Former governor Abraham Kahlil Mitra said he will focus on completing the access road from the east to the west coast in the town of Aborlan if he wins in the third congressional district in the upcoming polls.
Speaking with the media during a gathering on Friday, December 20, Mitra said that having been a chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, he wants to push for more agricultural developments in the town. One of his priorities is completing the access road to the town’s west coast barangays of Aporawan and Culandanum.
“Merong Culandanum and Aporawan na inumpisahan ni Gov. Joel and tinuloy ko, pero walang nangyari. Dalawang gobernador na yung sumunod sa amin pero hindi pa rin na-a-access yung west coast, may mga congressman na rin na sumunod sa akin,” Mitra said.
“We want that road to be finished in three years,” he added.
Furthermore, he said he also wants to continue the projects left behind by late Rep. Edward Hagedorn, who passed away in October 2023.
He said he was able to talk with Hagedorn’s widow, Ma. Elena Hagedorn, to discuss the projects, adding that many of them were either shelved or changed.
“Meron akong list ng projects na nakalista at nung nawala siya, pinalitan. ‘Yung iba natanggal sa budget. So I told Manang Ellen na kung anuman yung naiwan, including the support to the CWF (Charity Women’s Foundation),” he said.
Incidentally, Hagedorn’s son, Elroy John, entered the race at the last minute and filed his Certificate of Candidacy for the 3rd Congressional District, running against Mitra and Atty. Gil Acosta Jr.
Mitra, however, said he respects the younger Hagedorn’s decision, adding that he has every right to run for any position in the 3rd District.
He also expressed gratitude to the late congressman for their past collaboration.
“He has helped me in the past and naniniwala ako sa mga ginawa niya at mga nasimulan niya and I want to continue that. Meron akong listahan ng mga projects niya na hindi na-introduce,” he said.
“That’s one of the major priorities kasi dumaan yun sa consultation, sa proseso. And nakakalungkot kasi nung nawala siya, nawala rin yung mga projects at napalitan,” he concluded.
