‘The difference in our lives will depend on the candidates you vote for’

I write this letter voluntarily and willingly in my personal capacity. Years ago, when I turned 18, I listened to my grandmother’s advice on who to vote for. It was no secret that Nang was a diehard Republican. I remember some pocket meetings at her house growing up. Years later, I too now believe in the same principles of the Republican Party as she did. She always made sure that everyone voted and we all had to report to her to show her our inked thumbs as evidence of casting our ballot. She instilled the importance of casting your ballot. The choice and the difference in our lives will all depend on the type of candidates you vote for.

I believe in this administration and the leadership of the governor and the lieutenant governor. I believe in their work, one, which has manifested in a GDP growth rate unseen anywhere else. In 2015, the GDP was pegged at $16,691, which rose to $22,247 a year later, and in 2017, rose to $28,305, a 27.23% increase.  The progress will continue under a Republican leadership. COVID-19 has caused financial strains not only on our economy but around the world and the lessons we all learned has definitely changed everyone’s way of life. Thankfully, during every hardship, the people have been assisted by Uncle Sam, such as receiving FEMA assistance after typhoons Soldelor and Yutu, the economic stimulus package, and now pandemic unemployment assistance and federal unemployment compensation.

The Torres-Palacios administration, in collaboration with the Legislature, has identified funds to pay out land compensation claims. DPL has managed to pay out a total of $2,429,962.00 in land claim payments since 2017. The efforts to continue to pay out land claims continues and will continue, especially if we get a Republican majority in the Legislature again.  These claims date back to the ’90s.  

For many there is a misconception of the land acquisition and land compensation process. The Department of Public Works is the first agency that initiates the land acquisition if the taking of a private land is for a public purpose, such as but not limited to, roadway, ponding basin, some wetlands, etc. DPL is the last agency in satisfying the claim. We simply ensure that everything required under the law is addressed, such as an appraisal at the time of taking, appropriate land documentation, appropriate documents from the court, etc.  It became easy to settle these claims when the Legislature appropriated the funds for land compensation payments (for transparency, full details of who were paid is listed in our DPL annual report on our website).   

So when it is time to vote, please vote Republican.

Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo
via email