THE turnover of leadership in local government units (LGUs) of Nueva Ecija province looks like a relay race in track and field at the Olympic Games.

Majority of the elected and reelected officials in the May 9, 2022 elections in the province belong to the same families, making the passing of the baton evidently much easier than the short stick being handed over to political rivals outside of the clans.

Relatives or not, the choices of the Nueva Ecija electorate were, however, the new LGU leaders in most of the 27 towns and five cities of the province have vowed to serve their constituents with dedication and honesty. In Cabiao town, Mayor Ramil Rivera, who was serving his second term, was reelected for his last three-year run, while his son, Kevin Rivera, was voted as councilor.

Before the elections, the older Rivera was lauded by residents for the acquisition of 24 ambulances in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He was also praised for buying heavy equipment to better deal with disasters and putting up a floating market to boost the local tourism industry. Cabiao had been honored by the Department of the Interior and Local Government as top performer in complying with accounting and auditing standards, rules and regulations.

In Talavera town, former threeterm mayor Nerito Santos Sr. who served from 2004 to 2012 had passed the baton to his daughter and also three-term municipal leader Nerivi Santos-Martinez (2013-2022).

After this year’s polls, Nerivi handed over the stick to his brother, newly elected Mayor Nerito “JayR” Santos Jr.

“It’s in our blood, pero mayroon silang kani-kanilang sariling plano, at hindi ako ang nasusunod kundi sila mismo at kung ano at sino siya, at ito ay nahihigitan pa nila dahil sa kanilang makabago, akma at karapat-dapat na napapanahon at diskarte, maliban pa dito ay ang taong-bayan ang siyang nagluklok sa kanila (but they have their own plans, and they will call the shots, and they can exceed what I may have accomplished through what they think is called for and achievable through their respective leadership styles),” Nerito “Nery” Santos Sr., an engineer, said in an interview with The

Manila Times. In Cabanatuan City, former mayor Julius Ceasar “Jay” Vergara turned over the LGU to his daughter, now mayor Myca Vergara, a two-term mayor of this city since 2016. Jay is now a two-term vice mayor in this city.

His wife is Third District Rep. Ria Vergara.

In the second district, Joseph Violago takes over, replacing his wife, Micaela “Mikki” Violago. In Palayan City, three-term mayor Adrianne Mae Joson Cuevas passed the baton to her daughter, newly elected Mayor Viandrei Nicole Joson “Vianne” Cuevas. Vianne’s father is Vicente “Bong” Cuevas, a businessman. Despite her mother’s loss in the gubernatorial race, Vianne, in her inaugural speech on June

29, 2022, also vowed to continue her mother’s unfinished job of making Palayan City more vibrant, an employment center and an agro- industrial and information technology hub in providing livelihood and education and promoting health. In San Jose City, father and son were reelected, with the older Mario Salvador as mayor and Ali Salvador as vice mayor.

Mayor Nestor Alvarez turned over the leadership of the Science City of Munoz to his sister Armi Alvarez, with him voted as vice mayor.

Nampicuan town will be under a husband and wife, Mayor Victor Badar and Vice Mayor Remedios Badar.

Gapan City former mayor Emerson Pascual, who was elected representative of the fourth district in the province, passed the baton to his sister, Mayor Emary Joy Pascual.

In the first district, lawmaker Estrellita Suansing yielded the congressional post to her daughter, Rep. Mica Suansing.

In Caranglan town, Mayor Mary Abad passed the baton to his son, Rogelio Abad. In Jaen, reelected Mayor Sylvia Austria and his son, Vice Mayor Sylvester Austria, will lead the municipality.

Reelected mayor Alex Romano and his wife, now Vice Mayor Glenda Romano, will run Lupao town.

In Quezon town, reelected was Mayor Mario Cristino “Boyet” Joson and Dean Joson, his son, was also reelected as vice mayor.

In San Leonardo town, Mayor Froilan Nagano was reelected and his cousin, Amerigus “Amang” Nagano, will serve as his vice mayor.

In Pantabangan town, reelected Mayor Roberto Agdipa and his wife, Monaliza Agdipa, will also serve as vice mayor.

Josefino Angeles was reelected mayor and his cousin, Ethel Angeles, will be his vice mayor in Santa Rosa town.

Meanwhile, reelected Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali and his brother, reelected Vice Gov. Emmanuel Anthony Umali, led a mass oath-taking of provincial board members and mayors and vice mayors held at Crystal Waves resort in Talavera on June 28, 2022.