Alayon Local Chiefs Dominate Talisay

Majority of the candidates who won during last Monday’s barangay elections in Talisay City were opposition allies, 18-4, giving further strength to the Alayon party’s position in the local government especially in the City Council.

City Councilor Dennis Basillote, a senior Alayon member, said the results only prove that their party still has its clout in Talisay despite defeat of its founder former first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas in his bid for the mayoralty post last May.

“Nagpasabot lang nga ang katawhan naa gihapo’y paghigugma sa Alayon ug sa founder. Duna naman guy comparison ang mga tawo kumpara sa una ug karon,” said Basillote, referring to how the city improved when it was run by an administration allied to the Alayon.

Incumbent mayor Johnny V. Delos Reyes, who won by 736 votes against Gullas, is from the opposing camp, Liberal Party.

Of the 22 barangay captains who were elected last Monday, only four are reportedly not with the Alayon, said Basillote. And these are from barangays Linao (Fe Ylanan), Biasong (Reynaldo Bas), San Roque (Elzevier Abraham) and Cansojong (Andrew Bacusmo), he said.

This means the next Association of Barangay Councils president, who automatically becomes an ex-officio member of the City Council, will be from their party, said Basillote. As of the moment, of the 12 Council members, nine are Alayon, including the ABC president and the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president.

The “advantage” of having the majority barangay captains on their side is the continuous flow of the projects from the national government, as their district representative at the Congress, Samsam Gullas, is also an Alayon member.

“Mas dali maabot ang mga projects ni Cong. Samsam sa Talisay kay ato man ang mga kapitanes,” said Basillote.

But political rivalries are only during election time, as when at work, political parties and colors are set aside, shared Basillote. In Talisay, where the mayor and the vice mayor are not their political allies, Basillote said they are still able to work harmoniously with them.

“Maayo ra ang among relasyon ni (Vice Mayor Romeo) Villarante ug ni mayor. Ang duha ka grupo nagtbayayong alang sa kaayuhan sa katawhan sa Talisay. Dili pareha anang ubang lugar nga babagan gyud ang mga proyekto sa mayor abi kay kontra partido. Dili ta ana, kay para man ni sa mga tawo atong gibuhat,” he said.