SULONG ZAMBALES PARTY LAUNCHED
IBA, Zambales – To bind Zambaleños towards progress, participatory governance, and greater economic opportunities, Gov. Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. and allied public officials and residents launched on Wednesday the Sulong Zambales Party (SZP), the first local political party to be formed in the province.
The grand launching, which was held at the jam-packed Zambales provincial gymnasium in this town, was attended by party stalwarts, chapter members, and supporters from the 13 towns of Zambales. Ebdane, who is also the party chairman, likewise used the event to explain the party platform, present the officials of the party at the provincial level, and announce the party line-up in the coming May 2013 elections.
According to Ebdane, the Sulong Zambales Party will be known for its People Programs, which aim to develop and maximize yield from human resources, Adherence to Rule of Law, which shall be manifested by good governance and able leadership that promotes transparency, social responsibility, and accountability in public service, Peace and Order based on respect for human dignity and the physical and moral security and safety of the citizenry, Economic Opportunities, that will uplift the lives and livelihood of the people through sustainable development, internally generated growth, and access to the ‘s resources; and Participating Governance, which will bring about the widest possible participatory democracy and leadership by implementing decentralization, strengthening local government autonomy, promoting gender equality, and ensuring equal opportunity for all.
Ebdane said the SZP was conceived as early as after the May 2010 elections, but the organization was formally created only in March this year. Then on September 12, after having been found to be compliant with all the requirements set by the Commission on Election (Comelec), the party’s petition for registration and accreditation was granted by the poll body.
Ebdane said he thought of forming a local political party to tap the capability of local leaders who, despite belonging to different and opposing national political parties, proved to be effective in implementing local development initiatives under his administration. “Now, under the Sulong Zambales Party, we can do away with the inherent conflict from being affiliated with various national parties, and we can therefore focus our energies to developing our community and serving our provincemates,” he said. “The best part of having a local party is that local officials do not have to keep jumping from one party to another upon any change in the administration. They can remaining members of their respective national parties, yet will be able to work with us in the provincial level,” Ebadane explained.
The governor also stressed that all members of the new party will be bound by the party principles. Aside from the governor, the other officers of the party are: Zambales Second District Rep. Jun Omar Ebdane, who is party president; former Subic mayor Jeffrey Khonghun, vice-chairman for the !st Legistlative District of Zambales, former Masinloc mayor Jessu Edora, vice-chairman for the Second Legislative District; Vice-Gov Ramon Lacbain II, secretary; and Candelaria Mayor Jean Moraña, treasurer. In the municipal level, the officials of the Sulong Zambales Party are: Mayor Jay Khonghun, chapter chairman for Subic town; former Mayor Wilma Billman, Castillejos chairperson; Mayor Jose Rodriguez, for San Marcelino; Zambales Electric Cooperative (ZAMECO) Dir. Leo Lonzanida, San Antonio; Mayor Peter Lim, San Narciso; Mayor Carolyn Fariñas, San Felipe; Mayor Ronald Apostol, Cabangan; businesswoman Doris Maniquis for Botolan; Jun Rundy Ebdane for the capital town of Iba; Mayor Generoso Amog for Palauig; Mayor Desiree Edora, Masinloc; businessman Napoleon Edquid, Candelaria; and Mayor Luisito marty for Sta. Cruz.
In the same occasion, the chapter chairman also presented the respective candidates for mayor, vice-mayor and councilors for the 13 towns of Zambales. Party officials said that of the party’s 13 candidates for town mayor, only four are not incumbents who will be bidding for re-election this coming May. Three mayoralty bets under the SZP slate are formerly allied with the governor’s opponent in the 2010 election, but have since cooperated with the Ebdane administration. Ebdane himself will be making a second bid for the governorship, while Lacbain, who won the vice-governor’s port as an independent in 2010, will be Ebdane’s running mate. For the First Legislative District, the party will be fielding Khonghun as congressional candidate, while incumbent Rep. Jun Omar Ebdane will be seeking re-election in the Second Legislative District.
