The NPC election on Saturday

The Negros Press Club is holding the election of new officers this Saturday. It has become the talk of the town.

The interesting sidelight to it is that four-time president Primo Esleyer had to withdraw his bid for a fifth term simply because the Council of former NPC Presidents gave him an adverse feedback on the implication of his consent for another run for the presidency.

But because of that, the Council, now headed by former President Modesto Sa-onoy agreed that they would ask the board to adopt a resolution officially recognizing the council as “watchdog” special committee.

That, of course, depends on the concurrence to the idea by the forthcoming board of directors.

But the club elders considered it a must proposal to assure that the incoming officers will perform their duties properly and regularly.

No indictment of the present officers. But that bars contingencies where the next officers will forego complying with their obligation to steer the club properly.

I remember that the National Press Club has a standing tradition where the elected president is given a one-year leave of absence (paid) by the firm that employs him so he could attend to his duties properly.

Of course, that did not banish perceived shenanigans by former NPC presidents and their subalterns.

But, as pointed out by my peers (I was once vice president of the national association and later also member of the board), the principal problem was that most of us club elders shied away from any involvement in club affairs when our terms were over. Thus, we left our club to the dogs.

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While City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has stated that he expects President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to act favorably on their petition to hold on to the Bacolod Airport, the Air Transportation Office had recently aired the position that it is in no position to operate two airports side by side.

In short, for the moment that petition must be written off.

So, Silay is it. And the satellite city of Bacolod is expected to benefit economically with the transfer of the airport to that city.

What is imperative now is for the local government unit to intensify its lobbying for the immediate and quality implementation of the infrastructure projects intended to net Bacolod with the new airport. And for it to come up with the plans on how it could derive the most benefit from the Silay airport.

Without a master plan, Bacolod may gradually lose out its pivotal position as the commercial and economic hub of the province.

Now, it's a bit late for Bacolod officials to map out plans for the city. They should have prepared that a long time ago.

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Kudos to former Undersecretary Art Valdez for having been named as special envoy to the Middle East , especially for trade and investment.

Knowing very well Art's ability, I expect that he would be able to scrounge around for investment opportunities for Bacolod .

For one, he can help convince the Arab capital to look into the possibility of upping up their take with their investment in biofuels and ethanol.

In short, he can convince them that they could protect their oil resources by mixing them with bio-oil or ethanol.

Oil companies feel threatened by these two products eroding into their hold of the world's energy needs. Thus, if he can convince them that there is more money to be made by the fuel mix and also stretch their oil deposits, Valdez may both be able to help both the Middle East capitalists and local residents.

I hope that Art devote himself to these pivotal point.

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I foresee an overcrowding by the local faithful when Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra formally opens (Friday) the doors of the San Sebastian Cathedral doors to usher in the Diamond Anniversary of the Bacolod Diocese. There will be the grant of plenary indulgences to those who will take part in the pilgrimage to the cathedral.

The parish priest Fr. Felix Pasquin and his colleagues – Frs. Louie Galbines, brethren Dye Gamala, and Christ Gonzales – have done great guns in mobilizing the faithful and the various parish priests behind the jubilee celebration.

So with the various parish councils which have been instrumental in educating the public on what the Golden Jubilee actually signifies.

In short, duc in altum – moving forward together.*

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