Grassroots group out to support Panlilio

Friday
August 22, 2008

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Members of the grassroots group Kasaup signified their support for Governor Eddie Panlilio and the "Cruzada" with their attendance at the Provincial Government's 25th commemoration ceremonies of Ninoy Aquino's death at the Benigno Hall on Thursday morning.

"We are (still) here. Governor Panlilio is not alone as others say. We are strongly supporting him and Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu amid all these problems and accusations hurled at them," said the Kasaup leader, who requested anonymity for fear that future plans of the group to show their support for the capitol executives might fall into jeopardy.

"Kasaup," the leader said, "is the 'other civil society' deeply entrenched in the grassroots level. We are the umbrella of 17 other groups in 17 towns across Pampanga and a corps of hundreds of volunteers in barangays and villages. We are mainly responsible for bringing to the grassroots Governor Panlilio's programs in education, health and social services. We are volunteers upholding the values of the Crusade. We have been there since the very beginning of the Cruzada and we vow to carry on the work and deliver the provincial government's development programs to the people.

" The leader said Kasaup is a breakaway group of the Kapampangan Marangal Incorporated, which was formed when representatives from both parties "did not meet eye-to-eye" regarding some policies governing civil society.

"But we did not want to hamper the implementation of programs that will benefit people at the grassroots, that is why Kasaup was born," the leader said, adding that the group is cause-oriented and is not into political patronage.

"We have the lowest profile in doing our work. But we have the numbers. Our group is one of the largest during the campaign, and that number remains until now, if you base it on our July 5 congress held here in the capitol grounds. We are sure we could muster that number again in support of the governor," the leader said.

"Our Cruzada vow remains," he said, "so let's stick together." (JTD)

source: http://www.sunstar.com/