"Where did the respondents to this survey come from another planet, another dimension?"
No, Quezon City is not under threat of being conquered by any foreign or even domestic powers. What this new political party, Malayang Quezon City is espousing is liberating the city residents from the pains and sufferings brought by health concerns.
The other day, Edwin Rodriguez, secretary general of the PDP-Laban Quezon City bared that Anakalusugan Partylist Representative Michael “Idol Mike” Defensor is all prepped to challenged incumbent city mayor, Joy Belmonte for the local chief executive post next year under the banner of Malayang Quezon City. And of course, the main battle cry will be to liberate Quezon City residents of their health woes, which incidentally, is Defensor’s advocacy in his partylist.
In fact, Defensor even challenged Health Secretary Francisco Duque when he spearheaded the distribution of the so-called miracle drug against COVID-19, ivermectin, to city residents. The solon went further in taking the cudgels for COVID-19 patients when he threatened to file cases against Duque for insisting on dispensing the expensive remdesivir to patients when even the World Health Organization has issued recommendations against the drug.
But while this writer sees a battle royale in the offing between Defensor and Belmonte, a survey firm is already projecting a landslide victory for the latter.
According to RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc., results of their survey show Belmonte garnering 38 percent of voters’ support as against 10 percent of Defensor.
I just cannot understand where RPMDI is getting its figures. In March this year, RPMDI bestowed the title top-performing local chief executive in Metro Manila to Belmonte, even besting Pasig City Mayor Regis Vico Sotto, who at the time, had just been honored by the US State Department for his anti-corruption initiatives.
Justifying the results of their survey, Dr. Paul Martinez of RPMD Inc. was all praises for his firm’s top five Metro Manila Mayors, declaring they were all doing a great job as confirmed by the comments, given by the respondents like in Belmonte’s case –“innovations in reaching and addressing constituents’ concerns during pandemic, social and welfare services, ease in doing business and transactions at city hall, and (being a) hands-on mayor,” which made her the top NCR mayor.
And as I have said before, that’s where the problem lies.
If indeed Belmonte was successful in her handling of the pandemic, then how come as of today, Quezon City is still the leader when it comes to COVID-19 infection?
According to the DoH website, as of June 24, 2021, Quezon City has accumulated a total of 106,283 Covid-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, out of which, 1,495 cases are still active.
So, are the respondents not aware of this? Where did RPMDI source its respondents? From another world in another dimension?
Maybe, Quezon City really needs to be liberated. Not only from health problems, but also from other concerns as well. Lol.
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I really find this representative from Probinsyano Ako Partylist, Rep. Jose “Bonito” Singson quite amusing. Not only is he a non-conformist, but just like Defensor, he has no problem questioning and protesting administration missteps even as he is identified with the majority coalition in Congress, which is supportive of the administration.
On the issue of black sand mining, when almost all critics were calling for a total ban for such activity, Singson batted for maximizing its potentials by calling for processing them to finish products such as steel, rather than exporting them in their raw form.
With regard to the errors – deliberate or otherwise – found in the learning modules and books being distributed by the Department of Education, Singson displayed no qualms in castigating DepEd officials in their failure to penalize those behind the malicious acts.
For those who have yet to know this man personally, Bonito, by the way, is the youngest son of the late former Mayor of Vigan – Maestro Joseling Singson and Caridad Crisologo Singson. Most of his siblings are public servants which include the late Governor Titong Singson, Mayor Chavit, Vice-Governor Jerry, Former PCSO Chair Honey Girl de Leon, and Mayor Germy Goulart of Caoayan.
While born to an affluent family, the early demise of his parents while he was still studying, reinforced his determination, not only to survive but to be successful, graduating from Ateneo de Manila with a degree in Business Management.
He became a pioneering businessman in Vigan, built boutique commercial complexes with his Plaza Maestro brand in honor of his father. He developed the biggest memorial park, the Jardin de Caridad in honor of his mother. His investments generated employment for many residents of Vigan and neighboring towns, he created downstream industries for other businessmen and helped pave the way for more investments.
He is an amateur historian and has a passion for heritage and ancestral restoration. His house, known and referred to as Casa Caridad, remains one of the best faithfully-restored ancestral houses in Vigan. He made other owners of old Vigan houses recognize the essence of restoration and many followed what he started. In building the structures for his businesses, he remained faithful to the architectural values that made Vigan the UNESCO World Heritage City in the Philippines.
At present, Rep. Singson chairs the Committee on Public Accounts and has authored 33 House measures while has co-authored 17 House measures. And among his principally-authored House bills, he is most passionate about what he calls “End to Endo Bill” which aims to give employees the opportunity for longer and gainful employment, while also enjoying mandatory social benefits employees are entitled to through the extension of a maximum allowable period of probationary employment from the current six months to twenty-four months.
He may be a newbie in Congress, but so far, he’s been impressive.