The Nacionalista Party candidates   in Dumaguete City said they wanted to prove something by filing their certificates of candidacy yesterday, on the first day of the filing period, before the  Commission on Elections.

NP city standard bearer, Arturo Umbac, said they believe the  “early bird catches worm,” coupled with the group’s motto and battlecry “if there’s something to be done, do it immediately.”

Umbac said they want to offer  genuine service to Dumagueteños without delay. He has been a development worker,  successfully managed two electric cooperatives in the province and was the first to energize the entire areas of Dumaguete, and  was also a former board member, he said.

Umbac filed his CoC with his vice mayoralty candidate, Sammy Dicen, and city council bets Amy Dicen, former education provincial Supt. Dr. Teody Gapasin, barangay Taclobo No. 1 Kagawad Allan Aranas, and Tito Aldecoa. 

The rest of the line-up includes incumbent councilor Alan Cordova, Joe Kenneth Arbas, Dave Saceda and former city councilors Nelson Patrimonio and Dr. Urbano Diga Jr.

Umbac said he offers his candidacy to his late mother, whose birth date falls on the first day of the filing period, which was yesterday.

City Comelec officer Ian Macaraya said his office is open from 8 a.m. to  noon, and 1 to 7 p.m. daily, including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. On the last day of the filing period that is December 1, the Comelec office will be open until midnight, he said.

Dicen, in his nine years as city councilor, he has had a  track record of 100 percent attendance proving that he has been a productive public official.

Among his priorities is the creation of a commission that will come up with a feasibility study on protecting the city’s coastline, which is being eroded daily by the waves, Dicen said.

The former city councilor has also plans to extend the Rizal Boulevard from Tinago up to Barangay Piapi; and  put up an on-site high-rise socialized housing for the informal settlers of Tinago and Looc, among others.

 Councilor Amy Dicen is eyeing a second term to complete  unfinished business, one of which is coming up with ordinances that take care of the elderly, possibly through the  establishment of a home for the aged, and the street children. 

 Gapasin admitted that he lost in the last two elections for running as an independent, but this time, it will be a different ballgame.

He was invited by Umbac to be in the slate because of his 42 long years of experience in education, Gapasin said.*JG

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