Kusug to endorse Team Rama

KUGI, Uswag Sugbo (Kusug), the political group of former mayor Alvin Garcia, will hold its convention tomorrow at the Grand Convention Center. It will reportedly endorse the tandem of reelectionist Mayor Michael Rama and his running mate Edgardo Labella together with the entire Team Rama.

Bobby G. Nalzaro

Saksi

View profile

Sources said Kusug leaders decided to endorse Rama because of his character and because he performed well in his first term in office. Rama has an edge over his political opponent, Rep. Tomas Osmeña, especially in the areas of good governance and personal relationship, some Kusug leaders said.

Sources said that Rama and Labella have been invited to attend tomorrow's affair and that their hands will be raised by Garcia to seal the support. If we recall, Rama and Garcia's son Raymond, a ranking Kusug official, faced each other in the 2007 elections for vice mayor. Rama was Tomas’s running mate while Raymond paired with former Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann de los Santos.

Well, that is politics. As they say, “In politics, there is no permanent friends and enemies, only permanent interests.”

Look at Tomas and Mike. They were partners in past elections but have become bitter political rivals. I am not aware now of the situation of Kusug or if it is still as strong as when it was organized by Alvin when he severed his ties with Osmeña's Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

Kusgan pa ba ang Kusug? Mao nay pangutana? Basin luya na. In fact, some of its original members, like businessman Jonathan “Atan” Guardo and Cogon barangay captain Eugenio Gabuya Jr., who is running for councilor, are already with Osmeña.

I know Tomas and his allies would belittle Kusug's endorsement of Team Rama. But we cannot just dismiss this political development because Alvin, though he has retired from politics several years ago, still has clout and influence over his diehard supporters, especially some barangay officials.

No amount of money can buy loyalty and personal relationship. Alvin was very approachable at City Hall and many people like his character and attitude, unlike Tomas.

Let's see what Kusug can do to prop up the candidacy of Team Rama. Let see the scattered (makitang katag) inig human sa eleksiyon.

***

Mayor Rama and the BOPK-dominated city council are debating on when the P10,000 annual financial assistance for senior citizens would be released. Earlier, the council passed an ordinance setting the release of the cash gift for June and December.

Mike wants it distributed every quarter. The council, perhaps swayed by the adverse public opinion and the petition of senior citizens, changed its stand and wants it released every month.

It seems that the council is making a mountain out of a molehill. It wants to legislate everything so that the mayor cannot move. It wants to tie Mike’s hands. It is using “tyranny of numbers” in the council.

What is wrong with Mike’s stand? If the money is released on a monthly basis, the accounting department might encounter problems, especially in the listing of the thousands of beneficiaries. Besides, the senior citizens will only be getting P800 every month.

But if the money is released every quarter, the beneficiaries will receive P2,500. Big enough in exchange for the hassles of going to and lining up in the barangay halls.

(bobby.nalzaro@yahoo.com)