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Davao local executives unite for ‘Hugpong’ party

By Lilian Mellejor

February 23, 2018, 10:23 pm

DAVAO CITY – All national political parties stand to lose their allies in the Davao Region after majority of the local chief executives, board members, and councilors pledged allegiance to Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), a newly formed regional political party led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and the four governors of Davao.

In fact, Governor Tyron Uy of Compostela Valley resigned on Friday from the PDP-Laban in order to give more focus to the newly-formed party.

While the membership in the HNP has no conflict with whatever national political party they are affiliated, Uy said he wanted to help in the realization of the vision of HNP.

Davao del Norte Governor Antonio del Rosario said he already resigned from the Liberal Party in November last year. He said he has no problem with the Congressman of the province's first district, Representative Antonio "Tony Boy" Floirendo. House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is the representative of Davao del Norte's second district.

Davao Occidental Governor Claude Bautista, a Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) member, said he could be considered resigned following his joining the HNP. Bautista said his joining of the HNP poses no problem with Representative Lorna Bautista.

On the other hand, Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, a member of the Liberal Party, said he has informed and explained the dynamics of the HNP to former governor and now Representative Corazon Malanyaon.

“No problem with Congresswoman Cora,” Dayanghirang assured. Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas, who was invited, did not come.

Mayor Duterte-Carpio said the governor has asked his staff to ask her about the purpose of the invitation. According to the mayor, Cagas could join HNP later if he wants to.

She said other officials of the Davao Region could also join. Under the Constitution and By-Laws of the HNP, Davao local officials can join if they are not members of any regional political party.

All governors came to the HNP general assembly at the Royal Mandaya Hotel with their mayors, board members, and city and municipal councilors bringing to more than 500 the total number of the delegates.

The creation of HNP is an initiative of Duterte-Carpio to strengthen positions of the Davao Region for progress and development.

It was also the mayor who drafted the HNP Constitution and By-Laws. The mayor said the creation of HNP has the blessings of President Rodrigo Duterte.

She said it has no conflict with his father’s Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod of which she is also a member.

Duterte-Carpio added that the governors have also the support of the President.

The governors would have wanted to personally talk to the President during the Cebu meeting with local officials but they never had the chance to meet him, according to the mayor. In the future elections, Duterte-Carpio said all candidates will run under the banner of HNP.

The mayor said she did not invite too many officials because of limited funds. In his speech during the general assembly, Bautista said HNP is not only for politics.

The party will also look into the overall socio-economic needs of the region and see to it that the region will unite for growth.

Bautista assured this will not only be “ningas kugon” but will be sustained for the realization of the vision for the Davao region.

Del Rosario said this will be for a more resilient and progressive Southern Mindanao and strengthen the region’s economic growth. “We have the moral obligation to lead other regions for economic change,” he said.

During the general assembly, the HNP approved its Constitution and By-Laws.

They also passed a resolution submitting a petition to the Commission on Elections to register HNP as regional political party.

Duterte-Carpio is the chairperson of the HNP; Bautista as president; Dayanghirang as deputy president; Del Rosario as secretary general; and Uy as Treasurer. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)

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