My Beloved Mlang! Mayor Abonado, VMayor Piñol Unopposed in Reelection Bid

For the first time in the history of my birthplace, Mlang, all of the leaders, from the barangay chairmen to the municipal officials and the incumbent Congressman, have agreed to set aside local political differences to rally behind my bid for the Senate in 2022.

Also making history are incumbent Mayor Russel Abonado and Vice Mayor Joselito Piñol, a former 3-term Mayor, whose bid for reelection is unopposed.

More than just the number of votes, estimated at 60,000, the unity shown by the local political leaders is a huge morale booster for me as I go up against the big names in national politics to bring to the national attention the problems confronting Philippine agriculture and fisheries and the solutions which I had crafted.

I was Mayor of my hometown from 1995 to 1998, winning as a last minute substitute to my ailing father who later died of brain cancer, before I was elected Governor of North Cotabato in 1998.

It was in Mlang where I, a former journalist turned accidental politician, developed my advocacies for simplified and focused governance.

I designed a program called W-L-R-L-P, letters which stood for the most basic needs of my town at that time – Water, Light, Roads, Livelihood and Peace.

With meager funding provided by then President Fidel V. Ramos, I built Level II water systems in the barangays, installed power connections, opened rural roads, provided livelihood projects and worked to settle disputes to attain peace.

The success of this simplified approach in governance and my hardline stance against criminality catapulted me to the Governorship after only one term as Mayor.

Today, just like 26 years ago, I know that problems confronting my hometown and all other farming towns all over the country – the twisted policies to ensure stable national food supply which has resulted to the flooding of imported food commodities like rice, chicken, pork and others.

My hometown is a rice farming town with two main irrigation systems and rice farmers now are suffering from the unprecedented low prices of their produce and soaring costs of farm inputs.

Modesty aside, I know how to address these problems through the introduction of legislations which would establish correct policies that allows the.country to fulfill its commitment to international treaties while at the same time ensuring that the local farmers, fishermen and food producers are not injured.

This Senate run is for them whose voices had not been listened to by our policy makers and economic managers.

Salamat, mga kasimanwa ko.

Just like before, I promise that I will not bring shame to our town and province, instead the realization of our dreams.

#UnitedWeWillPrevail!

(Photos by Bernardo Adelantar Tayong, Jr.)