THE mayoral race in the third-class municipality of San Simon, Pampanga continues to tighten as the fifth candidate for the top position formalized his election bid on Friday afternoon, October 8, 2021.
Allan “Bong” Garcia of Barangay San Isidro beat the Commission on Elections’ deadline as he was able to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) a little past 3 p.m. on the last day of filing.
Garcia, who is running under the Partido Aksyon Demokratiko, was joined by his lineup vice-mayoral bet Jordan Clinton and aspiring councilors Eva Malonzo, Edwin Canlas, Jessie Uson, Danilo Caparas, Romeo Basilio and Jonald Castañeda, who also filed their respective COCs.
“I am not running for mayor. I am applying to be a working mayor of San Simon,” said Garcia when asked about his reason to join politics.
If elected, the aspiring mayor said he will prioritize the development of social programs in town, especially in the health sector.
“We are introducing a new breed of governance which is god-fearing, transparent, and will bring hope to the people of San Simon,” Garcia said.
Garcia is also presenting a short-term development program for the town that includes upgrading to a second-class municipality.
“Kapag nareclassify na po ang atin bayan into a second-class municipality, aangat ang ekonomiya ng ating bayan. Tataas ang atin IRA (internal revenue allotment), lalaki ang sahod ng manggagawa pati ng ating barangay workers,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Garcia assured that his team will be compliant with the existing health protocols as he plans to meet with different communities to present his platforms come the election period.
“It will be a pocket-style meeting dahil pami-pamilya or grupo-grupo po ang pagkikita natin. Ang top priority po natin ay kaligtasan ng bawat isa kaya pag-iingat po ang number 1 goal namin,” he added.
Prior to his entry to politics, Garcia worked as a graduate studies professor at Don Honorio Ventura State University.
He was also a former Project Director of the Department of Science and Technology, and a Regional Assessor for the Commission on Higher Education.
Aside from Garcia, four other candidates namely incumbent Mayor Abundio “Jun” Punsalan Jr., Acting Mayor Leonora Wong, Acting Vice Mayor Honorato “Keko” Almario, and businessman Joel “Jojo” Gutierrez are also eyeing the mayoralty seat.
