BY IME SORNITO AND ADRIAN STEWART CO
ILOILO City – It was great seeing Iloilo progress, according to mayors Sara Duterte-Carpio (Davao City) and Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso who both visited Iloilo city and province yesterday.
Duterte, who is seeking the vice presidency, cited Iloilo City’s beating Davao City in several aspects.
“We always look up to Iloilo City. Lagi kaming natatalo sa lahat ng recognition at awards. Bike lanes natalo kami. Sa digital tourism natalo din kami, third lang kami. Number one ang Iloilo City,” Duterte told councilors attending the Philippine Councilor’s League-Iloilo chapter at the Iloilo Convention According to Duterte, Iloilo was a “benchmark” for “innovative ways to serve the public.”
Mayor Jerry Treñas thanked Duterte.
“As a public servant for more than three decades, I always try to extend all our efforts to level up the city. I am very pleased that a fellow public servant, Mayor Sara, has recognized our tireless initiative to ensure that we give the best for our beloved people despite the challenges brought by the pandemic,” Treñas said.
SENATORIABLES
At the meeting of the Philippine Councilors League at the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) in Mandurriao district yesterday, Duterte announced her candidates for senator — ex-Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, former senator Jinggoy Estrada, ex-Public Works secretary Mark Villar, former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista, and former senator Loren Legarda.
Duterte said it was the public’s call that pushed her to gun for the country’s second highest position.
The presidential daughter also mentioned her running mate, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and why she supported him.
“Gusto ko po ‘yong taong nagpi-presenta na maging pangulo mayroon siya pong experience sa isang executive position,” she said.
Duterte also thanked Ilonggos “supporting President (Rodrigo) Duterte since 2016.”
‘DON’T LOSE HOPE’
On the other hand, presidential bet Domagoso met supporters in San Joaquin town before proceeding to Antique.
In a “listening tour” in Sitio Liit, Barangay Purok 1 attended by around 200 Ilonggos, Domagoso said his family’s life story should serve as an inspiration to ordinary folks.
“Huwag na huwag kayong mawawalan ng pag-asa. Sino ang makakapagsabi na possible na dito sa lupang kinatitirikan natin at dito sa lupang nakapaligid dito, mayroong pwedeng maging presidente ng bansa,” Moreno said.
San Joaquin is the birthplace of Domagoso’s father Joaquin, who in his youth went to Hamtic, Antique, and worked as a stevedore in the port of Manila in the 1960s .
Domagoso said he learned from his father the value of hard work, persistence and uprightness.
The Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer also said he was delighted to finally touch base with relatives.
“Masaya ako dahil for the first time, nakita ko na kung anong uri ng kapaligiran ang lugar ng kapanganakan ng tatay ko. Ngayon hindi na ako rare species,” Domagoso said.
In Antique, he met supporters in the towns of San Jose, Sibalom and Belison./PN
