Ampatuans and Mangudadatus unite to support Guico as senator

Davao City- The Ampatuan and Mangudadatu clans recently found common ground when they endorsed the candidacy of Ramon Guico as senator for the 2010 elections. Ibrahim Mangudadatu of Buluan town, Yacob Ampatuan of Rajah Buayan town, Norodim Ampatuan of Mamasapano town and Saudi Sian Ampatuan of Datu Saudi town met over lunch and expressed support for League of Municipalities of the Philippines President Ramon Guico. Mangudadatu said that they have been a witness to the efforts Guico has made for the people through his programs focused on Gamot, Edukasyon, Trabaho and Serbisyo. “The Mangudadatus believe Ramon Guico is the voice we need in the Senate, as he understands what the local government needs, being the President of all the mayors in the Philippines for nine years”, he added. Over 80 municipal mayors from Southern Mindanao met with Guico to discuss the strengthening of local government units in order to hasten delivery of services at the grassroots level. Among the strategies discussed was the push to increase the share of LGU of the internal revenue allotment. Guico has earlier made the IRA allotment a central issue in his campaign. “Around 80 percent of what the citizens expect from the government is done in the local level, yet we only get a small amount of the national budget. Even just a 10 percent increase will mean more schools, better hospitals, and faster services that will be immediately felt by the ordinary Filipinos,” he said. Ramon Guico is the President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines for nine years, and Mayor of Binalonan town in Pangasinan, a first class municipality. He is credited for transforming the LMP from a partisan political organization into a developmental organization working closely with international organizations in delivering basic services to the people. The LMP has given free technical assistance and governance programs to local municipalities and leaders in the areas of population control, waste segregation, education, employment and healthcare.