Incumbent Mayor Amy R. Alvarez of San Vicente has assumed the role of standard bearer for the ruling Partidong Pagbabago ng Palawan (PPP), with strong backing from her party mates, who are confident she will bring fresh vigor and drive to an already dynamic political landscape in the province.
Vice Governor Leoncio N. Ola, who had initially planned to run for governor alongside One-Pacman Partylist Representative Mikee Romero, stepped aside in favor of Amy, opting instead to pursue reelection as vice-governor.
The PPP lineup for next year’s local polls was also announced during the party convention held at the Citystate Asturias Hotel on Saturday, September 14.
Amy, the daughter of 2nd District Representative Jose Ch. Alvarez, is currently serving her second term as mayor of San Vicente town in northern Palawan.
Rumors of her potential gubernatorial bid had been circulating well before the PPP convention. It was the party members who first put her name forward, advocating for her to become the party’s standard-bearer in the upcoming elections.
However, she dismissed these speculations, stating that she intended to seek reelection as mayor of San Vicente.
“Dahil sa sudden withdrawal of our party mate Cong. Mikee Romero due to personal reasons, the party met and made so many consultations, and unanimously, the party leaders decided that I will be the candidate of PPP in this gubernatorial election,” Amy explained.
“Last year pa ang hingi ng mga mayor na sana ako ang magiging next governor,” she stated. “Ngayon lahat ng board members and mayors, and of course, my dad, believe that I am the right candidate for governor,.”
Amy has faced criticism for not being born in the Philippines and not being a native of Palawan.
However, she stressed that, despite her birthplace, she is Filipino.
“I have been living here for the last eight years. So, for me, to serve the people, never in my wildest dreams na magpasok sa pulitika. Pero as soon as I stepped in, I fell in love with serving all my constituents,” she said.
Meanwhile, PPP’s candidates for board member include incumbent members Juan Antonio Alvarez, Roseller Pineda, and Winston Arzaga, along with former board members Cherry Pie Acosta and Ramon Zabala for the 1st District; incumbent members Ariston Arzaga, Al Nashier Ibba, Marivic Roxas, and Ryan Maminta for the 2nd District; and board member Rafael Ortega Jr. for the 3rd District.
The party also officially endorsed former representative Franz Joseph George Alvarez for the 1st Congressional District, PPP stalwart and incumbent 2nd District Representative Jose C. Alvarez for the 2nd District, and former Representative Gil Acosta Jr. for the 3rd District.
Additionally, the party has endorsed a complete slate for 22 municipalities, with one exception: the town of Quezon, where two candidates vying for the top post are both PPP members. Board member Ryan Maminta explained that these candidates will need to seek nomination from their respective national parties.
*** BASAHIN SA WIKANG PILIPINO ***
Si incumbent Mayor Amy R. Alvarez ng San Vicente ang itinalaga bilang bagong standard bearer ng ruling Partidong Pagbabago ng Palawan (PPP), na may buong suporta mula sa kanyang mga kapartido na naniniwalang magdadala siya ng bagong sigla at lakas sa patuloy na nagbabagong political landscape sa lalawigan.
Si Vice Governor Leoncio N. Ola, na inanunsyo noong State of the Province Address (SOPA) noong September 3 na siya ay tatakbo bilang gobernador kasama si One-Pacman Partylist Representative Mikee Romero, ay nagbigay-daan kay Amy at nagpasyang muling tumakbo bilang bise gobernador.
Inanunsyo rin ang line-up ng PPP para sa lokal na eleksyon sa susunod na taon sa ginanap na party convention sa Citystate Asturias Hotel noong Sabado, September 14.
Si Amy, anak ni 2nd District Representative Jose Ch. Alvarez, ay kasalukuyang nasa ikalawang termino bilang mayor ng bayan ng San Vicente sa hilagang bahagi ng Palawan.
Matagal nang umuugong ang mga balita tungkol sa posibilidad ng kanyang pagtakbo bilang gobernador bago pa man ang PPP convention. Ang mga kapartido mismo ang nag-udyok sa kanya na tumakbo at nagpahiwatig ng suporta para maging standard bearer ng partido sa darating na halalan.
Gayunpaman, itinanggi niya noon ang mga usapin, at sinabing tatakbo siyang muli bilang mayor ng San Vicente.
“Dahil sa sudden withdrawal of our party mate Cong. Mikee Romero due to personal reasons, the party met and made so many consultations, and unanimously, the party leaders decided that I will be the candidate of PPP in this gubernatorial election,” paliwanag ni Amy.
“Last year pa ang hingi ng mga mayor na sana ako ang magiging next governor,” dagdag pa niya. “Ngayon lahat ng board members and mayors, and of course, my dad, believe that I am the right candidate for governor.”
Nahaharap si Amy sa ilang puna dahil hindi siya ipinanganak sa Pilipinas at hindi diumano tubong Palawan.
Gayunpaman, iginiit niya na siya ay tunay na Pilipino.
“I have been living here for the last eight years. So, for me, to serve the people, never in my wildest dreams na magpasok sa pulitika. Pero as soon as I stepped in, I fell in love with serving all my constituents,” ani Amy.
Samantala, ang mga kandidato ng PPP para sa board member ay kinabibilangan ng mga incumbent na sina Juan Antonio Alvarez, Roseller Pineda, at Winston Arzaga, kasama ang mga dating board members na sina Cherry Pie Acosta at Ramon Zabala para sa 1st District; mga incumbent na sina Ariston Arzaga, Al Nashier Ibba, Marivic Roxas, at Ryan Maminta para sa 2nd District; at si board member Rafael Ortega Jr. para sa 3rd District.
Opisyal ding inendorso ng partido si dating Representative Franz Joseph George Alvarez para sa 1st Congressional District, ang stalwart ng PPP at incumbent na 2nd District Representative Alvarez para sa 2nd District, at si dating Representative Gil Acosta Jr. para sa 3rd District.
Bukod dito, inendorso ng partido ang isang kumpletong line-up para sa 22 munisipalidad, maliban sa bayan ng Quezon, kung saan dalawang kandidato para sa pinakamataas na posisyon ang parehong miyembro ng PPP. Paliwanag ni board member Ryan Maminta, ang dalawang kandidato ay kailangang maghanap ng nominasyon mula sa kanilang mga respective national parties.
