‘Triple J’ rides again

By Herbert Vego

ILOILO CITY’s top three elective officials whose names start in “J”, barring unforeseen circumstances, are filing their certificates of candidacy (COC) today. Have Mayor Jerry Treñas, Vice-Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon and Congresswoman Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda decided to preserve their triumvirate regardless of which party they belong to?

Take it from the mayor himself, who said in a press statement: “The people appreciate our efforts to look after their health and welfare, thus their overwhelming support. It is also an indication that they want the current leadership with Rep. Baronda and Vice Mayor Ganzon to continue serving the city.”

The group has a complete Sangguniang Panglunsod slate, namely Urminico Baronda, Jr., Sedfrey Cabaluna, Eric David, Rommel Duron, Ely Estante, Rudolph Ganzon, Jojo Javellana, Frances Parcon, Rex Sarabia, Miguel Treñas, Johnny Young and Allan Zaldivar.

The initial survey done by Random Access Consultants, Inc. (RACI) on September 22, 2021 showed that the three city officials are still the top choices of the city voters for their incumbent positions.

That is believable in the absence of presumed obstacles, such as the rumored entry of outgoing Senator Franklin Drilon into local politics – say, for congressman against re-electionist Baronda. He has already announced he would not run for any position in the 2022 election.

Supposing Baronda’s bill transforming the city’s lone district into two districts had passed into law, would Drilon have made that announcement? Probably not because in that case, they could run for the same position in separate districts and both win.

With the Jerry-Jam-Jeff trio remaining solid, it goes without saying that no political reconciliation has taken place between brothers-in-law Jerry and former Mayor Joe Espinosa III.

Would Espinosa go for a rematch against Treñas? That would not be practical based on the latter’s populist image.

Besides, their common friends and relatives had hoped for their reconciliation. When we ribbed him about it over coffee at Hotel del Rio sometime in February this year, he said nothing but “I will announce something on my birthday.”

His birthday on June 19 passed by with no such announcement.

What is clear, however, is that the magbilas would no longer clash.  And so their common friends and relatives could support them both.

Espinosa could enjoy a rematch, not with his bilas but with Baronda instead, hoping that “one round deserves another.” Remember, he had already defeated her in their encounter for the vice-mayorship in 2010. But he could not be as complacent this time. Their bout could depend mainly on how the people perceive Baronda’s track record as congresswoman in the past two years.

Joe also counts on the group of former councilor Joshua Alim to join him with a complete slate for the city council.

Let us watch them file their COCs until Friday’s deadline.

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HERE COMES USWAG

“Uswag” is not just the famous battle cry of Mayor Treñas. Uswag is now a party-list party which would pit its candidates in the May 9, 2022 election.  Two names have risen – Raisa S. Treñas (the mayor’s only daughter) and businessman James “Jojo” Ang. There is no third candidate

If most of the city residents vote for this party-list group, it would be enough for Uswag to win two seats. You see, the law says that each party with 2% of the national votes is entitled to one seat, and an additional seat for every 2% of the votes thereafter until a party has three seats. This means that a party can win the maximum three seats if it surpasses 6% of the national votes.

Uswag could find itself in a race with the old frontliner Aambis-Owa, which has Sharon Garin as incumbent representative.  This is not to say, though, that one would have to score higher than the other to make it.  Both of them could win. There are 59 party-list representatives at present, based on the law that allows one party-list representative for every four district representatives.

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CREDIT TO WHERE CREDIT IS DUE

THE all-time low electricity rates imposed by MORE Power on its 88,000 customers in Iloilo City could not have materialized without the cooperation of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). As of today, the residential rate stands at only P6.38/kWh. Here are excerpts from a statement by MORE Power management.

“We are happy to inform you that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), with its mission to protect the rights of the consumers in mind, has ruled in favor of the consumers on the issue of the damaged 90MW submarine cable of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

“The ruling is contained in a letter dated Sept. 20, 2021, by ERC chairperson Agnes Vicente S. Torres-Devanadera addressed to Leonido Pulido III, President of the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation.

“This refers to the complaint filed by MORE Power with the ERC regarding the sudden hike in the power rate spawned by the said incident.

“It can be recalled that the damage in the NGCP facility resulted in the increase of line rental charges, which in the process would supposedly impact the consumers with them paying the high electricity rates starting August.

“MORE Power’s complaint, in behalf of its consumers, was also corroborated by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, Iloilo City Representative Jamjam Baronda, the Department of Energy, Congressman Mike Gorriceta, along with various consumer and business groups who all aired that it is too unfair for the consumers to take on the burden that is not of their own making.”