WHAT was supposed to be a province-wide general assembly for barangay health, nutrition and day care workers ended up as a political rally of sorts for the One Cebu party of the Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and presidential bet, Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.
Garcia asked over 15,000 people present at the assembly to support her reelection, the vice gubernatorial bid of her running mate Glenn Soco, and the candidacy of Teodoro.
“I ask a favor from you... that we choose people whom we can trust to have the ability, integrity and sincerity to serve,” Garcia told the assembly.
The Capitol organized the assembly for barangay health workers, nutrition scholars and early child care development workers at the sports center in Minglanilla.
Those present included 7,404 barangay health workers, 1,500 early child care development workers and 111 nutrition scholars, said Provincial Health Officer Cristina Giango.
The rest were companions of the barangay workers, town officials and guests.
Garcia led the ceremonial release of checks representing the honorarium of the barangay workers, and a bonus of P1,500 each.
In her message, Garcia said the provincial government wanted to reciprocate for the good quality of service that the workers have been doing.
This was the third time the Capitol gave the workers a bonus. Last year, each worker received P1,200.
After distributing the honorariums and bonuses, Garcia, then asked for “a favor” from the workers.
She then pitched to support Teodoro, Soco, and herself.
“I hope that you’ll still give me a third term, that you’ll continue to support me as I take care of you,” she said.
Speaking ahead of Garcia, Soco said he was overwhelmed by the crowd’s cheers, claps and screams as he took the stage.
“If given a chance to be elected vice governor, I am willing to support and cooperate in the programs of the governor,” he said.
“I am prepared to serve the Province of Cebu if you accept me),” Soco said in Cebuano.
Teodoro, in his speech, said he wanted to imitate on a national scope some of Garcia’s projects in Cebu, such as the standardization of the delivery of barangay health services and providing workers with skills upgrading and medical care.
He said that if he becomes president, he would help develop Cebu as an eco-tourism destination, encourage more investments in the province, and spread the industrial boom to the northern parts of the island.
He said he backed plans of some local officials to build a bridge between mainland Cebu and the Cordova town on Mactan Island, as well as a bridge between Cebu and Bohol.
Teodoro said he would make it a priority to identify alternative power sources for Cebu, possibly a nuclear power plant, and to expand the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
http://gibo.ph/updatefull.aspx?key=ijNxLtfAMallaDVSqXWRcTfYr41SKPKoZgJm7IASOQKo8KPCZC25tA==
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted: 12/23/2009
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