BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
IT’S QUITE sad and lamentable to hear that the proposed P1-billion Negros-Panay mega bridges will no longer be realized.
The recent announcement made by both senators Franklin Drilon and Cynthia Villar regarding the postponement of the bridges’ construction was likened to a time bomb explosion that shattered the Ilonggos’ and Negrenses’ hope for economic advancement.
Then, speculations here and there milled like mushrooms in the field.
Though Senator Drilon said, “There’s simply no time,” still Ilonggos and Negrenses continue to crave for the very reason behind.
And their “million dollar” question is: Why?
I met a long-time friend in a mall in Bacolod City last week. As usual we exchanged pleasantries until we reached on the issue of the “botched” proposal for Negros-Panay bridges.
I was “shocked” when he told me that “Yellow allergy” had caused the brouhaha.
Quite funny, but he insisted that it’s true.
He explained that, until now, President Rodrigo Duterte is still allergic to Yellow or “Dilawan” in political lingo.
“Vengeance is mine.” Really?
Well, my friend has a point. Maybe.
Western Visayas was really branded as “Dilawan Country” during the May 2016 national and local elections, and even until now.
And proof to it, records from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed that Duterte’s rival, Mar Roxas, topped in all six provinces in Region 6 – Iloilo, Guimaras, Capiz, Aklan, Antique and Negros O ccidental.
The incumbent president only ranked No. 4 in the region.
Roxas, as we all knew, was the “Dilawan” bet. Though he lost in the overall tally, still his running-mate, Leni Lobredo, won as vice president over Bongbong Marcos.
So, even until now, it seems that President Duterte is always got irritated with Robredo’s presence.
And the word “Dilawan” is always associated with Robredo’s supporters and alleged trolls that continue to lambast the President’s image and credibility in social media.
With this, however, one would say that the mega bridge project was just “collateral damage” of the so-called political vendetta.
Hope not!
But if it’s true, then President Duterte’s Build, Build, Build Program is nothing but purely meant for “political accommodation”.
Negros-Panay Bridges is, of course, expected to spur economic developments in the region.
Yellow allergy, if it’s true, is not a shocking fact, perhaps.
Searching through Goggle, the yellow color means freshness, happiness, positivity, clarity, energy optimism, enlightenment, remembrance, intellect, honor, loyalty and joy.
But Google also warn s that yellow also represents cowardice and deceit.
Whether it is true or not that the yellow color has a connect in the issue, it’s still “obnoxious” to use this so-called “yellow allergy” as the very reason for suspending the construction of the mega infra project aimed at connecting the three islands of Negros, Guimaras and Panay.
Not in my “wildest dream” ever!
Nevertheless, what a lesson learned for Ilonggos and Negrenses, indeed.
After all, the May 2022 presidential election is (now) waving./PN
