THERE’s not much being said about Erik Martel or the sports discipline he’s into. But there’s much to offer amid his ability to lead and bring the long overdue progress to a town which has become his home for the longest time.
For one, Erik Martel, or Kuya Erik to his constituents, isn’t just into football. His ability to “connect the dots” made him into what he has become — a successful businessman with a heart for which local folks are egging to see him take the helm and maximize the potentials of the coastal town of Abucay in the province of Bataan.
ABUCAY UP CLOSE
Despite an abundance of resources that could trigger growth, Abucay which is located at the northern part of Bataan, has remained a third class municipality with a meager revenue pegged at P165 million as of 2020.
Interestingly, the town recorded an expenditure amounting to P120.8 million and a liability of P103 million. Simple mathematics dictates that the amount that the local government has been raising isn’t even enough to defray the cost of providing the needs of the local folks.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Abucay, which has a population of almost 46,000, recorded a little less than 8 percent poverty rate despite assets amounting to P494 million.
Abucay, which has an area of about 8,000 hectares, is also known as a fishing town and an agricultural haven. Secondary forests cover the western portion which is nearly 38 percent of Abucay’s land area, where the famous Baguio City brooms come from.
Existing fishponds, covering 1,282.5 has., cater commercial marine species.
TIME TO SHINE
According to Kuya Erik Martel, Abucay has what it takes to shine, for which he cited the need to act with urgency, precision – and to some extent, “formidable connections.”
Kuya Erik also took note of the need to boost employment, entrepreneurship, healthcare system, education, youth and sports development, a calibrated tourism program embarking on environment protection, agriculture among others.
“Iangat ang antas ng pamumuhay sa Abucay… yan po ang pangarap ko – maraming trabaho, malagong negosyo, maaasahan healthcare system at empowered na kabataan.”
MARTEL WHO?
“Kuya Erik” Martel is no stranger to politics and public service, which runs in his blood. His cousin is one of the country’s most powerful politicians – House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
He also happens to be the son-in-law of former Abucay Mayors Liberato Santiago and wife Ana Dominguez-Santiago.
As an athlete, anything that has something to do with drugs is a big NO.