Monday, April 02, 2007 Printing biz not so brisk in Gensan
LOCAL politicians, and even senatorial bets, are scrimping on advertising money as the election fever rises with the start of the local campaign period, a group of printers here said.
Speaking in behalf of the group, John Paul Jubelag, president of the Publishers' Association of General Santos City and South Cotabato (Pages), said that printing business is slower now than in the last elections.
"Local politicians (and their supporters) are still not on a spending mood," he said.
"There's not much printing jobs for the leaflets and posters of local politicians at this time. Unlike in the past election, when March is approaching, our hands were so busy doing campaign paraphernalia," he added.
Jubelag still expressed optimism that business would pick up, but not as lucrative during the last elections.
In the 2004 elections, Jubelag recalled that printing business in the city experience an estimated 50 percent rise in job orders mainly from politicians and their supporters.
"Our machines used to work until the wee hours of the morning. Basically we're working overtime in the previous election," he noted.
Jubelag apparently miscalculated this year's election spending spree by buying another printing machine costing more than half million pesos last year, which use is not optimized now with lesser job orders from politicians.
"We're surviving by taking in commercial orders," he lamented.
There are at least a dozen printing presses in General Santos City, catering to the needs of neighboring places such as South Cotabato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
Pages is composed of five members. Aside from taking commercial printing jobs, each of them publishes a newspaper circulated in the area.
Jubelag said even senatorial bets have not been utilizing the services of local printers for the coming elections, unlike in the past.
Apparently, party campaign funds for the senatorial bets are not abundant, he suspected.
Most of the local bets, Jubelag claimed, are still waiting for campaign funds from national parties before releasing limited out-of-pocket money for their promotional materials.
But for those with huge personal fortune, such as the case of boxing icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, who is running for congressman, it's an altogether different scenario.
Pacquiao, sources said, is willing to spend personal money of as much as P50 million for the campaign trail in this city and the towns of Polomolok, Tupi and Tampakan, the coverage area of the first district of South Cotabato.
The largely popular knock-out artist is now in the United States for his upcoming fight with Mexican Jorge Solis in Texas but his camp has started commissioning printed materials for his electoral bid.
On top of his personal money, Pacquiao has reportedly been promised a P100 million campaign fund by national administration allies in a bid to dislodge opposition stalwart Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio from the political scene. (BSS)
