Marquez: Let’s buckle down to work

By Noel R. Cabobos

KALIBO, Aklan – Re-elected governor Carlito Marquez urged elected officials here to start working for a progressive and economically stable province.

“Now is the time to buckle down to work in harmony with everybody regardless of political affiliation so that we can dedicate our time and sincere efforts to achieve our common goal for the province of Aklan,” Marquez said before a jam-packed crowd gathered at the ABL Sports Complex Monday during the mass oath-taking ceremonies of elected officials here.

Marquez, who is enjoying his second term of office after a landslide victory over his three female opponents in the May 14 elections, also welcomed the victory of three opposition board members saying, “I am confident that the election of other political personalities outside the dominant local party as will by our people is an indication of a genuine democracy.”

Similar to the 2004 elections, the dominant Tibyog party got the majority seats in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan against the opposition group which got only four seats.

Rodson Mayor, retired police colonel Nemesio Neron, Ramon Gelito, and re-elected board member Daisy Briones are part of the minority.

The majority seats are held mostly by re-electionist board members under Tibyog Party, Pedro Garcia, Gerick Templonuevo, Selwyn Ibarreta, Plaridel Morania, and Jose Yap Jose.

Board members and Jean Rodriquez of Tibyog are the only first-timers of the majority group.

TWIN THRUST

In his inaugural address Monday, Marquez said he will continue to focus on his “twin priorities” of tourism and agricultural development.

“Rightly so because these couple of program focus will always have the multiplier and domino effect on the other sectors of development — economic, social and infrastructure development,” he said, stressing “we still don’t see any urgent deviation from these priorities, although preservation and enhancement of the environment should always go hand in hand with these program sectors.”

P10.2-BILLION INDUSTRY

During his inaugural address the other day graced by Cong. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo of the 5th District of Negros Occidental, Marquez reported an upbeat accomplishment by transforming the Aklan tourism industry into a P10.2-billion industry in terms of tourism receipts annually with tourist arrivals hitting the more than half-a-million mark as of last year.

“By 2010, we project one million visitors coming to Aklan, especially that our Kalibo airport has just turned international with flights direct from South Korea,” he said.