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No more politics for Treñas when term ends in 2019 ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – “It is time to let go.”
Rep. Jerry Treñas is no longer running for mayor — or any elective position — when his third and final term ends in 2019.
“For a leader, there is always time to let go,” he told family members, supporters and local officials during his advance 60th birthday celebration in his office Friday, Dec. 2. (His birthday is Dec. 4.)
In January Treñas told Panay News he will stage a comeback in politics when his congressional term ends by seeking the mayorship.
“I have always enjoyed being mayor,” Treñas — who served as mayor from 2001 to 2010 — said in an exclusive interview. “The job is action-oriented and very in touch with people.”
But he has backtracked.
“Nakalab-ot kita subong sa crossroads, [kag] amo na ang akon desisyon,” he said Friday. “Mamag-an sa akon buot ang ini nga desisyon.”
According to Treñas, it took him more than three months to make up his mind.
One of the reasons, the congressman said, was that he wanted the city’s progress to continue under Jed Patrick Mabilog and Jose Espinosa III, the incumbent mayor and vice mayor, respectively.
“Let us not derail our city’s progress,” he said. “We are where we are now because we helped each other.”
And this early, Treñas endorsed Mabilog as his replacement and Espinosa as future city chief executive.
Mabilog and Espinosa were also on their third and final terms. They along with Treñas belong to the Liberal Party.
“We need new blood in Congress and [the] city [government],” stressed Treñas.
Among the measures Treñas authored in the House were Republic Act (RA) 10645 (An Act Providing For the Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage for All Senior Citizens), RA 10643 (An Act Prescribing the Printing of Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products), and RA 10653 (An Act Adjusting the 13th Month Pay and Other Benefits Ceiling).
He was also instrumental in the conversion of the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology into a state university, as well as increase the number of plantilla positions for the West Visayas State University assigned to staff the West Visayas State University Medical Center.
But Treñas continues to push for the approval of House Bill 3474, which divides the city into two legislative districts — one comprising Jaro, La Paz and Mandurriao, and the other comprising City Proper, Arevalo and Lapuz.
From being a city councilor from 1995 to 1998, Treñas ran for mayor and won in 2001 and served — having reelected twice — until 2010, when he sought the lone district congressional post.
Mabilog thanked Treñas for what he has done for the city.
“Ang ini nga announcement isa ka patimaan nga maayo sia nga klase sang leader,” said the mayor.
Still Mabilog hopes Treñas would change his mind, especially if the bill redistricting the city — and allowing for two House representatives — gets approved.
During the 16th Congress, the House of Representatives approved the measure, but the Senate did not.
“Dugay pa ang 2019, damo pa pwede matabo,” said Mabilog. “Of course nagalaom kami sa Kongreso nga masuportaran kag tagaan ligwa ang duha ka distrito. In that way, tatlo man kami sa gihapon ni Congressman Jerry kag Vice Mayor Joe Espinosa III.”/PN
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