NEW PAMPANGA LEADER. Commission on Elections (Comelec) Regional Director Fernando Cot-om (2nd from right) proclaims incumbent Vice Governor Dennis Pineda (center) as the new Pampanga governor on Friday, May 17, 2019. He succeeds his mother, outgoing Governor Lilia Pineda, who is now the vice governor of the province. (Photo by Marna Dagumboy-del Rosario)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- Elected through a wide margin of votes, incumbent Vice Governor Dennis "Delta" Garcia Pineda vowed good leadership as he was proclaimed on Friday as new governor of Pampanga.
He garnered 657,606 votes against the 229,392 votes of incumbent Bacolor town mayor Jomar Hizon to become the 14th governor of Pampanga since 1946.
After his proclamation, Pineda thanked the electorate for helping him succeed his mother, now Vice Governor-elect Lilia Pineda.
"I commit to be a dedicated governor. I will be a doer and I will maintain to be a good listener at the same time. I value the inputs of the people and my co-public servants. Like my good mother, my administration shall continue to be for the people, especially for lifting the poor out of poverty and expanding the middle class," he said.
Pineda also committed to abide by the principle of good governance by leading the 2,000 men and women of the provincial government to efficiently implement programs and by generating the participation of citizens in the process.
"Ipagpapatuloy po natin ang sinimulan ni Nanay na mga programa sa kalusugan, edukasyon, agrikultura, trabaho, disaster preparedness pati paglago ng mga kooperatiba at negosyo. (I will continue the programs of outgoing Governor Pineda on health, education, agriculture, jobs, disaster preparedness as well as on cooperative and business growth)," he said.
He assured that crime prevention is a top priority so that programs are not derailed by illegal drugs proliferation, criminal activities, insurgency and terrorism.
"Sa ating mga kabataan, ilalayo ko kayo sa droga sa pamamagitan ng suporta sa edukasyon at training. Ang sports development program ay ating pag-iigihin para mas dumami at gumaling pa ang atletang Kapampangan, (To our youth, I will drive you away from drugs through my support to education and training. We will intensify the sports development program so that there will be more good Kapampangan athletes)," Pineda said.
The incoming governor likewise vowed to strengthen political unity that will redound to the best interest of the people of Pampanga and its economy.
"Napakaswerte ko po dahil patuloy na nasa tabi ko si Nanay, si dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, mga nagkakaisang mayors at provincial board members at mga congressman ng apat na distrito ng Pampanga. Itong Team Pampanga ay magtutulungan po para sa patuloy na pag-unlad ng Pampanga. (I am very lucky because I continue to be supported by Nanay, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, our united mayors, provincial board members and our congressmen in the four districts. This Team Pampanga shall work together for the further development of the province)," he said.
"The Pampanga Megalopolis shall be our blueprint in pole vaulting our dear province to new heights," he added. (PNA)
