VICE Presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte ended her month-long road campaign dubbed “Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride.”

This is part of Mayor Sara’s campaign strategy for the May 9 elections to which she gained support from big wigs and local officials from Luzon to Mindanao.

Last February 1, Mayor Sara and her team started the ride in Davao City and ended it at her hometown after visiting Cotabato City as the caravan’s last stop.

Over the past month, Mayor Sara — Lakas-CMD and HNP chairperson — has been visiting various cities and provinces in the country and meeting with local leaders and residents and got a full backing from the political kingpins from Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Agusan del Sur, and Agusal del Norte.

She met with Davao Region officials, including Davao de Oro Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy, Vice-Governor Maricar Zamora and Rep. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora.

In Surigao del Sur, Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., who is Lakas-CMD secretary general, and his wife, Cantilan Mayor Carla Pichay, who is running for governor vowed support to her candidacy.

She also met Surigao del Sur Gov. Alexander T. Pimentel and Rep. Johnny Pimentel.

In Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, Mayor Sara visited the Cabadbaran South Elementary School to meet her relatives from the Roa family and her supporters.

Nacionalista Party (NP) Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and his brother, gubernatorial and former Surigao del Norte Gov. Dean Barbers declared support for Duterte and Marcos during the inauguration of UniTeam headquarters in the province.

On to Southern Leyte in Visayas, where Gov. Damian Mercado and 18 town mayors vowed a landslide win for the UniTeam candidates.

Southern Leyte Vice Gov. Christoperson “Coco” Yap said at least 18 mayors from Southern Leyte have declared full support for Mayor Sara and Marcos in May 9 elections.

Mercado and Yap are members of the ruling Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), which President Rodrigo Duterte chairs.

NP Maasin City Mayor Nacional “Nikko” Mercado said Southern Leyte will deliver a “landslide win” for the UniTeam tandem.

In Tacloban City, Mayor Sara paid tribute and offered prayers to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

She was joined by Romualdez, who represents the province’s first district, Mayor Alfred Romualdez, vice mayoralty aspirant Raymund Romualdez.

The Romualdezes assured the BBM-Sara tandem of a huge victory in Region VIII.

In Sorsogon, where the UniTeam group proceeded from Eastern Visayas, they had another launching of the Sara Para Sa Barangay Initiative with Gov. Francis Escudero, who is running for senator, Dalipe, Catanduanes Rep. Hector Sanchez, Board Member Jose Arturo Enano, and at least 500 local, community and sectoral officials in attendance at the provincial gymnasium.

In Albay, PDP-Laban 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda endorsed the Davao City mayor’s vice presidential candidacy.

In Naga City, Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, a National Unity Party (NUP) stalwart, and his sons, incumbent Gov. Miguel Luis “Migz” Villafuerte who is running for a congressional seat, and gubernatorial aspirant Luigi Villafuerte, both of the ruling PDP-Laban, declared support for Duterte during the launching of Sara para sa Barangay in the province.

Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo Tallado also declared his support for the BBM-Sara combination during another Sara Para sa Barangay activity.

At the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, where the UniTeam tandem was officially proclaimed, Duterte assured Filipinos that the country would rebound economically from the COVID-19 pandemic under a BBM-Sara leadership.

Bulacan Rep. Henry Villarica and Mayor Linabelle Ruth Villarica of Meycauayan City endorsed Duterte.

From Central Luzon, the Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas voyage took the UniTeam candidates to Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan and Isabela in Cagayan Valley, and to Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and Zambales.

Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Luisa Cuaresma, who heads the provincial chapter of Lakas-CMD, said she and local officials belonging to the party would campaign for Marcos and Mayor Sara.

PDP-Laban Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano, his brother first district Rep. Tonypet Albano who is the regional chairman of Lakas-CMD and PDP-Laban Vice Gov. Bodjie Dy welcomed and declared support for the BBM-Sara UniTeam group.

Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba and the Enriles joined Cagayan Valley officials in enduring the UniTeam tandem.

Mamba said the Nacionalista Party (NP), to which he belongs and which is led by the Villars, has decided to back the candidacies of Marcos and Duterte.

Mamba’s pronouncement was followed by expressions of overwhelming support from Ilocos Region officials, including Governors Mathew Joseph Marcos Manotoc of Ilocos Norte; Ryan Singson of Ilocos Sur; Mayor Chavit Singson of Narvacan town, who heads the League of Municipalities of the Philippines; and Gov. Pacoy Ortega of La Union, first district Rep. Pablo Ortega, Board Member Paolo Ortega, and San Juan Vice Mayor Mannix Ortega, who all belong to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

In vote-rich Pangasinan, reelectionist PDP-Laban Gov. Amado “Pogi” Espino III and his opponent, Rep. Ramon “Mon-Mon” V. Guico III of NP endorsed the BBM-Sara tandem.

In Alaminos City, Lakas-CMD stalwarts Rep. Christopher V.P. De Venecia and former Rep. Rachael Arenas, who is running again for Congress, also assured BBM-Sara of victory in the province.

Former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco of NPC, former Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste, NP, and other Pangasinan local leaders joined Duterte in inaugurating a local headquarters in Alaminos City.

The show of wide support of Northern Luzon leaders for his candidates prompted Romualdez to say, “The Solid North is indeed solid for BBM and Mayor Sara.”

Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr., Vice Gov. Jay Konghun and other officials of the province, and Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, along with most officials in Oriental Mindoro, Negros Occidental and Iloilo, later joined Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao politicians in endorsing the BBM-Sara tandem.

In Oriental Mindoro, Duterte thanked PDP-Laban Gov. Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor and the province’s Rep. Paulino Leachon and Alfonso Umali Jr. for supporting her candidacy.

In a separate event, Duterte also met with Leachon and Umali, who were with 13 mayors of the province, all 10 board members and ex-officio members, councilors, and some Baranggay leaders.

Duterte met with Western Visayas officials in Iloilo City, including

Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, Mayor Receliste Lachica Escolin of Roxas, Capiz; Mayor Elvira Alarcon of Batad, Iloilo, Mayor Emerson Lachica of Kalibo, Aklan; Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon of Iloilo; Mayor John Taroza of Zaraga, Iloilo; and Mayor Junjun Jaen of Leganes, also of Iloilo.

Former Iloilo 4th district Rep. Ferjenel Biron who is running for Congress and provincial chairman of NP, Iloilo Reps. Braeden John Biron (NP), Janette Garin (NP) and Rep. Raul Tupas, and Passi City, Iloilo Vice Mayor Jesry Palmares, Lakas-CMD provincial chairman, joined the grand rally to support the BBM-Sara UniTeam tandem.

Misamis Occidental Gov. Philip Tan vowed to support Duterte’s vice presidential bid 100 percent. While in Pagadian City, Duterte secured the support of the rest of the peninsula’s leaders.

She also met with Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Victor Yu, his wife First District Rep. Divina Grace Yu and the local officials of the province.