PJ endorsed at Naga gathering

CEBU, Philippines - First district Rep. Eduardo Gullas and Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong yesterday endorsed Congressman Pablo John Garcia as the next governor of Cebu during the inauguration of the Enan (late Naga City Mayor Ferdinand) Chiong Activity Center. 

Chiong and Gullas introduced third district Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia as the next governor of Cebu Province. 

“The soon to be the governor of the Province of Cebu... Congressman Pablo John Garcia,” Chiong told before teachers, barangay leaders, health workers, city tanods, Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura, Sibonga town Mayor Lionel Bacaltos, Minglanila town Mayor Eduardo Selma, Ronda town Mayor Mariano Blanco, and Santander town Vice Mayor Wilson Wenceslao. 

Gullas, who authored the cityhood bill of Naga, also introduced Garcia as the next governor. 

In the 2010 elections, the Alayon Party of Gullas supported Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s reelection bid.

Garcia, in an earlier interview, confirmed that One Cebu will not field candidates in the first district as it had refrained from doing so for the past two elections due to its alliance with Alayon.

“I hope that was an endorsement and I will consider it as an endorsement from him (Gullas),” Garcia said when asked for comment whether Gullas’ announcement was an endorsement. 

Garcia said “what is important right now is the gesture of unity” between One Cebu and Alayon. The congressman said he is finding ways to meet with the schedules with Gullas in order to discuss a possible alliance in the upcoming elections. 

Gullas said earlier that Alayon has been invited by LP and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) for a possible coalition.

Garcia, who has an alliance with UNA, is up to challenge LP bet provincial head Hilario Davide III who ran but lost in 2010 against the incumbent governor. 

But separately, Chiong said he will support Pablo John in the governorship even if Alayon, where he belongs, will coalesce with LP. 

“Like what happened in the previous election when Gwen ran for governor in 2007, I supported Garcia even if Congressman Gullas supported vice governor John-John Osmeña,” Chiong said. 

In yesterday’s inauguration activity center, Chiong cited his late brother, Enan, for his anticipation in 1998 that Naga would become a city. 

“Naga’s dream of becoming a City long started during the time of my late brother Mayor Enan in 1998. Tirelessly and persistently, he did his duties as mayor and more, without ever letting go of that dream that someday Naga will become a city,” Chiong said. 

The mayor also said that during the time of his brother, the former mayor ventured in implementing the reclamation projects without making loans that could have burdened our Naga,” the mayor said. 

At present, the sports center stands at the back of the city hall building while the old city sports center has been converted into a shopping mall.

The management of Gaisano Metro has offered to occupy the old Naga sports complex through a 25-year lease agreement and convert it into a shopping mall.

Mayor Chiong said his administration will continue the expansion of Naga’s reclamation area, which has been identified as the site for the new city market.

The new reclamation project will result in the development of at least eight hectares, in addition to the existing seven-hectare reclaimed lot.

Once the project is completed, the Naga will have a 15-hectare reclaimed property, which will accommodate a modern public market and circumferential roads, among others.