TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte – Local officials in Davao del Norte allied with the Liberal Party affirmed their loyalty by reiterating their support for its standard-bearer Mar Roxas during the latter’s campaign sortie here on Tuesday.
The influential Del Rosario political clan, led by Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, welcomed Roxas and his party as the administration bet dropped by Tagum — a perceived bailiwick of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte — and met with supporters.
Roxas himself led the raising of hands of local LP candidates in the province at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex (DNSTC) gym past 10 a.m., after he visited a banana growers’
cooperative in Kapalong town, some 20 kilometers east of here, an hour earlier.
In his introduction, Governor del Rosario called Roxas “an honest leader” who could continue the gains made by President Aquino’s Daang Matuwid (Straight Path).
“Because of Daang Matuwid, the lives of our fellow Filipinos have improved. The Filipinos have started to hope. From being the sick man of Asia, our country became a rising star, a rising tiger,” Del Rosario said.
The governor’s son, Antonio Rafael, a candidate aiming to succeed his father, said his friend Roxas has been the only candidate qualified to continue the Daang Matuwid.
The Del Rosarios said Davao del Norte has greatly benefited from the programs under the administration’s mantra.
The younger Del Rosario said that because of Daang Matuwid, all of Tagum’s 23 villages have received projects and a total P5 billion worth of projects were poured in the province’s district 1 alone in the last five years.
“In district 1, close to 60,000 families were recipients of the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) under Daang Matuwid,” Antonio Rafael said, referring to the Aquino administration’s
poverty alleviation flagship program.
Roxas returned the favor by profusely thanking his local allies, calling the Del Rosarios instrumental in transforming Davao del Norte from an impoverished to a progressive province. The former interior secretary heaped praises on former Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy whose “effective and skilled leadership” brought the city development.
The administration bet and his party arrived from Kapalong in two orange-colored helicopters past 10 a.m. at the DNSTC grounds and was greeted by local allies led by the governor before being led to the
gym where hundreds of yellow-shirted supporters, mostly women, were waiting.
Tuesday’s visit in a known Duterte stronghold was the first for Roxas since the national campaign kicked off last month. It came just days after his wife, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, joined Agriculture
Secretary Proceso Alcala in distributing assistance package to farmers in Tagum last Saturday.
In his 15-minute speech, Roxas devoted time in laying down his progams under Daang Matuwid.
Roxas said his platform has been centered on an honest government, that “does not steal.”
“Hindi nanakawin ang pera ninyo … Ang pondo ninyo bumabalik sa inyo (Your money would not be stolen. Your funds will return to you),” Roxas told the crowd. “Walang kaltas, walang kupit, walang kickback, walang nakaw (No cuts, no pocketing of funds, no kickbacks, no theft),” he said.
Roxas also took a swipe at his rivals “for making empty promises to lure voters.” Under Daang Matuwid, he said they have been doing the things other candidates have promised.
The administration presidential bet then asked the crowd for their support.
“I think I’ve convinced you already,” he said.
After a brief photo-op with local allies, Roxas’ group then flew to Nabunturan, Compostela Valley to attend the province’s 18th founding anniversary. SFM