TOUCHING BASE WITH OLD POLITICAL ALLIES

From 1998 to 2007, the political partnership between me and then Vice Governor Jesus Sacdalan posted what is considered as one of the biggest economic turn-arounds for a poor province.

In the nine years that we worked together, we brought down the poverty incidence per family from 52% to 29%.

We implemented such innovations in governance as the Study-Now-Pay-Later Program, Plant-Now-Pay-Later Program, Jobs for Economic Enhancement Program allowing job seekers to borrow money from the provincial government to pay for placement fees, plow-Now-Pay-Later Program which provided tractor services to farmers payable upon harvest and a provincial health insurance called Cotabato Health Insurance Program which covered the ground excess payables of PhilHealth.

Together, we envisioned the construction of an airport in M’lang, North Cotabato to facilitate travel and transport of our products to the markets outside of the province.

Sadly, the airport has remained unoperational until today, over 10 years after the runway was constructed and completed, a victim of petty politics.

Ours was a strong political partnership as we both won two reelections.

We parted politically in 2010 when he won as Congressman while I lost in my bid to regain the Governorship.

Our families have been reunited both on a personal and political level.

Today, I visited Cong. Susing in his home in Midsayap town to renew the friendship again and also to validate what other projects the Agriculture Department could deliver to his constituents.

The people of North Cotabato who delivered 86% of the presidential votes to then Mayor Rody Duterte are hoping for the best under this administration.

The strengthening of relationships is needed to fastrack the delivery of services and realize the dreams of our people.

(Photo shows me with Cong. Susing and his son and political successor Joel. Photo by Mayette Tudlas)