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After three years of debilitating
conflict, the two political stalwarts of Romblon have finally
reconciled. On Tuesday Gov. Perpetuo “Totoy” Ylagan (NPC) and
former congressman and governor Eleandro “Budoy” Madrona (Lakas)
have agreed that the interest of the province will be better served
if they were united.
The terms of
unity are still being spelled out, but it is likely that the two
will join forces this coming elections. Most of the mayors, believe
that congressional candidate Madrona will have better chances of
winning if he is supported by Ylagan. Ylagan, on the other hand, may
run for reelection if he is drafted by Budoy and the party
convention.
The two
quarreled after the last elections when Budoy was beaten by Cong.
Eduardo Firmalo, caused by the latter’s overwhelming win in
vote-rich town of Odiongan. Thinking that Ylagan collaborated with
Firmalo in that election, Madrona broke ties with Ylagan. It was
only later that both found out that their quarrel was based on false
reports (kuryente).
Observers
think that the quarrel of the two have been detrimental to the
interest of Romblon. As a result of the conflict, the budget of the
province prepared by Ylagan was not passed twice, resulting in the
delays of projects. It was said that Budoy’s camp blocked all the
initiatives of Ylagan in the province legislature.
With the new
alliance, the political onus shifts to Firmalo who happens to be the
Kampi chairman in the province and GMA’s closest ally. A former
opposition who joined President GMA three years ago, he is left with
no viable alliance in the province. He will now have to rely on the
vote-getting value of his projects in the province and his local
alliances. He will also have to make sure that the Odionganon, his
reliable base, will vote for him this time.
The political
contest in the province is heating up because of perception that the
province has been chosen as a tourist center under the Mega Regions
Project of President GMA. A private sector-initiated international
airport is now being planned in Carabao Island in support of Boracay
and also to create a second tourist front in Tablas which is being
billed as the Second Boracay.
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