LEGAZPI CITY: While the gubernatorial race in Bicol region’s Masbate and Camarines Sur provinces is heating up, Gov. Joey Salceda of Albay is running uncontested in his turf.

Salceda—in his last term of his office—is running unopposed after former rep. Reno Lim of the third district opted to quit from contesting the incumbent governor because of his inability to get strong support from United Opposition.

Salceda is a political ally and classmate of President Benigno Aquino 3rd but even the United
Opposition is backing his reelection.

The odds are stacked against Lim—the mayors and incumbent lawmakers in Albay province are rallying behind Salceda.

Salceda is a sure winner but he needs to work hard over the reelection bid of his running mate incumbent vice gov. Harold Imperial whose post might go to former vice governors Jesus “James” Calisin and Brando Sael.

Harold Imperial is not as remarkable and competent compared to former vice gov. James Calisin who has the experienced, is proficient and independent—but lacks resources

In 2007, Salceda was elected as the father of the Albayanos after a tumultuous gubernatorial fight. He won over former gov. now Rep. Fernando Gonzalez of the third district of Albay, with a margin of over 37,000.

After his win, Salceda accepted the mandate given to him by the Albayanos anchoring his vital program “Albay Mabuhay, May Buhay, May Hanapbuhay” on his first term of leadership.

Salceda vowed to modernize the economy of Albay through strategic infrastructure, vigorous tourism, agri-modernization, commercial development and energy stabilization to initiate industry as well as protection of environment through robust program to lessen the impact of global warming. This shall be complemented by social expenditures in health, education and livelihood to get rid of poverty.

Immediately after he took his office in Albay, Salceda focused on safe and shared development with a 10-point agenda toward achieving Millennium Development Goal targets by year 2015.

His 10-point agenda includes institutionalization of project Education Quality for Albayanos (Equal). With this the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay passed an ordinance creating the Provincial Education Department (PED) as an independent department in the province.

PED is committed to enhance the quality of education in the province through illiteracy reduction, access, effectiveness and efficient teaching and learning toward achieving universal access to education.

Through project Equal, the government of Albay encouraged individual to access an affordable education through PED programs and projects, with the aim to produce college graduate in each family or household in the province that would enable them to live and work with dignity, harness their potentials and resilient to changing environment.

Following the Equal program of the government of Albay, many poor families in the province were able to send their children to tertiary education.

Albay is also the first local government unit in the country to advocate action on climate change, as Salceda believes judicial activism is warranted by the rising risks of global warming. It is an affirmative action on behalf of next generations of Filipinos by strengthening execution of environmental law.

Because of his strong stewardship campaign for the protection of environment to avert and minimize the worst impact of global warming and disaster risk reduction management schemes, Salceda was declared by the United Nations as senior global champion for Local Governance and Global Model LGU Champion for climate change adaptation.