Rosal declared Albay gov vows to rebrand province
- Bicolmail Web Admin
- May 16
- 3 min read
By Connie Calipay
LEGAZPI CITY --- The Provincial Board of Canvassers has officially declared Noel Rosal as the new governor of Albay after he defeated Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda in the just-concluded national and local elections.
During the proclamation at the Albay Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall on Tuesday, Provincial Board of Canvassers and Commission on Elections - Albay election supervisor Maria Aurea Bo-Bunao said Rosal garnered 404,015 votes from the province’s three cities and 15 municipalities.
In addition to the governor, other elected officials for the province of Albay were also proclaimed, including three representatives of the three districts, the vice governor, and provincial board members.
In an interview after the proclamation, Rosal thanked the Albayanos who supported him despite the various legal cases filed against him.
“They voted for me because they don’t believe in the cases that have been raised against me,” he said.
“Three years go by quickly, and I want to assure the people that I will never forget this opportunity. I truly felt their support. Even though I didn’t have the resources, I saw their faith in me, and I cannot ignore it. Together, we will work to realize the dream of development for our province.”
Rosal outlined his priorities, which include power and healthcare.
“Power is very important because if we don’t fix the power situation, Albay will not progress. If it remains expensive and inefficient, we will struggle to make advancements. Secondly, I have noticed that healthcare in Albay is in dire need of improvement. I plan to address this issue, particularly with regard to our nine hospitals. The records will show that I have done what is necessary to improve our healthcare,” he said.
“Additionally, we need to maximize our resources, including our quarries and tourism. We will rebrand Albay. Although three years is very short, we can make a start. Whoever takes over in 2028 can continue our initiatives.”
Rosal acknowledged the challenges he faced during the campaign.
“I had nothing – I didn’t have a tent, tarpaulin, medical assistance, or even a concert. But I saw that the people spoke clearly. My resources were minimal. I couldn’t even hold a rally. I just collaborated with the different mayors, and I am thankful they supported me. This election will go down in history,” he said.
He also commended his opponent’s political will to serve the Albayanos.
“Congressman Joey Salceda is an institution here. Maybe people recognized what happened three years ago because he has also been doing good work as a congressman. Yet, perhaps they felt that Governor Rosal should be their governor, seeing the importance of checks and balances,” he added.
Rosal indicated that he would take a moment to relax and express gratitude for his victory.
“The battle over the past 45 days has been tough, and I know my opponent felt the same way. I wish him luck. It’s painful because he also wants to serve, but the people have decided in my favor, and I hope everyone, including my opponent, will respect that decision,” he said. (With a report from Emmanuel Solis)
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