed Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to run for president. His running mate, incumbent Vice Gov. Hilario Davide III is with the Liberal Party, which is endorsing Vice President Leni Robredo.

Garcia filed her COC under the One Cebu party and the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan. Her camp was still waiting for developments in the national scene before announcing who to support in the elections.

Ace Durano and running mate Hilario Davide III