ILOILO City – Sen. Franklin Drilon, Mayor Jerry Treñas of this city, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo province, and Cong. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda raised the hands of former senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and expressed their all-out support to his senatorial bid.
Drilon said he is endorsing Ejercito because of the latter’s track record apart from being a helpful and good person.
He also underscored Ejercito’s legacy of championing the passage of the Universal Healthcare Law in pushing his former colleague’s Senate comeback.
Drilon further said he is certain that Ejercito will continue his legacy of taking care of the Ilonggos as he is already “graduating” from the Senate. Ejercito’s mother, Guia, traces her roots in Molo district.
Ejercito joined Drilon, Treñas, Defensor, Baronda, Cong. Mike Gorriceta of Iloilo’s 2nd
District and other local officials in the topping out ceremony of the Ungka II Flyover and the groundbreaking of the Iloilo Sunset Boulevard in Barangay Sooc, Arevalo district yesterday.
He also went around the city through a motorcade and joined barangay chiefs, major leaders and core groups of the Team Uswag for lunch.
Baronda echoed Drilon saying, “Senator JV Ejercito is a good, passionate and dedicated man. He proposed laws of long-lasting impact such as the Universal Healthcare Law and the creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. He deserves a fresh term in the Senate.”
Baronda, who served as Ejercito’s chief political officer before becoming the first female representative of Iloilo City to the Lower House, thanked her former boss for facilitating the expansion of the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) and the West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC).
Treñas asked his leaders to support Ejercito because the latter is going to be their go-to guy in the Senate who will complement Baronda and Uswag Ilonggo representatives in pushing for programs and projects that will benefit the Ilonggos.
Ejercito said he is amazed with the transformation of the cityscape of this regional center and vowed to help push for more projects that will benefit the people of Iloilo City.
Ejercito is being credited by the Ilonggos for pushing for the allocation of funds for the establishment of a regional heart and lung center at the WVMC and a heart, lung and kidney center at the WVSUMC.
As one of the staunchest advocates of healthcare and infrastructure development in the Senate during his first term, Ejercito helped secure around P900 million for both projects.
He is set to visit Western Visayas Medical Center today and then fly to Antique, Aklan and Capiz./PN
