Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the alliance of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) will make delivery of services faster.

“When I was invited, when I was welcomed, I was also willing. Why? Because as a local chief executive, I am necessarily a member of the administration. It is better if we are aligned,” Defensor, who chairs the PFP at the regional level, said on Friday.

Defensor failed to attend the signing at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City on Wednesday but said he was happy with the alliance.

He said the alliance is no longer new to him since he has been working well with Lakas-CMD because of House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez, the current president of the party.

“The members of Lakas are our friends. We have worked with them, and it is not new to us that a coalition like that will happen between the two parties,” he said.

Meantime, among those who attended the alliance signing was Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda, who took her oath as a member of the Lakas on Tuesday.

In a statement, she said that her membership with the Lakas and its alliance with the PFP will help realize her aspirations for the city.

Defensor said that they are just waiting for the schedule of the national officers of the PFP who will be attending the oath-taking of local officials here.

While oath-taking events are happening in other provinces, there are none so far in Visayas, he said.

“If ever I think we will be the first to have the oath-taking,” he said. (PNA)