An Waray unfazed by other party-lists in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 30 -- The participation of other party-list groups based in Eastern Visayas in the 2019 elections does not bother the An Waray Party list, its founder said Tuesday.

The 2019 elections are more challenging to their group with three other party-lists from the poverty-stricken region seeking posts in the House of Representatives, Florencio Noel said.

“There is always a challenge just like before, but for as long as your intention is good, people will vote for you. The help and assistance you give to them is more important,” Noel said.

The former solon is making a comeback in politics as first nominee of the regional party-list formed in 2001. Other An Waray party list nominees are singer Nonoy Zuñiga from Calbayog City and Grace Evardone, wife of Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone.

The region’s vote for party-list will be shared by An Waray, Tingog Sinirangan, Aangat Tayo, and People’s Surge.

Leyte 1st District Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez is the first nominee of Tingog Sinirangan. The group joined the 2016 elections but lost.

The party-list is expected to step up its campaign next year with a member of influential Romualdez family as nominee.

Aangat Tayo, a multi-sectoral group that won a seat in the 2016 elections, has Rep. Harlin Neil Abayon III as first nominee. Abayon’s father is the former governor and congressman of Northern Samar province.

The group, formed after the 2013 Super Typhoon Yolanda and known as People’s Surge, is also joining the 2019 mid-term elections. The party-list, labeled as an alliance for disaster survivors, has fielded leaders of militant groups in the region as its nominees.

“We don’t want to think of the other personalities or the name of the other party-list group from the region. We will work and serve the people of Eastern Visayas,” Noel added.

“Before, it was more on education and health, now the state is taking care of that, there’s free education and there’s practically free health. Now we will focus more on livelihood to address urban migration,” he added.

An Waray, first won a seat in the House of Representatives in 2004 with Noel as representative. Noel’s sister Victoria Isabel is the incumbent party-list representative. (SQM/RTA/PNA)