POE: ONE OF MALACANANG REGIONAL OFFICES WILL BE IN PANGASINAN

SAN NICOLAS, PANGASINAN--Sen. Grace Poe promised to set up a regional office of Malacañang in Pangasinan, her father's home province, if she wins the presidency in the May 9 elections.

Speaking to supporters in San Nicolas, Poe acknowledged the huge support Pangasinenses have given her when she ran for senator in 2013 and her father, Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) when he ran for president in 2004.

"Noong tumakbo si FPJ 'nung 2004, ang Pangasinan ang kauna-unahang nagdeklara na siya ay Pilipino, na siya ay isang mabuting tao, na siya ay isang taga-Pangasinan. At 'nung ako naman ay tumakbo 'nung 2013, bagama't isang ampon, itong Pangasinan ang unang umako sa akin at nagsabing 'anak ng Pangasinan' kaya number one din ako dito noong 2013," Poe told a crowd of over 5,000 people.

She said she will make sure that the promised access to education for indigent students and free irrigation for farmers will benefit the people of the province.

"'Pag ako ay naging pinuno ninyo, hindi ako magbibingi-bingihan o magbubulag-bulagan sa kailangan ninyo. Ang Malacanang ay hindi dapat sa Maynila lamang. Sa bawat rehiyon magkakaroon ako ng opisina para mas madali ninyo akong mapuntahan. At, siyempre, ang isa sa unang opisina ay dito sa Pangasinan," Poe said.

Poe and her running mate Sen. Francis Escudero, both of whom lead surveys as voters' top choice for president and vice-president, are campaigning in Pangasinan with the senatorial bets of their Partido Galing at Puso.

They were welcomed and accompanied in their town visits by local officials and Abono partylist group chair Rosendo So.

Pangasinan is one of the most vote-rich provinces in the country, with 1.7 million registered voters. Poe was the top senatorial pick in the province in 2013.