'TOFF" DE VENECIA SEEKS SECOND TERM. Pangasinan 4th District Representative Christopher de Venecia (center), together with his parents former Congresswoman Gina de Venecia and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Jose de Venecia Jr., presents his certificate of candidacy to newsmen on Monday. (Photo by Liwayway Yparraguirre)
DAGUPAN CITY -- Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher de Venecia has filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) in a bid to seek a second term.
Before filing his COC at the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor here on Monday, the young de Venecia took his oath as member of the Lakas - Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) before the party’s president, Martin Romualdez, at the de Venecia residence in Bonuan Binloc this city.
"I'm thrilled with the new chapter of my career in public service. In joining Lakas-CMD, it feels like a homecoming in a way because I grew up campaigning for Lakas-CMD-UMD, campaigning for my dad. JDV (Jose de Venecia). Now, I’m running under the party," he said.
De Venecia said he decided to run under Lakas-CMD to pay tribute to his father.
"It is a continuation of the legacy. The party was able to bring two Philippine presidents. We have to build upon the gains and the time is right to revive it (Lakas-CMD) once again and back to prominence. This is an exciting new adventure to be part of," he added.
In seeking a second term, de Venecia said he has a “lot of unfinished business,” including advocacies that he would want to push in Congress, among them agriculture, tourism and the creative industry.
"Creative industry is one of the top movers of the Korean economy and that of other countries. They capitalize on the talents of the people. It is about time to advance that in the Philippines. In fact, 11 percent of our labor comes from the creative industry. The time is ripe to advance that through proper policies, creation of a Department of Culture, and many other initiatives, which will put Filipino talent and creativity in the forefront," he added.
Meanwhile, Romualdez said he is optimistic their political party would become vibrant again under the leadership of the young de Venecia.
Lakas-CMD was founded in 1991 by five-time Speaker of the House of Representatives Jose de Venecia Jr., former president Fidel V. Ramos, and former senator Raul Manglapus. (PNA)
