Roxas meets Leyte’s political clan in Baybay City

CEBU, Philippines – Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas distributed the Walang Iwanan Fund to 1,000 barangay officials of Baybay City in Leyte during the city’s Barangay Day celebration held at the city gym last December 20.

Barangay Day was part of the daily socio-cultural activities in the run-up to Baybay City’s annual fiesta celebration.

Roxas said the Walang Iwanan Fund, amounting to about P100-billion on a national scale, is distributed to local government units in addition to their respective internal revenue allotment.

This fund is computed at P1,000 per person per LGU, thus, the Baybay City LGU, which has a population of 120,000, will get a total share of P120-million to fund projects deemed necessary by the locals, he said.

Roxas, accompanied by senatorial candidate Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla, the former energy secretary, was visibly pleased at the warm reception he got from Baybay residents as he said he was paying homage to one of the long-existing political dynasties in the country.

Welcoming Roxas were Icot’s brother, Leyte Governor Dominic Petilla and their first cousin, Vice Governor Carlo Petilla Loreto, as well as their relatives, Leyte 5th district Representative Jose Carlos Loreto Cari, with his mother, Baybay City Mayor Carmen Loreto Cari, and brother Vice Mayor Michael Loreto Cari.

Also present was another cousin, Mayor Sandy Javier of Javier town in Leyte, the national president of the League of Mayors in the Philippines.

Other officials of the 5th district who also welcomed Roxas were: Mayors Albert Villahermosa of Hilongos town, Silvestre Lumarda of Inopacan, Daisy Lleve of Mahaplag, and Nile Jertos of Bato.

Icot Petilla, meanwhile, clarified to the Baybayanons that Roxas and they were not in the city to campaign and endorse the candidacies of anyone. (FREEMAN)