Around 13 mayors from all over Bohol gathered “to launch a crusade for good governance”.
The local chief executives who attended the “Crusada Alang sa Limpyong Panggobyerno Para Sa Mga Bol-anon” (Crusade for Good Governance for the Boholanos) at the JJs Seafood Village on Mar. 24, 2022 were Panglao mayor Leonila Montero, Buenavista mayor Dave Duallo, Clarin mayor Eugene Ibarra, Getafe mayor Casey Shaun Camacho, San Isidro mayor Diosdado Gementiza, Ubay mayor Costan Reyes, Candijay mayor Christopher Tutor, Dimiao mayor Randolph Ang, Lila mayor Jed Piollo, Garcia-Hernandez mayor Tita Baja, Jagna mayor Joseph Rañola, and Sevilla mayor Juliet Dano.
The mayors took turns narrating their experiences and dissatisfaction with the present provincial administration of Gov. Arthur Yap. They said that the current administration lacks concern about their constituents’ plight or condition especially after being impacted by the pandemic and typhoon Odette.
They said that in the past (almost three years) Boholanos allegedly suffered from a lack of good governance.
As the campaign season for local candidates has started, the mayors felt that the Boholano people deserve to know the different issues the province is currently facing especially involving the administration of Yap.
In a press kit released during the press conference, they said: “The current leadership has used everything at its disposal to do whatever it wants across the province. From overpriced purchases to unnecessary projects, it has shown to everyone that as long as they are in power, they can do everything in order to benefit themselves and not the Boholano people.”
The press kit adds, “The people have seen the current administration’s brand of leadership, which prioritized other things rather than giving them [Boholanos] the services they deserve.”
The press kit further reads: “Before, many were afraid to speak up on the ills of the current administration. Since they have no control over the halls of power, they are inclined to just follow what the authorities dictate or to close their eyes on the different anomalies that are currently taking place in their communities.”
Some of the mayors in attendance chided the current administration of Yap for using projects to gain political advantage.
The mayors who attended the press conference are known to be aligned with 2nd district Cong. Erico Aristotle Aumentado.
Aumentado is Yap’s chief contender in the gubernatorial race this May 2022. The solon did not show up in the press forum.
Bohol is composed of 47 towns and 1 component city. According to Kevin Damalerio, an Executive Assistant to Yap, the governor enjoys the support of 30 incumbent mayors in Bohol, including some mayors in the 2nd district.
Meanwhile, Duallo, the vice president for the 2nd district of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Bohol chapter, said that the press briefing about the crusade is not a sanctioned event of the mayors’ league.
He added that the LMP is an apolitical group and should not be dragged in a political affair.
Earlier, LMP-Bohol chapter president Marietta Sumaylo issued a statement that the event attended by 13 mayors that took place at a local restaurant was not sanctioned by the mayors’ league. (Dave S. Albarado)
