Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan Delos Santos.
Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan Delos Santos.

CATBALOGAN CITY, (PNA) — Despite being a stalwart member of the Nacionalist People’s Coalition in Samar province, Governor Sharee Ann Tan said she will be supporting the candidacy of Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Mar Roxas.

Her support stems from the massive support the province received during Roxas’ stint as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The massive government assistance to this poor province came through distribution of police patrol jeepneys to poor towns, post-Yolanda reconstruction of local government-owned buildings, and water system projects for waterless communities.

“We saw for ourselves how Secretary Mar helped the province and we cannot just ignore the support he has given us,” Tan said.

In May 2015, 23 brand new units of multi-role patrol jeeps were issued by DILG to towns in Samar province. Roxas then said the patrol jeeps would help the local police force maintain the peace and order situation in Samar against communist rebels, who often clash with government troops in the area, causing violence, damages, and disruptions to daily life of innocent civilians.

In post Yolanda time, the province received Php16.52 million to fund special projects under the Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) phase 1 project of the DILG.

This went to the rehabilitation of municipal halls, public markets and civic centers. Samar still received a second tranche of the post typhoon fund through RAY phase 2 projects in the amount of Php82.43 million.

RAY 2 funds are for rehabilitation of identified village facilities. Under this, Samar has 138 special projects which some have already been completed before Typhoon Yolanda had its second commemoration earlier this month.

The Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat (Salintubig) Program, which started in 2011, has also been brought to Samar by Roxas, according to Tan.

Salintubig is designed to provide grant financing and capacity development programs to enhance/improve capacities of the LGUs and water service providers in planning, implementation and operation and management of water supply facilities in a sustainable manner and for the implementation of water supply projects in waterless towns.

Liberal Party's presidential bet Mar. Roxas.
Liberal Party’s presidential bet Mar. Roxas.

It also covers poorest villages with high level of waterborne diseases; resettlement areas.

“It’s not hard to support him because he’s been truly helping us. What will that make of us if we were not to support him?” Tan said.

Meanwhile, Tan assured majority support from the local chief executives and municipalities for Roxas’ presidential bid.

The ruling Tan clan, which includes Samar Representative Milgrosa, the governor’s mother, and her brother Samar Vice Governor Stephen James, belong to the Nationalist People’s Coalition and Nacionalista Party, respectively.

However, Tan said their province never suffered discrimination during the Aquino administration. “And we will repay that with our support,” she added. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/AHLETTE C. REYES