ITOGON, Benguet – Three-term Mayor and Congressional aspirant Victorio T. Palangdan vowed to bring together all independent candidates aspiring for various elected positions in the provincial and municipal levels to embrace a common cause that will help in advancing the growth and development of Benguet under their watch once he wins in the upcoming May 2022 synchronized national and local elections.
Palangdan stated that he will initiate the unification of all independent candidates in the provincial and municipal levels for them to have a common cause of working for the benefit of the people of Benguet to ensure that the province will not be left behind in the future.
He claimed that the significant number of independent candidates in the provincial and municipal levels only shows their strong desire to serve their constituents without strings attached which is aligned with his earlier advocacy on being independent in decision-making so as not to be tied up with certain personalities or parties wanting to dictate the implementation of programs, projects and activities that run counter to the prevailing situation on the ground.
The graduating local chief executive expressed hope he will be able to unify most of the independent candidates before the 45-day campaign period so that they will have one voice in advancing their platform of government for the people to be able to understand their objective in getting their acts together because what matters is the welfare of the greater majority of the populace.
According to him, he will personally engage the independent candidates to support their common cause of establishing a better Benguet to pave the way for its gradual and safe recovery from the ongoing health crisis so that the province will not be left out in terms of development.
Palangdan is setting his sights on the province’s lone congressional post under his Independent Benguet Party which he established to advance his cause of making the province independent in the future after achieving the degree of development that will make the province independent.
He will be pitted against Benguet caretaker congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep. Eric Yap, former Gov. Crecensio Pacalso, lawyers Torzon Keith and Samson Paran.
The congressional aspirant has been going around the province consulting with tribal elders and concerned sectors on the appropriate platform of government he will carry once the 45-day campaign period will start on March 25, 2022 for him to be able to win the votes of the province’s electorate.
Of the aspirants for the province’s lone congressional post, three of them, particularly, Yap, Pacalso and Palangdan, come from Itogon which is one of the vote-rich municipalities among the 13 towns of Benguet and second to the capital town of La Trinidad.
Palangdan emphasized that the independent candidates will have to consolidate their platforms of government and work on a common stand on various issues and concerns confronting the province in a bid to become a formidable force to reckon with in the upcoming synchronized national and local elections. By HENT