BY MATÉ ESPINA
TWO stories about purchasing vaccines for its populace came out in local news yesterday.
One was of Bacolod Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia who, as head of the League of Cities in the Philippines, asked Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado whether local government units are obligated to allocate funding for COVID-19 vaccines during the recent virtual meeting of the LCP National Executive Board.
Avisado said that the national government will be providing the vaccines for free but with a P10 billion procurement budget for the first year, there may not be enough vaccine for all and as such, the LGUs can spend for those.
To wit, Mayor Bing asked government financial institutions like the Land Bank and the Development Bank of the Philippines if they can put up loans program for LGUs for the COVID-19 vaccination program.
On the other side of the spectrum, you have former Rep. Albee Benitez who now serves as provincial consultant on economic affairs, announcing that he has already an agreement with the national government to negotiate for the purchase of vaccines from US firm Moderna or China’s Sinovac.
Moderna vaccine out of Cambridge is the second COVID-19 vaccine approved by the USDA next to the vaccine produced first by Pfizer.
These vaccines, announced by Albee during his 54th birthday celebration last Sunday, will be partly funded by the provincial government and it is his birthday wish that these vaccines will be in the province by early next year.
Albee also said that the Sinovac vaccine may be available earlier than Moderna. Acknowledging that there are apprehensions against the made-in-China vaccine, he said he is willing to be the first to try out the vaccine as soon as it reaches the province.
And there is where the stark difference lies. You have Mayor Bing who may have more power in a legal sense as head of cities yet defers everything to the national government.
While the other is a mere consultant but obviously has more power and initiative to ensure that his constituency is immediately provided with solutions to the problems.
We all know how government, and even private funding agencies work. The moment you can show that you are responsible enough to take on part of the cost, your idea is immediately prioritized rather than waiting for mere dole outs.
In terms of political alliances, both are on equal footing. Mayor Bing has the ears of Senator Manny Pacquiao who now heads the leading political party in the country and strongly rumored to run for the presidential elections come 2022. Hmmm.
Pacquiao’s victory will surely be good for Bacolod and the mayor as the senator is an adopted son of the city and we all recognize Mayor Bing as the title belt holder or the flag bearer in many of Pacquiao’s games.
Personally though, after the mess we are in under this administration, I will definitely vote for anyone other than that coming from the ruling political party.
But Benitez too, though he is not anymore in the political limelight, still enjoys support from a lot of politicians. After all, Albee heads the Visayan bloc before he exited Congress and his brother, Rep. Kiko Benitez, who took over his post is very close to the new House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
We may well remember Kiko as the congressman that nominated Velasco on the floor that ousted former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
In both stories, you can see which leadership counts and why so many Bacolodnons are actually supporting the call for Albee to run as mayor of Bacolod, especially during this pandemic.
Of course that is impossible at this time because Albee’s residency is outside of Bacolod but the rumors have not stopped and this recent announcement from Albee about the vaccines for provincial constituents may again be another game changer.
I had a call from a wannabee mayor who plans to run against Mayor Bing in the next elections but admitted that if someone else, like Albee, will come out to wrestle control of the city from Mayor Bing, he will take a backseat and will back Albee’s candidacy instead.
There are also rumors that Albee might be eyeing the governor’s seat. However both he and Gov. Bong Lacson come from the same party. Nevertheless, with the recent oath-taking of the opposition party UNEGA, before the governor, the rumor-mill is again buzzing.
But that even though was, according to the governor, signifies that there may be a possible merging of both parties and a status quo in the next election.
Personally, there is nothing better than a unified ticket especially post this pandemic. But 2022 is still far off and for now, it’s better to enjoy the spirit of the holiday season and think about politics mid next year.
We’ve all been affected by COVID-19 and all of us wants 2020 to be over. To all our readers, have a joyous Christmas and a better and blessed 2021!/PN
