“No sane local official who has hung up an empty stocking over the municipal fireplace, is going to shoot Santa Claus just before a hard Christmas.” –Al Smith

Santa Claus visited Iloilo City Hall just in time. The check worth nearly P135 million, personally delivered by the Panay Electric Company (PECO), could best be described as a “Merry Christmas payment.” The amount is timely as it will help cover holiday expenses, including bonuses for city employees. Had Santa Claus not visited City Hall in time, the city government would have begun preparations to auction off properties.
The decision to settle PECO’s “long overdue” real property tax arrears (the amount reportedly accrued over two mayoral administrations) was not made overnight. The family of PECO Public Engagement and Government Affairs chief Marcelo Cacho and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, a family friend and former legal counsel for the utility firm, likely had a “heart-to-heart.”
Due to the current set up, I don’t see why City Hall continues to show animosity towards PECO, especially after their payments were settled.
However, the mayor has to be fair to both PECO and the More Electric and Power Corporation. If city residents know how to read between the lines (along with the mayor’s body language), they cannot make an absolute conclusion the mayor wants to cut ties with PECO.

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Ilonggo athletes who won medals at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games are set to receive special funds from the national, provincial, and city governments.
I suggest gold medalists each receive P200,000, P100,000 for silver medalists, and P50,000 for those winning bronze. However, the Philippine Sports Commission will reportedly provide P600,000 for each gold medalist, P400,000 for silver medalists, and P200,000 for bronze medalists.
Athletes have sacrificed so much, it is but proper that national and local governments acknowledge their efforts and heroic performances by showering them with financial incentives.

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Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo./WDJ