Belen Uy seeks to end the run of the Jalosjos family in Dapitan City and bring real progress to the metropolis in Zamboanga del Norte.
Uy, a businesswoman and former mayor of neighboring Dipolog City, said Sunday the Jalosjos has been in power for 24 years “but there is still no progress in Dapitan.”
Uy is up against reelectionist Rosalina Jalosjos, the wife of former congressman Romeo Jalosjos, who has been the mayor of Dapitan for six years now.
In a statement, Uy said Dapitan has been left behind by nearby Dipolog in terms of progress.
Uy said she also wanted to alleviate poverty in Dapitan by introducing new enterprises, putting up businesses, and giving jobs to the residents.
She said Dapitan became a city in 1963 but until now not a single big company, like fast-food chains and supermarkets, can be seen there. This is compared to Dipolog, which now has five fastfood chains, a big supermarket, three car dealerships, and several banks.
“Because no businesses or companies are coming into Dapitan, residents can only work at the Jalosjos resort in Dakak or at city hall,” Uy said.
She expressed sadness that there is not a single bank in Dapitan, so the residents still need to go to other places just to open a bank account.
The worst of all, Uy added, is the lack of water supply in most areas in Dapitan, when the city is surrounded by rivers and seas.
Dapitan is where the Spaniards imprisoned national hero Dr.Jose Rizal before he was transferred and martyred in Bagumbayan in Manila.
Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority record, Dapitan is a 3rd class city that only earns half a billion pesos per year, despite being a tourist destination.