MikeLigalig.com

The 2010 gubernatorial race is building up as three potential candidates hit the road to sway voters across the province.

At least three names have emerged as prospective gubernatorial hopefuls who have made no secret of their electoral preparations with less than a year into the May 2010 polls.

Making their political intentions clear – Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera, Rep. Edgar Chatto and actor-director Cesar Montano are now busy wooing voters – whether through the traditional politician’s approach or a new tack to capture the hearts of the electorate.

Both Herrera and Chatto are competing to secure the support of barangay officials and barangay workers through their village-based assistance programs.

Montano is banking on his edge as a celebrity bolstered by his popular weekend television show “The Singing Bee” where he consistently acknowledge local officials and important personalities.
The three probable candidates have been seen working overtime – Herrera and Chatto spending more hours in out-of-town sorties while Montano, who used to come to Bohol on occasion is apparently allotting more than a few days honoring friendly basketball games every now and then in the towns.

Each gubernatorial hopeful have their own strategy in seeking the people’s votes such as conducting the usual “pulong-pulong” in the guise of holding consultations or being invited as guest in a fiesta or public affair.

During the “pulong-pulong” the potential candidates try to tackle the needs of the people and listen to their concerns. This “consultative assemblies” have become favorable to the barangays, a village official disclosed in an interview with the Chronicle.

If it is Herrera or Chatto who comes to grace the “pulong-pulong”, the barangay official said, they would expect assurances for swift access to government funding and support to a specific program or project of the local government unit.

“The promise for assistance to a particular project – whether financial or logistical support – can easily be guaranteed due to their position in government,” the source said.

Montano, a multi-awarded actor-director, already confirmed he is focused on launching his bid for governor after he announced that he declined the presidential appointment for him to become the country’s film czar.

The actor made his official pronouncement two weeks ago during a call he made to Bohol's top-rated radio program "Inyong Alagad" over dyRD.

Learning from his failed senatorial bid in the 2007 elections, Montano disclosed in an interview that he wants to run a “tight campaign” this time around.

According to sources, Montano is organizing basketball matches with fellow celebrities going up against teams in the towns and is also discussing his political agenda with some municipal mayors.

DOLE OUTS

This early, political observers could see that touching base with the communities with their individual crusade about priority projects and programs in the barangays is an approach adopted by both Herrera and Chatto.

But, like new generation politicians, Herrera, Chatto and Montano are also moving towards capitalizing on technological advancements such as the internet and mobile communications as a campaign platform.

Voters who want to get information about Montano, Chatto or Herrera can simply browse their websites through the internet.

Purportedly, one of the three potential bets for governor is distributing cellular phones as gifts to barangay captains in several towns of the Third District.

The cellphones would facilitate communication – a necessity especially among barangay officials, the potential bet for governor told the village leaders.

A barangay captain, one of the recipients of the cell phones, questioned the propriety of such generosity by this government official.

“But the cellphone is better than the novelty songs and dance numbers performed by politicians during sorties,” said another recipient barangay captain.

Herrera is wooing barangay officials by distributing t-shirts, raincoats, bags, whistle and cudgels to barangay tanods.

In whatever way they do it, the three gubernatorial bets are definitely getting ready for the 2010 elections and make sure that no stone is left unturned in the campaign trail.

source: The Bohol Chronicle

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