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BY LUIS BUENAFLOR JR.
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Wednesday, September 6, 2017
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MOI HAS actually never written a column or a commentary about the province or specifically the provincial government of Gov. Art Defensor Sr. as there’s nothing interesting to write about.
For sure the provincial government of Iloilo under the watch of Governor Defensor is functioning, in fact it’s performing well to mention: it has been awarded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 6 the Hall of Fame Award in 2016 Excellence in Local Governance Awards (EXCELL).
This means that it has consistently won that award three times in a row.
Well, as they say, good news is not news. Unlike the Iloilo City government, the provincial government of Iloilo fortunately or unfortunately never had a scandal or issues of corruption. It is on sound financial footing under the watch of Governor Defensor.
Good governance is actually boring as it’s just civil servants being civil servants in the service of the people, there are no intrigues and no grandstanding councilors making fun of mothers breastfeeding their babies.
The only visible large infrastructure that was built and operated by the Iloilo provincial government is the Iloilo Sports Complex constructed in 1990 and is still used by the people, and has recently had a refurbishing and facelift with nary a scandal or hint of corruption.
In comparison, the Iloilo City government has built the Esplanade which expansion, according to environmentalists and architects, are destroying mangroves that give life to the Iloilo River.
The city government also built bike lanes that bikers are hesitant to use as it’s not a flat surface, making slips and accidents most likely to happen.
In fact someone told moi that several bikers already had accidents in those bike lanes. As a former marathon runner moi will never jog in the Esplanade and on those bike/jog lanes along the Diversion Road as they are uneven, making running on them not comfortable and can lead to serious accidents.
Moi prefers the soft rubberized track of the Iloilo Sports Complex.
And just when you thought that nothing intriguing will ever come out of the provincial government, Governor Art did his own version of “political striptease.” Will he or will he not be finally doing his political “full monty”?
Here are excerpts from the Sept. 1 issue of Panay News:
Practical politics: Defensor jumps to PDP-Laban
ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. cited “practical politics” in deciding to leave Liberal Party and joining the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The political career of his son, Cong. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. of the 3rd District, was a big factor, the governor said.
“I’d be a hypocrite if I say my decision has nothing to do with politics. I told PDP-Laban my son is interested to become governor. I made the message clear but up to that point lang,” said Defensor.
During a visit to Iloilo City on Aug. 13, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez urged the Defensors to join PDP-Laban.
“If Toto wants to win an election, the administration party can greatly help him. That is practical politics. That is the reality of politics. We don’t have the money to buy votes,” explained the candid Defensor.
“I am not used to shifting from one party to other. But I have been sent several emissaries asking me to transfer. And it made me thought, too, of the support, of the big-ticket programs that the national government could extend to Iloilo province and its municipalities,” said Defensor.
According to the governor, he would fly to Manila next week to finalize the details of his and his son’s oath-taking to PDP-Laban.
After they are sworn in, Defensor said, he would invite members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and municipal mayors to join the President’s party, too.”
And that “full monty” of Gov. Art Defensor Sr. blows open the political arena as to who will the next candidate for Iloilo governor as Art ends his final term.
Still from that Sept. 1 issue of Panay News:
“Days after Alvarez invited the Defensors to PDP-Laban, Defensor said the “gentlemen’s agreement” between him and four congressmen to field a common candidate for governor in the 2019 midterm elections may no longer be workable if he decided to join the ruling party.”
As of today there were two serious contenders who expressed interest to run for Iloilo governor come next mid-term elections in 2019 and they are Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr. of the 3rd District and Cong. Ferjenel Biron of the 4th District. Obviously we don’t have to guess who Governor Defensor will support.
With the governor joining PDP-Laban of President Rodrigo Duterte we can expect the mayors and the rest of the congressmen following him.
And with that Congressman Biron’s bid for Iloilo governor is left in the cold as he seems to be left with only two choices, go ahead and fight alone or give up and support Congressman Defensor Jr.’s bid.
Congressman Biron can console himself that at least he’ll still be congressman of the 4th District and just get used to having Governor Art’s son and namesake sitting at the Office of the Governor. ((brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
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