Guv assures "opposition" PB members of funding

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Two elected 'opposition' members of the Iloilo Provincial Board will be joining the majority on July 1 but were apprehensive that, like in previous years, they could not get their P 1 million community development assistance fund (CDAF) for "being uncooperative."

Reelected Governor Arthur Defensor Sr, however, assured them that they will get their CDAF as long as they will be cooperative with him and to their fellow PB members.

The two PB member-elects were incumbent Maria Shalene Hidalgo of the 4th district and newly-elected Jesus Salcedo (5th district), both of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party, while the two PB members who did not get their CDAF in the past were Gerardo Flores (1st district) and reelected Nielo Tupas (5th district).

Reports had it that their CDAFs were not given to them because Nielo is the son of former Gov. Niel Tupas while Flores has been a known ally of the Tupases. During those years, political kingpins Tupas and Defensor were political enemies and were only united during the 2013 elections.

Defensor said he was expecting that Hidalgo—his goddaughter—will support his projects such as infrastructures and other services like health, education and beautification. "We are not political enemies but only political adversaries," he said.

The governor said he will start his second term by July and, by then, start distributing the P1 million CDAF to 13 PB members of this province so they could start implementing projects for their respective districts.

Defensor, however said if ever the CDAF of the opposition PB members will not be given to them, these will be directly distributed to municipalities down to the barangays, adding that the granting of the CDAF is under his discretion.

Hidalgo, for her part, pledged to support the present administration of Defensor, saying that elections are over and all she will do now is to focus more on helping her constituents.

The other elected PB members are Dennis Valencia and San Joaquin town Mayor Nimfa Garin (1st district); incumbents June Mondejar and Demetrio Sonza (2nd district); incumbents Licurgo Tirador and Emmanuel Gallar, (3rd district); and Mitch Monfort Bautista (4th district).

The ex-officio members are Liga ng mga Barangay-Iloilo president Jeneda Salcedo, Sangguniang Kabataan-Iloilo Federation president Charmine Devicente and Philippines Councilors-Leaque outgoing president Suzette Alquisada who incidentally was elected mayor of Tigbauan town.  (FREEMAN)