GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes and other top incumbent officials in the province formally launched their re-election bids on Wednesday afternoon.
Fuentes, who is seeking a third term, filed her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC)-Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) slate past 3 p.m. at the Commission in Elections provincial office in Koronadal City.
Her running mate, incumbent Vice Gov. Vicente de Jesus, and long-time ally South Cotabato second district Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez, also filed their candidacies for reelection.
“We’re here to continue what we have started for the development and progress of our province,” said Fuentes, who is running under the slogan “Abanse South Cotabato”.
Dubbed “Team Abanse,” their provincial board slate is led by re-electionist Board Members Ester Marin-Catorce, Eamon Matti, Gly Trabado, Ellen Grace Albios, Dardanilo Dar and Hilario de Pedro VI.
The other aspirants are Jinky Avance, Samuel Ladot, Ireneo Cabahug, and Antonio Fungan, who is on his third term as mayor of Lake Sebu town.
Before filing their candidacies, the team joined a proclamation rally with hundreds of their supporters at the provincial capitol covered court.
“I’m so touched with the turnout of our supporters, especially those from our tribal communities,” Fuentes said.
The governor said she will push for more reforms at the provincial government to further improve and expand its services.
She added that she will continue to prioritize the province’s infrastructure development, especially the opening and upgrading of road networks “leading to the farthest sitios”.
“We will implement more programs that will help bring in more jobs for our people and further reduce our unemployment rate,” she said.
Fuentes will be challenged by third-term Tupi town Mayor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., who filed his COC on Tuesday with running-mate third-term Koronadal City Councilor Mark Lapidez.
Tamayo, current president of the province’s League of Municipalities, has forged an alliance with former South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. and third-term Koronadal City Mayor Peter Miguel.
Pingoy filed his COC for mayor of Koronadal City while Miguel will be gunning for the vice mayoral post. (/PNA)
