The filing of the certificates of candidacy in Pampanga concluded with a swap between the two top executive positions in the province: Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda vies to take the position of his mother, Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, as she seeks to run for governor.
This switch signals the Pineda family’s efforts to maintain their power and influence in the province. By maintaining their presence in leadership roles, Pampanga’s first family aims to provide continuity in governance, especially in a province that has seen significant development under their administration which spans over three decades.
If they win, the mother assumes the executive role, while her son, Dennis, will shift to the legislative. Keep that in mind.
The mother-and-son duo will be running against former Candaba mayor Engineer Danilo Baylon and former governor Among Ed Panlilio for governor and vice governor, respectively. Baylon nearly won in the 2022 elections against Delta by 42% of the votes.
If Baylon assumes the executive role, Among Ed will serve in the legislative. Keep that in mind as well.
Pampanga is poised to become the next metropolis, with ongoing infrastructure projects, economic developments, and growth in tourism and logistics. By 2028 and in the years ahead, where will Pampanga be?
Over the past year, several issues have already drawn the attention of investigations in the House of Representatives and the Senate. These include concerns surrounding Philippine offshore gaming operations and local government challenges such as graft and corruption.
Imagine that as you vote for the next heads of the province come May 12, 2025. Consider the dynamics of politics down to the mayors and councilors, shaped by the desire to preserve influence and legacy. Kapampangans face a pivotal choice: continuity or change. In this arena, the winner takes it all.