SOME three million voters stand to permanently be disenfran-chised if Congress pushes through with the canvassing of votes for vice president today.
These include the 2.6 million votes cast for vice president on May 10, but were declared “null” because of over-voting or under-shading; the more than 272,000 votes not tallied in the COCs because of the incomplete transmission of certificates of canvass; and the 80,000 to 140,000 plus votes that would come from the special elections to be held in Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Saran-gani and Western Samar.
Curiously, some 500,000 of these votes came from bailiwicks of Sen. Mar Roxas in Regions 6 and 7.
Nonetheless, the Liberal Party (LP) and the Aquino-Roxas Bantay Balota are merely pushing for a random manual audit to counter-check the ballots so there won’t be an iota of doubt on the results of the vice presidential race. Considering the tight race between Roxas and Binay, I think a random manual count should be in order. This should take only a few days more.
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In a way, the Roxas-Binay fight for the vice presidency reflects the current jockeying for positions within the incoming
Aquino administration between two factions. The Roxas camp is allied with the Hyatt 10, the LP and social democrats. The Binay camp, on the other hand, is said to be closely linked with kingmaker Peping Cojuangco and a business tycoon. Both camps are pushing for their nominees to Cabinet and other appointive positions.
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Whatever faction wins in the end, I think they should push for young, idealistic leaders to revitalize government with idealism and passion for change.
For instance, former Dangerous Drugs Board undersecretary Paul Oaminal’s idealism in going after illegal drug syndicates got him kicked out months ago. This LP youth leader would be an asset to the coming administration.
I may not be a fan of congressman-elect Tomas Osmeña but I think his move to push several young Cebuanos to regional and national positions could be good for Cebu. Perhaps the new congressman should also ask president-elect Noynoy Aquino to retain tourism boss Ace Durano, who has been doing a great job for Cebu and the country.
Talking about the Duranos, now is also the time for the younger generation, like Danao City Councilor and Philippine Councilors’ League Cebu chapter vice president Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca to get the chapter’s top post in the province.
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City of Naga Mayor Val Chiong apparently thought long-term when he conceptualized the setting up of an ecology zone and material recovery facility (MRF) within the city. While Naga is expected to produce some 20 metric tons of garbage a day, the actual facility launched last Friday can accommodate over 100 metric tons. The city will accommodate garbage from neighboring towns and cities and earn in the process.
At the moment, I was told even Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and the Mactan Export Zone management had expressed interest in dumping their waste at the MRF in Naga. Criticized for accommodating another coal-fired plant in the city, Mayor Chiong is showing his plans for a modern sustainable city are not limited by three-year terms.
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The result of the recent elections nevertheless is expected to delay or even stop Capitol’s Balili project in Tinaan, Naga. I just hope alternative plans for a modern ash pond are already in place so the timetable for the new Kepco-SPC power plant won’t be disrupted. The increasing number of brownouts tells us additional sources of power should already be in place.
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I’m glad adventurous Cebuanos don’t have to go to Subic or Bohol to zoom from a hilltop to another using a zip line. A group of Cebuanos, one of them Nigel Wenceslao, who is a Bosconian, recently opened “Adventure Café” in Gaas, Balamban with a very long zip line as one of its features. This should be a welcome addition to the exciting Edge Coaster ride on top of Club Ultima as among our tourist attractions.
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