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Wednesday, January 14, 2004
John O. to Ilonggos: You can count on me
By Nanette L. Guadalquiver
SEN. John Osmeņa assured Ilonggos of more funding for local projects in exchange for their support in his reelection bid in the May elections.
Osmeņa, who was the special guest in Saturday's inauguration of the refurbished Freedom Grandstand in J.M. Basa St., Iloilo City, also campaigned for Mayor Jerry Treņas and Councilor Raul Gonzalez Jr. -- the administration party's bets for mayor and congressman, respectively.
"I would like to promise you, together with Mayor Jerry Treņas and Councilor Raul Gonzalez Jr., (that) after the May elections, you can count on a friend and kasimanwa from Iloilo," he told the crowd during the late morning program.
The senator is running under the administration coalition K-4 or Koalisyon sa Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan.
Osmeņa, who shelled out P5 million from his congressional funds for the grandstand's repair and rehabilitation, said he is grateful to local officials for the chance to help Iloilo City.
He said the Freedom Grandstand is the "symbol of the political maturity and integrity" of the Ilonggos.
The senator said Ilonggos have always supported the Osmeņas in the elections.
"Iloilo has a tradition of political maturity and enlightenment," he said. He even called himself a "Cebuano nga nagapalangga sa Iloilo (Cebuano who loves Iloilo)."
The senator said his grandfather, an American engineer, was among those who took part in the construction of the Panay railroad.
Incidentally, Gonzalez Sr. is now working for the rehabilitation of the Panay Railways which connects Iloilo to Capiz.
The congressman, during his speech, called Osmeņa Iloilo City's "benefactor" and assured the senator of his "personal commitment" to deliver votes for him.
Treņas also profusely thanked Osmeņa for his assistance in giving Freedom Grandstand a facelift in time for the Dinagyang 2004 festival on January 24 and 25.
The Freedom Grandstand, which can now accommodate a crowd of 2,200 compared to the previous 500, is the main performance area of the competing tribes in the Ati-Atihan contest.
More funds
Treņas said he asked P2 million more from the senator for the construction of additional facilities for the Grandstand.
The mayor proposed the construction of a VIP room and comfort rooms and the installation of a sound system.
Aside from funding Freedom Grandstand's rehabilitation, the mayor said Osmeņa is also allocating P8.2 million for construction of a 1.1-kilometer alternative road from Diversion Road to Tabucan, Mandurriao. NLG
(January 12, 2004 issue)
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