Socrates promises “good governance” if elected

Palawan vice-governor Dennis Socrates vowed to pursue “good governance” as his guiding principle if he wins the gubernatorial polls in May next year.

Socrates also vowed to continue the programs initiated by the current administration particularly its focus on infrastructure development and health.

“Ever since my entry into politics, ang aking adbokasiya was always good governance. Hindi ako marunong gumawa ng mga tulay, hindi ako marunong magpatayo ng gusali. Pero gusto kong makita na gumagana ang gobyerno as it should,” Socrates told reporters following the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s regular session Tuesday.

Socrates also vowed to continue the programs already started by the current administration under its Infrastructure, Health, Education, Livelihood, Protection of the Environment (IHELP) program.

One of these programs is the “Programang Pang-Edukasyon para sa Palawan,” a scholarship granted to Palawan-based students studying medicine or health-related courses.

“Kailangan na tuloy-tuloy nga ‘yon, at hindi natin mapabayaan. Lalo na sa mga medical scholars natin, kailangang continuous ang pag-aaral nila, lalo na at marami tayong mga ospital na nangangailangan ng doktor,” he said.

Socrates will be running under his current party list, Partidong Pagbabago ng Palawan (PPP). He said that this was expected of him, as he had been vice governor for nine years. He stated that he does not believe in polls as well when asked if he could gauge his chances of winning.

“I have no choice but to run for governor, kasi I’m graduating as vice governor. Feeling ko, it’s really an obligation, kasi ang trabaho ng vice-governor ay pag-aralan ang trabaho ng governor, maghanda na humalili,” he said.

“Hindi ko alam ang chances. I am not a believer in surveys. Even surveys can be wrong, ang tao ay puwedeng magbago ang isip the night before [the election]. Sa aking larangan sa pulitika, hindi ako nagkukuwenta kung mananalo o matatalo ba,” he added.