IT’S STARTING to get more interesting.
Generally regarded as a ho-hum contest, yes, a sleep- and not even a walk-in-the-park for the incumbent, the upcoming contest for the 1st congressional district is showing some makings of a battle royale.
From the Christmas hams both challenger, Vice Gov. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao, and champion, incumbent Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, showered the constituents of Mabalacat, Magalang and Angeles City, the battle for votes has shifted to the health front.
At the inauguration of the Dr. Andres Luciano District Hospital in Magalang sometime in January, Lazatin committed P1 million of his priority development assistance fund to the facility.
Not to be outdone, Guiao donated 16 hospital beds soon after.
“This is to complement the efforts of Nanay (Gov. Lilia G. Pineda) to upgrade the equipment and thereby improve the services the district hospitals render to our constituents, most especially the indigents,” Guiao quipped.
The beds, with Japanese markings on them, came from the pooling of resources of private individuals and personal friends, said Guiao, underscoring:
“Teamwork is the operative word here. The active participation of the private sector is indicative of its confidence in the leadership of Gov. Pineda and her team at the Capitol.”
Over the weekend, the professional basketball coach followed his teamwork theme with his announcement that with some private partners, he would build dialysis centers “for the poorest of the poor” in Magalang and Mabalacat.
“We will start with a building worth P1 million to P2 million at the Dr. Andres Luciano District Hospital. Then, we will replicate this in Mabalacat so patients from nearby towns like Arayat and Mexico could also avail themselves of services in the dialysis centers,” Guiao said.
Furthering: “Each building or center will have a capacity of at least 10 beds each. They would be completely and fully equipped. These are in support of Governor Lilia Pineda’s priority health agenda and in line with the administration’s public-private partnership thrusts.”
The Magalang dialysis center is slated to be operational by May, after which the Mabalacat counterpart will be constructed, Guiao promised.
Quick was the Lazatin camp’s response: Put up bigger dialysis centers and more equipment to accommodate more patients.
“Sa dami ng nagda-dialysis, very timely itong gagawin ni vice governor at napakaganda dahil makakadagdag ito sa kanyang accomplishment lalo na ngayong hahabol siya.”
So was Lazatin quoted in a press statement. Advising his presumptive adversary: “He might as well consider expanding our dialysis center in Angeles City established by the city government.
As an aspirant for the 2013 congressional seat he must implement more projects in the 1st district and concentrate all his resources here.”
Angeles City, but of course, is in the 1st district too and holds over half of its voters.
And then the putdown: Guiao’s plan to put up a dialysis center in Mabalacat merely complements Lazatin’s program there. In effect reducing the challenger to nothing more than a second-rate, trying-hard copycat. As an early Sharon Cuneta movie blurbed.
“In fact, I’m scheduled to sign a memorandum of agreement with Gov. Lilia Pineda to transfer the P1.5 million funds from the Department of Public Works and Highways sub-district to the provincial Capitol,” Lazatin said.
Under the MOA the governor will allocate a counterpart P1.5 million and “shall commence and supervise the construction of the project based on the approved plan of work until its completion.”
The provincial government will exercise supervision over the dialysis center and provide funds, manpower and other necessities for its full operation.
Veritably sharing but one agendum – health – both challenger and champion in the 1st congressional district contest likewise invoke the same patron – Governor Pineda.
So who will the Nanay bless?
Incidentally, with the contending big guns of the 1st district both in the Pineda arsenal, what ghost of a chance has any pretender to the governorship there? Dead on the spot. No, make that deader than dead.
