By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the swearing-in of the province’s local government officials to the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the political party of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will promote economic progress at the grassroots level.
“This is a development decision. Our alignment with the administration and the president in terms of political party is a development decision, which is why it is open and being offered to our local government officials,” Defensor said in a press conference on Monday, June 3.
At least 700 local government officials from Iloilo and Guimaras took their oath as PFP members in a ceremony held in Iloilo City on Sunday.
Defensor, who serves as the regional chair of the party, administered the oath of office to the punong barangays. PFP National President and South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. administered the oath of office to the provincial board members, mayors, vice mayors, and councilors.
Notably, 16 incumbent mayors and vice mayors in Iloilo were sworn in as PFP members.
The governor emphasized that joining the president’s party will help expedite developmental projects at the town and barangay levels, such as public markets and health facilities.
“It is one of the important reasons why this alignment is significant: to help us, to get support from the president and bring it to the local level,” he said.
Defensor took his oath as a member of the ruling party in August 2023, which he stressed was a strategic political move for the province’s economic development.
During the Sunday ceremony, the governor stated that the mass recruitment of PFP members in the region is “not for politics, because after this, we will roll up our sleeves and work.”
“We are here to work for the party, for the administration, and for the country,” he added.
The governor also revealed that he has submitted a request to Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Special Assistant to the President, to expedite the proposed establishment of a regional government center in Zarraga.
“We want to have a government center for the province. Our pending request is now being prioritized by the administration […] It would be better if we could host the regional offices of the national government agencies,” he said.
Defensor mentioned that the government center would host frontline government agencies to fast-track the delivery of services.
