The fight for the position of Congressman in the second district of Davao City is, without doubt, a “battle royale” in the making. What with the long Garcia-dominated district of the city suddenly “invaded” by a third generation scion of the Duterte family that has been ruling Davao City for nearly three decades. The Duterte lordship of the city was interrupted only during the three years when lawyer Benjamin de Guzman who was then an ally of then Mayor Rody. Became mayor with the latter’s endorsement.
The Garcia dominance in the second district is now challenged by Buhangin Barangay Captain Omar Duterte, son of first district congressman Paolo Duterte and grandson of the former President. Frankly, we have no idea if Kapitan Omar has a house in Buhangin where he has established his residence. But we are certain that he is a registered voter in that barangay. Otherwise, he could not have qualified to run for Buhangin Barangay Captain during the last election for village officials.
It can be recalled that of late there was a question on the loyalty of Second district councilor Javi Garcia Campos to the home-grown Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (HTL) Party after he was reported to have joined an activity at the national level of President Bongbong Marcos, Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas where alliances with other political groups were formalized.
We have no doubt that the move of the Garcias in apparently severing ties with the HTL could have been triggered by the Dutertes’ registering Omar as voter in a known Garcia turf.
By then the Garcias could have already known what Omar’s move to Buhangin was really for. And knowing the clout of the former President in the city the recourse of the Garcias if they have to maintain their hold of the second district, is to lean on political walls that can withstand the juggernaut of the ruling clan in the city.
And what “wall” can be stronger to lean on than the political group – the President’s coalesced parties. Not only that the Garcias can be assured of political machineries, it can possibly expect financial backing from the national administration.
Of course the Garcias are very well aware that the Dutertes, in fielding Omar for the congressional post, are out to capture the district. The latter will do everything within their power to demolish the Garcias from the political landscape in the city’s second district. The Duterte political clan will not allow their neophyte candidate to bring the family frustration.
On the other hand, it is common knowledge that the Garcias from whom the congressmen of the district really came from, except for the single term of the late former Congressman Cornelio Maskarino, have established strong relations with the barangay people in the district. The ideal relations is ably cultured from the time of the late many times Congressman Manuel “Nonoy” Garcia and ably carried on by her daughter former Congresswoman Millene and incumbent representative Vincent Garcia.
This time the one who the Garcias hope to carry the torch is youthful city dad Javi Garcia Campos, son of the late Nonoy’s sister.
Our take on the chances of Javi’s retaining the Garcia hold in the district is on how the family and their top political advisers will conduct their campaign knowing that they are up against a candidate known surrounded with seasoned and astute political minds – and with guts too, to do the necessary.
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The decision of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) to launch a promotion offering free water consumption even for just a single day to residential consumers, is one very welcome move by those concerned.
But why should the water firm require the residential consumers to apply for availing of the promo? The water agency has the record of all residential consumers and it knows the household water users are using the half an inch pipe because it is a requirement before one’s water connection application is approved. In fact, the installation is strictly inspected to make sure the applicant complies with the specifications.
So why not the DCWD go over its consumer files and segregate the residential ones and let them be beneficiaries of the one-day promotional offer?
We believe that in asking the residential consumers to apply with the DCWD so they can avail of the promo is good as nothing. Perhaps it may help consumers who are residing within the city’s urban and suburban areas. They will not be spending much in fare or snack expenses when they go to the water firm’s offices to apply. But for consumers residing outside the city proper, say in the rural barangays now served by DCWD, what they can save from the one-day promo could be far smaller or none at all, compared to the expenses they have to incur in going to the water agency’s offices to apply. Say, if one is a resident of inland barangays in the third or second district, he or she has to spend as much as 200 pesos in fares alone.
So why not the DCWD management think along this situation on the consumer’s side? The promo might be more meaningful to the consumers concerned.
