Makabayan progressives on Wednesday have endorsed the tandem of Joseph Felix Mari “Ace” Durano and Hilario “Junjun” Davide III in Cebu province’s May 2022 local elections.

In an official statement, Bayan Muna Central Visayas Coordinator John Ruiz expressed Makabayan-Cebu’s “support and partnership” with Durano and Davide’s candidacies and provided three bases for the unity.

First of these, Ruiz said, was the tandem’s display of commitment after a series of consultations and discussions with Cebu progressives; second, their agreement to push through the Cebu Priority Development Agenda (CPDA) proposed by Makabayan reps; and lastly, their support for Makabayan senatorial candidates Atty. Neri Colmenares and labor leader Elmer Labog and party-lists Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela Women’s Party, Kabataan and Act Teacher’s Party-list in the national polls.

The CPDA cited by Ruiz consisted of people’s demands for healthcare, government aid, livelihood, agriculture, public transportation, sustainable tourism, and education, among other pertinent agenda, alongside adherence to consultation processes, anti-corruption initiatives, protection of human rights from red-tagging, and support for peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Makabayan-Cebu stated that they look forward for the Durano-Davide tandem to “uphold progressive and pro-people platforms that advocate for inclusive development and healthy democratic rule” that “echoes the demands of the majority of the population.”

Durano, who comes from the influential Durano political family in Cebu’s 5th District, is vying to take over the governorship currently held by Gwendolyn Garcia, who is also running for another term. Davide, on the other hand, will be defending his vice-governorship from Carcar City ophthalmologist Maria Theresa Heyrosa, Garcia’s running mate. Garcia and Heyrosa represent the dominant 1-Cebu party while Durano and Davide hail from opposing parties Partido Pilipino sa Pagbabago and the Liberal Party, respectively.

Durano served as former Secretary of Tourism under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and also twice as congressional representative of Cebu’s 5th District: from 1998 to 2004 and 2013 to 2016. Davide, on the other hand, was governor of Cebu from 2013 to 2019, and later vice-governor under Gwendolyn Garcia.