Newks’ MKK coalition bared

Former Rep. Monico Puentevella presided yesterday over a well-attended presentation of his MKK coalition that could very well upstage the trouble-racked Nationalist People’s Coalition of mayoralty bet Jude Thaddeus Sayson.

MKK stands for Magbinuligay Kita sa Kauswagan. It is a largely Liberal Party–dominated group, according to Puentevella.

But there are also members of the PDP-Laban, the Nacionalista Party and Independents. A PDP Laban member is Vladimir Gonzales, Puentevella’s vice mayoralty candidate.

Yesterday’s press briefing at the Business Inn Grand Ballroom was crowded by a record group of news media workers.

It was a surprising turnout for a local press conference. “A record,” quipped a veteran observer of press conferences.

Puentevella asked Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue to take over the presentation of the MKK’s 10-point program of good governance, “inclusive, participation consensus-centered, transparent, responsive and follows the law, etc.”

Of course, to detail the program will take much of this column’s space. But it is enough to say that the MKK has a whole gamut of presentations which included not only its 10-point program of governance but also how they intend to do it.

The serious theme of the presentation was that the entire group pledged to adhere to their platform of government under Puentevella should the entire ticket win.

The PDP Laban group consists of Vladimir Gonzales and Bong Dilag, former DILG Regional Director for Western Visayas.

There were only 10 candidates presented. The two others are reportedly coming in this week but their names were not yet mentioned. “But they are well-known names,” said Newks.

The slate is made up of Batapa-Sigue, Frank Carbon, president of the MBCCI, radio personality Ray Carmona, Atty. Dilag, Atty. Jun Gamboa, Atty. Andy Hagad, Atty. Ann Marie Palermo, Claude “Kalaw” Puentevella and Marlon Solidum.

Puentevella said the group is composed of members of various parties except for the NPC.

He is running as an independent. So with three others of the ticket.

“But we intended to make known our decision on which group to affiliate with or join later, said Puentevella.

Gamboa, on the other hand, is the lone Nacionalista Party member.

Vice Mayoralty bet Gonzales said that as a businessman, he is saddened by the lack of jobs for Bacolodnons. He knows this because he is in business and has seen the problem plaguing the city all these years.

And this is precisely one of the major objectives of the MKK so with its thrust to invite the business sectors to invest more in the city, what the city government had failed to comply with these years.

Just an aside, I learned yesterday that there are many gripes aired by members of the NPC in the election of Greg Gasataya, a former councilor, as vice mayoralty tandem of Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson.

Most of the members of the Grupo Progresso are reportedly dissatisfied with the process that led to Gasataya’s selection as running mate to Sayson.*

back to top