Ecija unified leadership seen to end political wars

PALAYAN CITY , Philippines  – A unified leadership with the provincial governor and vice governor sitting in one political party with a shared vision for progress could end the long-standing political divisiveness in Nueva Ecija.

This was the opinion of Gay “GP” Padiernos, vice gubernatorial candidate of the Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago, who said unified leadership would make Nueva Ecija realize its full potentials and blossom into one of the most progressive provinces in the country.

Padiernos, running mate of reelectionist Gov. Aurelio Umali said Nueva Ecija has so much to offer, being a member of the elite billionaires’ club, referring to provinces with at least P1 billion in internal revenue allotment shares from the national government.

“In spite of Nueva Ecija’s inherent natural wealth and potentials, we have not made the quantum leap towards progress because we never have the unified leadership essential in governance,” he said, referring to the prevailing rift between Umali and his rival, Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson.

He said unified leadership would bring about sweeping reforms in Nueva Ecija and make the province graduate from the “sleeping giant” it was long known for, into an industrial mecca and agriculture hub of the country. “It’s unified leadership or it’s bust for Nueva Ecija,” he said.

Umali, thrust into the Capitol following his 2007 victory over a Joson, said the experience of the past three years has made it incumbent upon Novo Ecijanos to go for a unified leadership to keep the engines of the province going.

He said he is already sick and tired and of having to wrestle with the vice governor for approval of the proposed budget. “I need a vice governor who will uphold my programs for the province of Nueva Ecija,” he said, adding that, that man is no other than Padiernos.

Padiernos said, saying governance is all about a governor and a vice governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan supportive of his legislative agenda. “I think it is to the best interest of Nueva Ecija to patronize a tandem that will advance the development agenda of the province. It’s all about teamwork more than rivalry,” Padiernos said.

He said Novo Ecijanos can learn a lesson, or two, from the experiences of Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao and basketball great Michael Jordan whose phenomenal successes were not based solely on exceptional individual skills but also on teamwork.

Padiernos said in a camp, be it in basketball, boxing or in an arena called politics - much more in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Nueva Ecija - team effort is extremely necessary if it is to function efficiently as a unit.