Mon-Mon Guico declares congressional run

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – “It’s your time to shine.”

This was what former President and present Speaker Gloria M. Arroyo told her nephew Ramon ‘Mon-Mon” Guico III, the mayor of Binalonan, Pangasinan, when he told her  his plan to run for congress next year.

Guico said one of the factors that influenced him to run for Congress was the lack of leadership to spur the economy of the fifth congressional district of Pangasinan.

BATTLE ROYALE.  Binalonan Mayor Ramon “Mon-Mon” V. Guico III (left) just declared his intention to challenge political heavyweight Pangasinan incumbent Fifth Congressional District Representative Amado T. Espino  Jr. The young Guico’s family is into aeronautical industry while Espino is retired police official who became governor for nine years.

“The District has a lot of potential as it is the fastest growing district of the province. It has four exits of the TPLEX (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Express Way) like those at Urdaneta City, Binalonan, Pozurrobio, and Sison. It is one stretch that could be a linchpin for progress,” he stressed.

The mayor, a third generation of the illustrious Guico political clan, said the present public leadership has no vision to capitalize on that opportunities.

“We should have a leadership that is not divisive. We should have a leadership that has integrity. We should have a unifying leadership,” he said.

The  eight towns and a city  of the fifth district was neglected, he said.

“Napabayaan ang district. Hindi na na asikaso ang mga respective mayors, vice mayors, and others,” he cited.

He deplored that there is not even a congressional district office there village chiefs and council members can bring their resolutions for action.

“It takes two hours to reach the Capitol in Lingayen to air their grievances and ventilate their needs. Pagdating doon they are like a ball being dribbled from one department to another,” he said.

He said the people in his district waited for progress and wanted a piece of it from a leader with integrity and vision.

“They want the one who cares for them. Hindi na sila maloloko. They are educated voters who wanted a transformation of the district,” he said.

He said the constituency does not like a leader who will appears only during the election season.

“Hindi na sila maloloko ng mga monoblocks, grass cutters, and others. They want progress!” he said.

 The young Guico is an exiting mayor after his nine years continuous stint in the town that burgeoned during his stewardship.

 He said that he is unfazed if former congressman Mark Cojuangco or incumbent Representative Amado T. Espino, Jr or his son and namesake the present governor Amado III of Pangasinan run for the post in case the kin swapped position to file their candidacy on October 1 to 5 this year for the May 13, 2019 poll.