LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – House Ways and Means Committee Chairman and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said on Wednesday that the election of Sen. Francis Joseph "Chiz" G. Escudero as Senate President was a golden moment for Bicol.
SALCEDA (FB)
Salceda said that Escudero's "transformative leadership as governor of Sorsogon" was a guide for developing the rest of the region.
Escudero served one term as governor of Sorsogon from 2019 to 2022.
Salceda's remark was based when the Bicolano senator became a governor of Sorsogon province, which he cited "transformative leadership as governor of Sorsogon" as a guide for developing the rest of the region.
“It’s certainly a rare opportunity to get things done for Bicol, especially since the region also has a strong and well-placed delegation in the House,” Salceda said.
“By the time Senate President Chiz term as governor ended, Sorsogon’s GDP was growing at an eye-popping 12.2 percent annually, the fastest in Bicol when the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) released its first ever provincial accounts. This was driven by innovations in governance, high-quality public works, and a sense of political unity in the province under a strong leadership” Salceda added.
Salceda said that is the way to move forward for Bicol and Escudero is in the best place to help push for the continuation of the railway project up to Matnog in Sorsogon province, the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX TR 5), the internationalization of Bicol International Airport (BIA), and other key public works for the region.
He added that Escudero has longstanding relationships with local Bicol leaders.
“He knows us. We know him. So, we know he will get things done for our people," Salceda said.
“As for our relationship, it goes way back. We were freshmen in Congress around the same time, usually on opposite sides of the aisle. So, we had to work together on a lot of the compromises necessary to steer the Congress’s agenda. And I’ve always endorsed him for every single post he ever ran for – without exception."
Salceda hoped that the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez and the Senate under Escudero work together to get the national budget passed early and finish as much of President Ferdinand R. Marcos’ agenda enacted as possible.
“I think the pace of the Senate’s legislative work will be faster under SP Chiz. We’ll get more things done."