Panic over VP Leni’s popularity

By Herbert Vego

THIS writer entertains no doubt that the sudden withdrawal of Congressman Dante Marcoleta from the Senate race, contrary to his allegation, was not just a knee-jerk reaction to his tail-ending position in the surveys.

“The fighter in me,” he said, “should be brave enough to read the writings on the wall.”

While we agree that he is non-winnable, his withdrawal stems from a vague “higher reason,” to quote his presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

It must be because he wanted to foist on the gullible public the perception that the surveys are authentic and could not be twisted or bought to appease favored politicians.

The orchestrated surveys by Pulse Asia, SWS, Octa Research, Laylo Research and Publicus Asia lead to the same conclusion that the “Uniteam” of Marcos for president and Sara Duterte-Carpio are winning by majority votes – that is, more than 50% of the voting population despite the toned-down number of 2,400 unidentified, unverifiable respondents.

Almost all the “winning senatorial candidates” in the surveys’belong to the “Uniteam,” such as Raffy Tulfo, Loren Legarda and Chiz Escudero.

Obviously non-popular because of his leading House role in junking the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, Marcoleta had to be sacrificed. Elevating him to the top 12 in the senatorial race would stoke the raging doubts on the surveys’ authenticity.

Even then, Bongbong and Sara leading a survey with 2,400 respondents in a country with 67 million voters – assuming it’s not fake news — pales in comparison to the sea of more or less a hundred thousand individuals congesting each Leni-Kiko rally.  The video footages show that Leni attracts more crowds than the “son of a dictator” – which is how Bongbong is called for being the only son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

To quote Manila-based broadcaster Percy Lapid, the monthly surveys are “prepaid” to conform to the intended election results.

Otherwise, the likes of veteran SWS and Pulse Asia would find themselves out of business in 2025.

As admitted by Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes, he gets five million pesos per survey from undisclosed sponsors.

Under the watchful eyes of foreign observers and journalists, Smartmatic (provider of the vote-counting machines) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) might find themselves in hot water on May 9, 2022.

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STILL FIGHTING FOR THE ANTIQUEÑOS

THAT she is running for senator does not mean that Loren Legarda, outgoing congresswoman of Antique, has lost her love for the Antiqueños.

We saw this for ourselves when she launched the Antique Trade & Tourism Fair in the newly restored Old Capitol Building last Wednesday.

“Each of the 18 municipalities,” she told the media, “has its unique features including cultural and heritage landmarks, historical significance, natural wonders such as rich landscape and seascape.

“This trade and tourism fair is an opportunity for our kasimanwa to showcase the natural wealth and the potential of our home province as a premier ecotourism destination that will also provide sustainable livelihood and employment opportunities.”

No doubt she continues to invest invaluable support in culture-based livelihood and protection of natural wonders all over the Antique, recognizing the significance of culture and tourism in empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Among the local micro-enterprises that have sprouted to profitability are the Bagtason Loom Weavers Association (BLWA) in Bugasong; the Malabor Abaca – Piña Weavers Association (MAPWA), and the Tibiao Active Weavers and Knitters Association (TAWKA) in Tibiao; the Sto. Rosario Multipurpose Cooperative in Pandan; the Pahinis Muscovado Sugar of Laua-an Multipurpose Cooperative (LMPC); and the Ati Bukidnon Tribal Organization in Libertad.

Local food and handicrafts are among Antique’s best products, such as tablea, muscovado sugar, handwoven patadyong, handmade clay pots, and handicrafts made of nito, buri, bariw, abaca and bamboo.

The incumbent Antique Congresswoman continues to invest invaluable support in culture-based livelihood and protection of natural wonders all over the Antique, recognizing the significance of culture and tourism in empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Meant to be a tourist attraction, the Antique Trade and Tourism Fair – in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) — will remain open until   May 3.

Also ongoing is the Antique Artists Fair in Balay nga Bato, showcasing the RAHMAG visual arts group, which is composed of Antiqueño artists engaged in painting, sculpting, photography, engraving, and graphic arts, among others.

May the next congressman – whether her brother Antonio Agapito Legarda, Ade Fajardo or Paolo Javier — equalize or surpass Loren’s track record; and be as cooperative with the next governor as Cong. Loren is with Governor Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao.

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MORE POWER STILL THE CHEAPEST

THIS corner remains optimistic about the capacity of MORE Power, Iloilo City’s power-distribution franchisee utility, to keep its reputation as distributor of the cheapest electricity in the Philippines despite its moderate price increase this billing month of April.

That means that the current price has gone up by only 41 centavos from ₱6.82 to ₱7.23 per kilowatt-hour. It’s much cheaper than what the Iloilo Electric Cooperatives charge, ranging from ₱11 to ₱13.

I remember that when MORE Power took over from Panay Electric Co. (PECO) in February 2020, the prevailing price at that time was around ₱10.30. It was a time when power pilferages were rampant, thus affecting pricing.

By running after the power thieves, MORE Power has reduced the system’s loss.

This month’s downward jump from ₱6.82 to ₱7.23 is mainly a result of higher charges pegged by the energy producers through the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

The continuing increase in global coal prices, according to MORE’s President Roel Castro, also has a significant impact on power rates as the majority of supply nationwide comes from coal-fired generation plants.

This increase in power rates is minimal as MORE Power currently still sources most of its supply from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM), a geothermal plant in Leyte classified as a renewable energy resource shielding its customers from the full impact of the coal and oil price increases.