David and Goliath in Talisay City

Who is Johnny de los Reyes and what has he done to make Talisay City politics less, if not no longer predictable?

Kinsa ka man nga moparang Eddiegul?

This was the question I asked businessman Johnny de los Reyes, a.k.a. JVR to Talisaynons during the 888 News Forum last Tuesday. JVR is running for mayor against Congressman Eduardo “Eddie” Gullas, who is serving his third and last term as first district representative.

Eddiegul is the local political kingpin who controls the 1st district from his political base, Talisay City. His grandson Gerald Anthony is running unopposed in the district.

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Talisay City’s economic development had been spurred by its proximity to Cebu City, driving migration and investments in the “gateway to the south” especially in housing projects and real estate.

The construction of the South Road Properties SRP, the six-lane coastal highway from downtown Cebu City to Minglanilla increased mobility and enhanced not only economic opportunities but also raised demands for better health, education, transport and livelihood facilities.

The city is beset with many problems common to thriving urban centers but nothing can be more problematic than the situation in the former Tabunok central market and terminal area.

In 2011, Mayor Socrates Fernandez closed the public facility and transferred vendors to the Gullas-Macapagal public market in Lagtang. The new market was created ostensibly to ease the traffic near the flyover, but many resisted the move.

The transfer was not only chaotic, it also became violent. Stallholders, ambulant vendors and tricycle drivers defied the order to discontinue selling in Tabunok prompting law enforcers to wield the big stick. They apprehended mostly ambulant sellers whose goods were bought using borrowed capital from loansharks.

Meanwhile, trading in the new Lagtang public market was very low, and many incurred losses forcing them to look for other means of livelihood.

The standoff between the vendors, tricycle and habal-habal drivers eventually abated but they kept talking about the “real” reason why they have been set aside – because the city was bent in leasing the Tabunok facility to mall operators SM, Gaisano, or Ayala, percolating rumours that some people were more interested in getting commissions than giving the poor a chance to earn a living.

The vendors and tricycle drivers had pleaded with the political leadership to restore the Tabunok market and terminal but the response from City Hall was a flat no.

The city ordinance that effected the transfer of the market place is iron-clad, and with Vice Mayor Alan Bucao reportedly telling them they were “barking at the moon” it seemed like a lost cause.

Now comes JV de los Reyes, whose main platform is the restoration of the Tabunok central market and terminal. At the 888 News Forum last Tuesday, he likened his challenge to that of a small chick (pisu), fighting a crocodile (buaya).

I actually thought Eddiegul was running against a wa-il (wa ilhi, Cebuano slang for political non-entity) so I had opined the outcome of the local race will be a no brainer. In any case, I had been misinformed about JVR because I learned he is a seasoned politician although unsuccessful in his past bids for councilor, board member and mayor.

Talisaynons have an independent streak, as shown by their support for Corazon Aquino in the 1986 snap elections even if Eddiegul served as Cebu governor during the Marcos regime. Talisaynons also backed the 2010 presidential run of Noynoy Aquino even if the local political kingpin went for Manny Villar. Back then, he also supported Gwen Garcia for governor, but his constituents voted for PNoy and Junjun Davide for governor.

Is JVR’s run really gaining steam, rattling the veteran Eddiegul?

I think so, otherwise the city will not re-open the terminal and he will not be calling on vendors and tricycle drivers and promising them to reopen the public market if he gets elected.

Eddiegul’s move was immediately dismissed as politically motivated. Many are saying he will backtrack once he gets elected. Besides, he should have intervened in 2011 when people were pleading for a reprieve, according to some.

My bet is still on Eddiegul because he understands the game and is a seasoned political player.

But stories of David and Goliath-like match ups are many and in Talisay City where people are getting fed up by the chaotic situation in Tabunok, and dynastic politics becoming a hot topic of discussion, plus the antics of Joavan who continues to flout the law, the issues, unless properly handled, might just cause the biggest upset ever in Talisay City.