No ‘Arboleda’ will run vs Bobom in 2013 elections-Nino

by Virgilio Sar. Maganes

LINGAYEN- Fifth District Board Member Clemente B. “Nino” Arboleda Jr. belied reports that an “Arboleda” in Urdaneta City will run against incumbent Mayor Amdeo Gregorio E. “Bobom” Perez IV in May 2013 elections.

” There’s no truth to that. Walang Arboleda na lalaban kay Mayor Bobom. Not even I or my brother Sonny have plans to throw our hats in the mayoralty race in Urdaneta City. We have high regard and respect to the Perezes especially Mayor Bobom who has proven his leadership. We are happy of what he has done and is doing for the developmental transitions in the city,” Arboleda said.

Sonny is Lawyer Clemartin Arboleda, a former city councilor of Urdaneta City.

Arboleda also said he admires Perez whom he described as the “best mayor” the city has produced. “We are pledging our support in his administration and re-election bid as mayor of the city. As taxpayers of the city, we are proud and happy of his performance.”

Arboleda further said he could not run for any political office yet in Urdaneta City since he is a registered voter in San Pedro Ili, Alcala. He said he will seek re-election as board member for the 5th District.

Before he became a board member, Arboleda served Alcala town as a municipal councilor in 2001 to 2004 and vice mayor from 2004 to 2010.

“As board member of the district, I am already at the service to the constituents of Urdaneta City I am also working hand in hand with Mayor Bobom and the other municipal mayors for the development of the district,” Arboleda explained.

Meanwhile, he said he is working on three major development advocacies- environment, agriculture and livelihood.

” I am convincing our farmers to plant cacao seedlings as their alternative livelihood. The main sources of chocolate are the cacao seeds which are in demand worldwide. We will teach our farmers on the production side provided that the seeds produced will be bought by Clem Arboleda Little Foundation, Inc. In case there will be other buyers that offer higher prices, I will be glad if all the cacao producers could benefit from them,” he said.

Arboleda revealed that their farm has already produced 44,000 cacao seedlings which are now ready for distribution to the 212 barangays in the 5th District. In Urdaneta City, 6,800 cacao seedlings have already been distributed to farmers.

“These cacao seedlings are given free. I am looking forward that with the cacao production, Urdaneta City will be the ‘Chocolate City of the North’ while Alcala will be the ‘Chocolate Town of Pangasinan’. I am also advocating that all schools in the 212 barangays (villages) in the district will establish their own small cacao plantation. During the production stage, their income will either be administered by the student government or the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA),” Arboleda said.

He said with the Pangasinan Dairy Farms in Laoac, a project of former. 5th District Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco and his wife Rep. Kimi, the cacao seeds could be produced into world-class chocolate products.