BOTOLAN, ZAMBALES – Newly-elected Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. on Saturday pledged to accelerate the development of Zambales and bring it to its full growth potential under his new term. Noting that Zambales has lagged in the three years that he has left the Capitol, Ebdane stressed the need to maximize local government services to gain from the development momentum in the national level.
“It is really necessary for us catch up,” Ebdane told the media following the oath-taking ceremony for elected Zambales officials here yesterday. “They tell me that Zambales has been in a state of suspended animation since I vacated the Capitol in 2016, and sadly that is true,” he added.
In his inaugural speech, Ebdane said he would refurbish and complete key projects initiated in his earlier term that were left in degradation and disrepair during the previous three years.
These included the provincial hospital, the Zambales Sports Complex, and various government buildings that were started during his second term of office in 2013-2016. He further committed to review and revise the Zambales Provincial Physical Framework Plan which was established during his first term in office in 2010.
“This is a very important development plan that focused on infrastructure, revenue generation, business and entrepreneurship, social welfare and development, agriculture, sports development, tourism, medical and public health, and education, arts, and culture,” Ebdane explained.
“Again, this was disregarded by the previous occupant of the Capitol. Kaya walang nangyari sa probinsya natin,” he lamented.
With a mandate from the people of Zambales, Ebdane promised the return of a decisive, caring and insightful leadership.
“Leadership is about making decisions, and our decisions determine our leadership,” Ebdane said. “In this connection, I am appointing myself in concurrent capacity to head the Provincial Engineering Office to ensure the proper management of the infrastructure program.”
Ebdane also announced the suspension of all operations related to the extraction and exploitation of natural resources in Zambales, and revisit the processing of permits. “We have to consider first and foremost the interest of the future generation,” he said.
Ebdane was first elected governor in 2010 and won his second term of office in 2013. His running mate for vice-governor, former Subic town mayor Jay Khonghun, also won the recent election, along with eight board members in their slate. (Dante M. Salvana)