ANGELES CITY – Vice Governor Joseller “Yeng” Guiao remained unperturbed despite surveys showing him trailing behind his rival for Pampanga’s first congressional district.
In his own analysis, Guiao said he projects to win by as much as 30,000 votes over his rival, comebacking congressman and former mayor of this city Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno.
Over dinner with the Society of Pampanga Columnists (SPC) at the new Fortune Restaurant here last Tuesday, Guiao said the first district – composed of Mabalacat City, Magalang and this city – has about 350,000 registered voters.
But he said only about 70 percent actually cast their votes on election day based on figures of previous non-presidential elections. This comes down to about 245,000 voters. That’s why he said he needs at least 123,000 to win the congressional race.
Guiao said Magalang has 55,000 registered voters. On the 70 percent average turn-out, this comprises only some 36,000. He said he is confident that he can get about 70 percent of that number – some 25,000 voters, the town considered as his bailiwick.
Mabalacat City has about 140,000 registered voters and with a 70 percent turnout some 98,000 are expected to cast their votes. Guiao likewise sees 70 percent of the voters going for him, which translates to about 68,000 votes.
That is already 93,000 votes for Guiao, based on his computations. Only 30,000 short of his projected 120,000 winning votes.
Angeles City has 155,000 registered voters, translating to 108,500 actually voting based on the 70 percent turn-out average.
Guiao would need less than 30 percent of the vote from Angeles City to add up to his Mabalacat City and Magalang votes to win.
“That is an achievable target,” Guiao said, banking on his partnership with incumbent Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan whose caucuses and stage meetings have been “jampacked.”
Another factor will be the bloc voting Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) which comprises about 30,000 votes and usually register an 85 percent or higher turnout. Guiao sees a possible landslide for him should he get the INC vote.
Guiao said he is confident of winning the elections since his advocacies and platform are better than that of his rival.
Among these he said is turning Clark into an authority which will redound to the benefit the people in the long term rather than cause worry to its employees. He said by turning Clark into an authority, the Kapampangans can plot their own economic agenda free from politics.
Guiao also said he supports the transfer of the Rizal Memorial Coliseum to Pampanga and a separate department for sports.
Barangay officials should also be given retirement pay. “After giving the best years of their life, they get nothing in retirement. They should have at least P10,000 per year of service,” he said. The funds for their retirement pay can be culled from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) by increasing their premiums on their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), he said further.
“A congressman does not just build bridges and that’s it, but enact laws that could truly redound to the benefit of his constituents not only in the short term but in the long term, Guiao said, taking a potshot on his rival’s bridge-based slogan.
The three-term vice governor is running under the Kambilan party of Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda.
