Set aside partisan politics, Aurora politicians urged

BALER, Aurora, Philippines – Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, fresh from securing a third and last term as provincial chief executive, has called on local leaders to concentrate on solving the problems of Aurora and set aside partisan politics over the next three years.

In her inaugural address last Friday, Angara-Castillo vowed that her administration will observe a political moratorium on the remaining three years of her term and instead channel her energies on addressing unemployment and the needs of the out-of-school youth, indigenous groups, senior citizens and people with disabilities, as part of her six-point development agenda.

“Let’s have no politics in the coming three years,” she said in Filipino.

Angara-Castillo said she would pursue her education agenda regardless of whether the beneficiaries are her political leaders or not.

She urged local leaders to rally behind her programs, saying no matter how good a leader is, she needs the support of everyone.

Vice Gov. Gerardo Noveras, who ran for re-election against Angara-Castillo’s nephew Rommel, said he is renewing his vow not to be an obstacle to the governor’s pursuit of her development agenda for the province.

“There was never a single instance when the governor harassed me and that’s why I vowed never to block all her development agenda. I make this same commitment now as I did in 2007,” he said.

The governor’s nephew, Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara of the lone congressional district of Aurora, who graced the joint oath taking of provincial and municipal officials, said he has filed a bill providing for universal coverage of PhilHealth insurance to Aurorans and all Filipinos.