ILOILO – If he is elected governor, an operations manager of a transport business said he would transfer the provincial capitol from Iloilo City to the municipality of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
Vicente Antay, 62, of Barangay Camambugan, Balasan town filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Tuesday. He said Barotac Viejo was located at the center of Iloilo and this would make the provincial capitol more accessible to all Ilonggos.
“Easy to travel sa mga tawo nga nagakinahanglan sang transaksyones,” said Antay whose COC indicated he was running as an independent candidate.
Antay also wanted to solve what he claimed was a “rice shortage” in Iloilo.
“Ang nagtulod sa akon nga magpadalagan amo ang makabulig sa mga tawo, ilabi na sa pigado,” said Antay whose main source of living are his two public utility vans.
He may use the vans during his campaign sorties, he said.
“Magbakasay lang kami ah. Masigkampanya lang,” said Antay when asked about his rivals for governor such as Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr. of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan, Cong. Ferjenel Biron of the Nacionalista Party and independent candidate Jonry Gargarita of Barangay Lay-ahan, Pototan town, a water refilling station attendant.
Gargarita, meanwhile, said he opted to run for the province’s top elective post because as governor he would have wider latitude to execute his plans for Iloilo. He, however, did not elaborate.
“Kon gobernador daw may choice ako kon ano ang gusto ko,” said Gargarita.
But his governance vision apparently goes beyond the borders of Iloilo province. He wants to tame inflation by freezing the excise tax on fuel – something that is beyond the authority of a provincial governor.
“Pareho sa mga drivers, instead nga daku ang ila makuha sa pagbiyahe i…ano pa nila sa gasoline. Dapat punggan naton ang pagtaas sang inflation rate for the good and interest of the Filipino people,” said Gargarita./PN
