Camarines Sur declares Marcos as 'adopted son'

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 16) - Camarines Sur has named President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. an "adopted son" of the province, a known stronghold of his closest rival in the May 2022 elections.

Governor Luigi Villafuerte announced this on Thursday as Marcos graced the groundbreaking ceremony for the government's housing program in Naga City.

This marked the president's first visit to the province since assuming office.

"As a way of expressing our everlasting gratitude for all that you have done, Mr. President, please allow me to present to you the resolution by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Camarines Sur declaring you, Mr. President, as the adopted son of Camarines Sur," Villafuerte said.

In his speech, the governor said Marcos - when he was still senator - opposed the proposal over a decade ago to split Camarines into two.

Villafuerte added that Marcos has extended assistance to the locality during past natural disasters.

"Maraming kalamidad din po na napagdaanan ang ating probinysa na nagbigay po ng tulong at personal bumisita po ang ating pangulo," he said, citing as an example Typhoon Nina - internationally known as Nock-Ten in 2017.

[Translation: Our province has faced a lot of calamities where the president provided aid and made a personal visit.]

Camarines Sur is the home province of former Vice President Leni Robredo, who placed second in last year's presidential elections.

In a separate event later that day, Marcos thanked Camarinenses for their "support" and "enthusiasm," adding he did not expect the warm welcome.

Besides attending two groundbreaking ceremonies for housing projects, Marcos also led the launch of the "Kadiwa ng Pangulo" program in the area, as well as the distribution of food packs and cash aid to residents.