At least for now
TACLOBAN CITY- Mayor Alfred Romualdez of this city is not too keen to succeed his wife, former mayor Cristina Romualdez, as the next chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC).
However, he was quick to say that if his services will be needed by other local government units, he is ready to lend his hands to them.
The RDC serves as a body where projects of the region that needs funding and support from the national government and its various agencies are being submitted for endorsement.
Mayor Romualdez served as mayor of Tacloban for nine years that ended in 2016 but did not chaired the regional body.
Aside from his wife, his father, Alfredo ‘Bejo’ Romualdez, also served as RDC chairman.
But unlike his wife and father, Mayor Romualdez said that he is not really interested to become the next RDC chair.
The new RDC chair is expected to be nominated by the more than 50 members by August or September this year with the nominees to be forwarded to President Rodrigo Duterte who will have the final say.
“I’d rather stay here,” Mayor Romualdez said, when asked if he is interested to become the next RDC chairman.
He, however, said he will not mind to assist other local government units and even congressmen of the region if his cousin, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez will be elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“If my services are needed in order to convey the congressmen the needs of the region in terms of budget requirements, then, I will join the RDC,” Romualdez said.
Aside from the Tacloban city mayor, also seen as a possible RDC chairman is Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez who, in an earlier interview, said that he is not also interested to chair the RDC.
But Gomez, who won for a second term during the May 13 midterm elections, said that if he might just accept the chairmanship if no less than Pres. Duterte will ask him.
Both Romualdez and Gomez are allies to the President.
