ILOILO City – Weeks ahead of the May 9 national and local elections, Uswag Ilonggo party-list, No. 99 on the ballot, continues to gain ground. It got the backing of the biggest and most influential local political leaders in Western Visayas.
These leaders from the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, ang Negros Occidental believe that Uswag Ilonggo is the fulfillment of a dream of making Region 6 one of the premier regions and centers of progress in the Philippines.
Region 6 governors composed of Florencio Miraflores of Aklan, Rhodora Cadiao of Antique, Esteban Contreras of Capiz, Samuel Gumarin of Guimaras, Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo, and Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental, along with Iloilo City Lone District Cong. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda and Mayor Jerry Treñas; Iloilo province’s 2nd District’s Cong. Michael Gorriceta, 3rd District’s Cong. Lorenz Defensor and 5th District’s Cong. Raul Boboy Tupas; and Capiz 1st District’s Cong. Tawi Billiones have all expressed support to the goals and directions – and especially the five-point agenda – of Uswag Ilonggo, the first ever regional party-list in the region.
Other notable leaders in the region backing Uswag Ilonggo party-list are Mayor Luigi Gorriceta of Pavia, Iloilo; Mayor John Tarrosa of Zarraga, Iloilo; Mayor Junjun Jaen of Leganes, Iloilo; and Mayor Rema Somo of Santa Barbara.
Despite diversities and different political affiliations, the region’s top leaders are optimistic that Uswag Ilonggo can unite all Ilonggos for one universal aspiration – the welfare of the respective constituency.
Defensor, for his part, has long been rallying support for Uswag Ilonggo, a party-list that represents multi-sectoral groups.
“I am endorsing Uswag Ilonggo kay ako nagapati nga ini nga party-list can play a very important role in ensuring the success of many programs of government diri sa aton sa probinsya kag syudad sang Iloilo,” the Iloilo governor said in a statement.
He added, “Uswag Ilonggo is proud ka–Rehiyon 6. Mga utod kag pinalangga, suportahan gid naton ang Uswag Ilonggo. Kita kag ang Uswag Ilonggo isa lang ang tinutuyo kag ini ang mapahapos ang kabuhi sang mga Ilonggo sa aspeto nga mabatyagan nila adlaw-adlaw.”
In a statement, Cadiao was also all praises for Uswag Ilonggo.
“I believe that through Uswag Ilonggo, we can further forward our cause as a region and we can strengthen our strategies to stop this destructive disease and other problems that hinder our progress,” the Antique governor said.
She also believes that when there is unity, Region 6 will be more progressive despite different political affiliations.
“We should work hand in hand for us to gradually rise from the struggles and problems brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. And this is where Uswag Ilonggo Regional Party-list comes in as the manifestation and embodiment of Region 6 as one. We help as one, we rise as one,” Cadiao added.
Moreover, Aklan leaders led by Governor Miraflores are equally optimistic of the many developments that Uswag Ilonggo can bring to their province through its five-point agenda.
Uswag Ilonggo’s five-point agenda are the following:
* the well-being of every Ilonggo family comes first;
* proper healthcare for the poor;
* consistent programs on infrastructure and tourism;
* progress in agriculture and aquaculture (fishing); and
* uphold more scholarships for the youth.
Miraflores assured Uswag Ilonggo of solid support from the Aklanons because they believe that the regional party-list can give louder voice and will be a stronger force in the Congress to effect legislations that are beneficial to Aklan and the whole Region 6.
Also, Treñas echoed the need to send regional party-list Uswag Ilonggo in Congress for the region to have louder voice and stronger force. The Iloilo City mayor believes that Uswag Ilonggo will be very beneficial for the Ilonggos and for the region’s further development.
“Ako si Mayor Jerry Treñas sang Iloilo City kag ginapangabay ko gid ang inyo hamili nga bulig para sa Uswag Ilonggo party-list, No. 99 sa balota. Palihog lang siguruhon ta ang pag-uswag sang aton nga probinsya, ang aton syudad, ang aton rehiyon. Buligan ta gid ang Uswag Ilonggo, No. 99 party-list, sa padayun nga pag-uswag sang aton rehiyon,” Treñas added.
Iloilo City’s congresswoman, meanwhile, affirmed that with Uswag Ilonggo party-list as her partner in Congress, more programs and projects will be implemented in Region 6 that could benefit more Ilonggos. That is why Baronda is calling on all Ilonggos to unite and vote for Uswag Ilonggo Party-list on May 9.
“Patunugon pa gid naton ang tingog ta nga mga Ilonggo sa Kongreso agud nga mas madamo pa gid nga mga kautoran naton ang makabenepsiyo. Uswag Ilonggo ang magkigbatu para sa mga Ilonggo. Uswag Ilonggo ang magabulig sa mga Ilonggo. Uswag Ilonggo ang magaserbisyo todo-todo para sa mga Ilonggo. Maga-uswag pa gid kita pinaagi sa pagsakdag sa Uswag Ilonggo,” Baronda said.
Western Visayas has 5,026,482 registered voters for the May 2022 elections – the biggest voting bloc outside the National Capital Region and Luzon.
Data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed the following breakdown of voter population in the region:
* Iloilo City (330,470)
* Iloilo Province (1,628,752)
* Aklan (409,938)
* Capiz (248,643)
* Antique (387,998)
* Guimaras (124,076)
* Negros Occidental (1,896,605)
As a regional party-list, Uswag Ilonggo works on the mechanisms provided by Republic Act 7941 or the Party-List System Act which is defined as “a mechanism of proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives from marginalized or underrepresented national, regional and sectoral parties, or organizations or coalitions thereof registered with the Comelec.”/PN
