Impressed, OFWs vow support for Pampanga gov

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A coalition of 100 organizations of overseas Filipino workers has vowed to promote the "ministry of politics and governance" of Gov. Ed Panlilio, the Catholic priest turned chief of executive of Pampanga province.

At least 20 leaders of Global Filipino Nation (GFN) who came to the provincial capitol on Saturday said they were planning to "review, refine and adopt the 'Panlilio model' wherein a new credible leader has been put in office based on the people's support and resources" at an international conference to be held in Manila starting May 8.

The gathering also hopes to "identify and mobilize new potential political leaders committed to effective governance," said Victor Barrios, GFN convenor and chair.

"Among (Father) Ed's saga sends a message of good governance and the possibilities for changes. We want this replicated all over the country. It's like St. Paul spreading the Gospel," Barrios told the Inquirer.

The GFN leaders, department heads at the capitol and civil society leaders in Pampanga held a three-hour meeting with Panlilio Saturday to identify areas they could collaborate on in implementing economic, social and political programs.

"[Panlilio's] good governance runs on the same road as that we're trying to tread. We are linking up because we know he's besieged by elements who resist change because of their special interests," Barrios said.

Guillermo Luz, executive vice president of Ayala Foundation, said the foundation "felt that Among Ed is worthy of support of the people from Pampanga and outside Pampanga."

"[This] is not just about Pampanga but the whole country," Luz said. "We need solid ethical leaders in government."

GFN and Ayala Foundation are signing on Monday a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Foreign Affairs on the holding of a "Global Forum on Migration and Development" in October.

Panlilio told the group that his administration posted a "substantial" increase in quarry collections, almost P125 million as of Friday, and that it had spent 25 percent of the more than P60 million of the province's share of tax proceeds in support of health and education activities.

"In six months, I have not sacrificed my convictions as a priest and as a public official," Panlilio said.

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