Young legislators to gather in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines -  Young legislators from across the country will gather in Cebu City from Thursday until Saturday this week to elect the members of its National Executive Council.

Cebu Board Member Miguel Antonio Magpale will run unopposed for vice president for the Visayas, said NMYL Cebu Chapter President and Catmon Councilor Earl Tidy Oyas.

 â€œAs president sa Cebu Province, I’ll see to it nga taas ato attendance sa Cebu chapter considering nga one of our members is a candidate (As president of the Cebu province chapter, I’ll see to it that many members will be attending, considering that one of us is running for a seat),” Oyas said. Cebu chapter has around 90 members.

NMYL is a group composed of vice governors, vice mayors, and members of the city and municipal councils who are 40 years old and below and elected in the last election.

The three legislators vying for national president are Bayugan City Councilor Kirk Asis, Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste, and Bataan PB Member Ares Gaza.

Magpale is running under Asis’ group, incumbent regional chairman of  NMYL Caraga Region.

Asis is confident of getting the support of the Visayas and Mindanao bloc. His opponents are from the Luzon area. He told The FREEMAN that each region is also represented in his slate.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas will be the keynote speaker during the opening ceremony on Thursday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

Roxas has issued a memorandum enjoining all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors to attend the conference.

Senators Juan Edgardo Angara and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV are also expected to grace the opening activity and deliver separate messages.

The election will be held in the evening of day.

During the oath taking of newly-elected officers on Friday evening, NMYL past presidents will give their solidarity messages. These include Senator Francis Pangilinan, Postmaster General Josie dela Cruz, Marikina City Mayor Del de Guzman, Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Quezon City Councilor Julian ML Coseteng and Alicia, Isabela Mayor Cecilia Claire Reyes.  (FREEMAN)