Governor backs Kalinga solon as caretaker of Mt. Province

BAGUIO CITY – Mountain Province Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan said they are giving their full support to the designation of Kalinga Representative Allan Jesse Mangaoang as caretaker congressman of Mountain Province.
“We congratulate Congressman Mangaoang and we commit to support him in his programs and projects,” Lacwasan said on July 19.
He said they respect the decision of the House of Representatives led by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who opted to designate a caretaker for the province following their declaration of a vacancy as an effect of the death of Congressman Maximo Dalog.
He said they are happy with the decision of Alvarez which they prefer than calling for a special election specifically for Mountain Province to fill-up the position.
“It is time to rest from politics,” and those already in office must start to work hard for their constituents, the governor said.
He pointed out that in a special election, there would be competing candidates, which will again cause division much like during the election period.
Lacwasan explained that anyway, candidates will again be filing their candidacy for the 2019 election next year, and calling for an election now will lead to new conflicts that they would have to face earlier than the usual election season.
The governor said they have trust that Kalinga Rep. Mangaoang will not set aside Mountain Province.
In earlier interviews of the Baguio media with Mangaoang, he said he would pursue the projects prioritized by the late congressman, which have been identified by the constituents in Mountain Province.
Rep. Maximo Dalog passed away due to illness last June 3, which created a void in the position of the congressman for the lone district of Mountain Province.
In 2008, former Mountain Province Rep. Victor Dominguez died while holding the position. The Congress filled up the vacancy by appointing then Kalinga Rep. Manuel Agyao as caretaker.
In appointing a caretaker, the lawmaker of the congressional district nearest the place has to be named. Kalinga, the province of Congressman Mangaoang, is one of the three areas nearest Mountain Province. It is bounded by two other congressional districts – Benguet and Ifugao. PNA / ABN

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