By JOEL C. ESCOL, Managing Editor
MISAMIS ORIENTAL – Finally, it’s the incumbent Governor Peter M. Unabia and former Congresswoman Juliet Uy who will compete for gubernatorial position during the upcoming midterm local and national elections In May next year.
This, after the two contenders both filed their Certificate of Candidacies at the provincial Comelec Office in Cagayan de Oro City.
Governor Unabia filed his candidacy under the Paglaum-Padayon-Lakas CMD party while Uy filed her candidacy on October 8, under the Unity Team of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.
In an interview with reporters, Uy said he will prove to the people of Misamis Oriental that the election is not only for the ‘moneyed politicians,’ apparently referring to the incumbent leadership, whom Uy alleged as using their vast resources to buy votes during elections.
She said it’s high time for the people of the province to fight for the future of their children. She also accused the incumbent leadership of doing nothing to impress the people. “Padayon man nga galisod ang katawhan sa Misamis Oriental ug walay tarong nga agi ang kasamtangang namunuan,” the former congresswoman of the 2nd District said.
Uy challenged the voters to give the Unity Team a chance to lead the province of Misamis Oriental and they can see genuine developments. A government of the people for the people kind of leadership.
Governor Unabia, for his part, said the people of the province knew that he had implemented a lot of projects to help the people from poverty.
He denied accusations from rival political camp that his team has done nothing to prove their genuine leadership for the poor sector of the province.
He said his program for single digit poverty incidence (SDPI) is a manifestation of his genuine vision to alleviate the living conditions of the poor populace of the province.
Unabia said many people of the province have already benefited from his livelihood program and have started their small and medium businesses.
He also underscored his massive plan to develop and tourism potentials of Misamis Oriental. “This will surely create thousands of jobs for the province once the tourism destinations are fully developed.
