CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — At least 28,000 local officials in Bulacan joined the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) in a mass oath-taking Monday at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center in Barangay Bulihan, this city.
Among them were Bulakan town Mayor Patrick Meneses and Calumpit Mayor Jessie de Jesus. So far, 18 out of 24 mayors in Bulacan are already members of the ruling party.
Monday’s occasion was attended by PDP Laban top officials led by Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, who administered the mass oath-taking, House Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
Pimentel told the participants that there was a great need for unity among their ranks to push for the change in a unitary form of government to federalism.
He said the party’s battle cry this time is “Magkaisa sa Federalismo!”
So far, Pimentel said the change from unitary form of government to federalism was the only election promise of President Rodrigo Duterte that has not yet been fulfilled.
Alvarez, for his part, said that substantial accomplishments had been attained in President Duterte’s three other promises, namely war on illegal drugs, criminality and graft and corruption.
Meanwhile, also present in the mass oath-taking of PDP Laban in Bulacan were the possible senatorial candidates of the party for the 2019 elections.
They were Reps. Carlo Alexis Nograles, Zajid Mangungudatu, Monsour del Rosario, Geraldine Roman; Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Francis Tolentino.
All of them cited the administration party’s efforts in uplifting the lives of the ordinary people.
Aside from federalism, other issues discussed included the free tuition for all state colleges and universities in the country and free irrigation fees for farmers who have eight hectares and below of farmlands. (Manny Balbin/PNA)
