IBA, Zambales — “My vision for Zambales is clear (and) the path toward that vision is promising. I can see the future now. It excites me to think that this is the direction that we will pursue in the next three years.”
Thus, enthused Gov. Hermogenes “Jun” Ebdane Jr. as he filed his certificate of candidacy for governor anew on Oct. 2, seeking a third and final term to continue with his program of progressive service and inclusive development in Zambales.
“We will fight and continue with what we have started for the sake of our people…Join me to lift up Zambales further,” he added.
Ebdane filed his COC at the Comelec office here under the banner of his homegrown Sulong Zambales Party (SZP) amid the cheers of political supporters and party mates.
He was accompanied by wife Alma, sons Jun Runstedt and Jun Omar, who are board member and town mayor respectively, and political allies Vice Gov. Jacqueline Khonghun and Zambales 2nd District Rep. Bing Maniquiz.
The SZP has fielded a full slate for the provincial board and gained the support of majority of the incumbent mayors and aspiring candidates in Zambales for the coming elections.
In seeking another term, Ebdane is leveraging on the accomplishments of his administration in developing the local economy and building community infrastructures that modernized the provincial landscape while improving the delivery of government services to the people.
Under Ebdane, Zambales earned the distinction of having the second highest year-on-year growth in local-sourced income among all provinces in 2022. The Ebdane administration topped this honor with having the fifth highest local-sourced revenue to total current operating income among all provinces for 2023.
In the coming years, Ebdane said the provincial government will complete a massive infrastructure development program that will redefine government service delivery in the province. These include a new Capitol building, expansion of the President Ramon Memorial Hospital, construction of the Zambales Sports Complex Track and Football Stadium, and an annex building for the Balin Sambali government center.
The governor, who served as Chief of the Philippine National Police, Secretary of National Defense, and Secretary of Public Works and Highways, first became Zambales chief executive in 2010. He also won the gubernatorial seat in the local elections of 2013, 2019 and 2022. Press release.
