By Rachelle M. Nessia
CEBU CITY, May 1 (PIA) — Electoral bets for Cebu province mostly coming from the Liberal Party were among those who discussed their vision for Mega Cebu during the second and third rounds of the Mega Cebu Candidates Forums held April 25.
Candidates present during the forum were Atty. Hilario “JunJun” Davide for the gubernatorial position, Agnes Magpale for vice-gubernatorial, Ace Durano as congressman for the 5th district, Teresita Alegado for mayor of Consolacion town, reelectionist mayor Adelino Sitoy of Cordova, and Efrain Pelaez for the mayoral position in LapuLapu city.
Davide said he aims to restore trust and cooperation between the government and its constituents.
He also aspires to reduce rural poverty and establish a farmers’ training program in all barangays.
Acting governor Agnes Magpale, on the other hand, intends to focus on the development of the women sector, children, and family welfare.
Magpale is currently acting governor of Cebu after the suspension of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
Magpale said she plans to continue Garcia’s scholarship program but enhance it by increasing its budget.
Former Tourism Secretary Ace Durano who is running for the congressional seat in the 5th District said he will focus on sustainable and equitable growth while enhancing tourism and develop Cebu’s rural countryside.
On the other hand, Alegado plans to develop roads and highways in Consolacion town as part of her major projects.
The influx of people is the reason why there is a need to improve the system of transportation here, she said.
On the other hand, incumbent mayor of Cordova Adelino Sitoy wants the people to open their eyes to the potential of Cordova.
Sitoy’s vision is to transfer both the airport and University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu campus to Cordova as it can cater to both infrastructures.
The improvement and establishment of a national hospital are also some of his programs when elected.
For LapuLapu mayoral bet Efrain Pelaez, his goal is to create a housing program for the poor and relocate illegal settlers.
Pelaez emphasized on the importance of decency and transparency in running the government.
For the Candidates Forum afternoon event, only two candidates showed up: incumbent Liloan mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco of UNA and Atty. Victor Cortes Biano of BBayan.
Re-electionist Duke Frasco said that for five and a half years, his main focus was on his “A-point” agenda tackling the different policies he has laid down for infrastructure, health, and social services.
In a span of two terms, Frasco said he has increased the social services budget of Liloan to 11 times and has availed of advance deposit funds at Vicente Sotto Memorial Hospital to benefit the underprivileged in his town.
Biano, on the other hand, called for a moral transformation as he said most government officials are perceived as corrupt by the public.
His main platform covers youth and sports development, education, health care, environment protection, and empowerment of the people. (rmn/RRA/PIA Cebu)
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