The ruling One Cebu Party, chaired by Gov. Gwen Garcia, has once again advanced its vision of a truly united Cebu by welcoming into the fold the municipal and barangay officials of Compostela.
Gov. Gwen personally administered the oath of party allegiance by Compostela Mayor Felijur Quiño, Vice Mayor Froilan Quiño, and seven municipal councilors; as well as all of the town’s 17 barangay captains (including barangay councilors) and 17 Sangguniang Kabataan chairpersons, including SK councilors.
Fifth district Congressman and Deputy Speaker Duke Frasco as well as Board Members Red Duterte and Mike Villamor also attended and witnessed this historic night of unity in Compostela which was held at the jam-packed D.M. Reynes Gymnasium.
“We are a united province, and in this unity, the entire country has taken notice. There is no other province as strong, because we are united; no other province in the entire country can say that indeed we are one, undivided, and indivisible. Only One Cebu,” Gov. Gwen said in her speech.
Compostela is the latest LGU whose leaders joined Gov. Gwen’s unmistakable call for unity, believing as she does that it is the key to a sustained and equitable development in the province.
In November 2022, the mayors and barangay officials of the Municipalities of San Francisco, Poro, Tudela, and Pilar in the Camotes Group of Islands, a known bailiwick of the political opposition, took their oaths of allegiance with One Cebu, fortifying a truly united One Camotes Island under One Cebu.
This continued in January this year when Bogo City Mayor Carlo Jose Martinez, Vice Mayor Mayel Martinez, and Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III led city and barangay officials in joining One Cebu Party, ending the long years of political feud between the Garcias of Dumanjug and Martinezes of Bogo City.
“Compostela, wala gyod mo masayop nga naa ta magpaluyo, mosuporta sa atoang Gobernador,” DS Frasco said in his speech. “Throughout the years that I have been with her, nakita nako nga whenever she makes a decision, it’s only because of her love for Cebu and the Cebuanos,” he added.
Gov. Gwen’s brand of leadership has been very effective in winning the hearts of Cebu’s political leaders. She does not discriminate according to party colors and extends the Capitol resources and technical expertise even to LGUs whose officials are not her political allies, so long as they would also open their doors to working with the Capitol for the benefit of their constituents.
Now, One Cebu counts as members and allies a super majority of all component cities and municipalities in the province, a unity never before seen in Cebu’s political history.
During the event, which also falls on the first night of the nine-day novena for the feast of town patron saint Santiago Apostol, Gov. Gwen announced that the Capitol is funding the construction of box culvert bridges for the river that traverses the mountain barangays of Bagalnga, Basak, Mulao, and Dapdap.
The Capitol also earmarked a total of P14.5 million in financial assistance for the LGU. Of the amount, P3 million is allocated for the infrastructure projects of the town; P3 million for the various projects of the mayor; P2 million for the priority projects of the vice mayor; P200,000 for each of the projects of the seven municipal councilors; P200,000 for each of the 17 barangay captains; and P100,000 for each of the 17 SK chairpersons.
“Kampante ko mohatag niining tanang ayuda kay sayod ako nga kini gastuhon alang sa katawhan,” Gov. Gwen said, lauding Compostela’s newly minted status as a first class municipality. | IPA/BJR