Small-Town Mayor Says He Will Win vs. Arroyo Son

SAN FERNANDO, Camarines Sur-In a thriving eatery along the National Highway in Naga City, there is one thing on display aside from kinalas-the distinctive hot broth prepared by mixing beef strips with noodles and spices.

Displayed conspicuously inside the eatery is a framed photograph of Camarines Sur first district Representative Diosdado Ignacio "Dato" Arroyo together with a man who is probably the owner of the place.

The man is smiling and seems very proud that he is posing with the presidential son who has represented the vote-rich district of this equally vote-rich province for three years now despite his not being a pure-blooded Bicolano.

Dato Arroyo is President Gloria Arroyo's youngest child, who established residence in Libmanan, the most populous town of this province, in 2006 so he could run for a seat in the Congress representing the district originally composed of 11 towns.

The scene is just among the proofs of how the younger Arroyo, a political neophyte, has established himself as a charismatic figure in this province that for decades has been ruled by powerful political clans including the Villafuertes, Alfelors, Andayas, Rocos, and Fuentebellas.

Neophyte congressman

What contributed to Arroyo's surge to prominence has been his full use of the advantage and influence he has as a presidential son. Add to this his fluent use of the Bicol language.

Since the start of his term, he virtually bombarded his district with projects ranging from rice dryers and conversions of village high schools to road networks and irrigation system.

Not all his projects are well-received however. The controversial Libmanan-Cabusao Dam, for instance, met resistance which led to it being suspended by its implementing agency-the National Irrigation Administration.

According to the dam's critics, the P1 billion diversion dam would cause the displacement of many residents and inundation of fertile agricultural lands in Lupi town.

From Del Gallego, one of the towns farthest from the geographic center of this province, to this municipality, tarpaulins expressing gratitude to the first-term lawmaker sprout sporadically.

"I am not a big fan of Dato, [but] in fairness to him, what he accomplished in his two years in office representing the first district in terms of infrastructure and livelihood projects far surpassed [the accomplishments of] his predecessors combined," said Carlo Batalla, provincial board member from the first district, adding that Arroyo's dam project would boost play production and would generate much-needed income for farmers.

Based from the information found on the website of the House of Representatives, Arroyo has authored and co-authored at least 150 House bills, including House bill 1706, which sought to amend certain provisions of the intellectual property code of the Philippines to pave way for the development, distribution, and importation of cheaper medicines.

Mabulo

Now, Arroyo is running for a seat in the Congress again. But this time, he seeks to represent the newly-apportioned second congressional district, composed of five towns from the original first district-Libmanan, Pamplona, this town, Minalabac, Pasacao-and two towns from the former second district-Milaor and Gainza.

Due to his popularity, some have seen him as a shoo-in.

But Fermin Mabulo, mayor of this fourth class municipality (annual income: P20 million to P29 million), believes he could win against Arroyo in the race to represent the newly-minted district in the Congress.