18 EASTERN SAMAR MAYORS DECLARE SUPPORT TO GOVERNOR EVARDONE’S CONGRESSIONAL BID

Written by JOEY A. GABIETA - Leyte Samar Daily Express

Monday, 23 November 2009

TACLOBAN CITY — With more than half of the mayors of Eastern Samar signing a manifesto of support, the probability that Governor Ben Evardone will run for the province’s lone congressional district is becoming a foregone conclusion. However, the governor, who is just serving his second term, remains noncommittal, saying that he has yet to decide whether he will leave the provincial hall in favor of the House of the Representatives. The manifesto urging Evardone to take crack the congressional post was signed by 18 mayors of Eastern Samar. “We, the undersigned public servants, hereby declare our full, unequivocal and unconditional support for Honorable Ben P. Evardone in his bid for the congressional seat of the lone district of Eastern Samar in the coming May 2010 national and local elections,’ the two-page manifesto of support signed by the mayors said. Among those who signed the petition urging Evardone to run for Congress were Sulat Mayor Javier Zacate, provincial president of the Mayors League of the Philippines, Borongan Mayor Fidel Anacta and Mayor Neil Alvarez of Oras, the hometown of incumbent Representative Teodulo “Doloy” Coquilla. If Evardone will plunge into the congressional race, he will be facing a former aide, lawyer Raymond Apita, and Rep. Coquilla. Apita is affiliated with the Nationalist People’s Coalition while both Evardone and Coquilla belong to the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD. “More than ever, we think that it is imperative to firmly and publicly declare our resolve to stand and rally behind the man, who for almost six years now as Governor of Eastern Samar, has put into realization a certain socio-political direction of the province,” the mayors said. “Gov. Evardone has instituted reforms and started programs and policies, particularly in the area of education, health, agricultural productivity, poverty alleviation, infrastructure with focus at the countryside, welfare assistance and fiscal management,” the mayors added, citing the accomplishments made by the Evardone administration over the last six years. They added all these reforms and accomplishments made by the incumbent governor could be pursued further even he will sit at the House of Representatives. But despite this overwhelming endorsement, Evardone has yet to fully declare whether he will challenge the incumbent congressional representative of the province. He, however, expressed his gratitude for the support by the mayors adding that other mayors of the province are to endorse him too. Members of the provincial board and barangay leaders have also endorsed him to run for Congress as well, Evardone added. “I hope that the party leadership will listen to the sentiments of our local leaders,” Evardone, who is expected to be proclaimed as the official nominee of the ruling party, said. (JOEY A. GABIETA)