BACOLOD City has its own MassKara special this year — the political edition!
Talks are rife that Mayor Greg Gasataya and Cong. Albee Benitez may no longer be the city’s once-formidable “political sweethearts.”
And the controversy surrounding the P300-million twin projects funded by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) appears to be exposing the cracks in their political partnership.
The controversial projects involve the P220-million fountain rehabilitation at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) and the P80-million redevelopment of the historic Bacolod Public Plaza.
Amid the growing brouhaha, one thing has become increasingly noticeable: Greg and Albee seem to be marching to different political tunes. The mayor is on the offensive. The congressman is on the defensive. And Bacolodnons cannot help but wonder: Are these two political sweethearts no longer singing the same love song?
GETTING MORE OBVIOUS
As the TIEZA controversy continues to unfold, the apparent friction is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. And with each passing day, the cracks seem to grow wider.
For the record, it was during Albee’s tenure as Bacolod mayor that the ambitious P300-million undertaking, courtesy of TIEZA, was approved and its implementation initiated.
Then came Greg, who inherited two unfinished projects — and, apparently, a mountain of headaches. Both projects have reportedly been plagued by prolonged delays and numerous technical defects.
On September 29, just two days before the opening of the 47th MassKara Festival on October 1, Greg publicly exposed what he considered the projects’ glaring shortcomings.
The timing could hardly have been more politically explosive. Instead of showcasing Bacolod’s newest attractions to festival visitors, the city found itself confronting an embarrassing controversy over multimillion-peso public infrastructure projects.
And the political fallout? That is another spectacle altogether.
WATERLESS, POWERLESS, USELESS
Greg declared, “I was disheartened.” He was referring to the public plaza redevelopment, particularly the scattered spherical installations — locally dubbed bola-bola — in various sizes and colors that illuminate the plaza at night.
Many residents have likened the controversial spheres to dinosaur eggs, questioning their relevance to the historic character of Bacolod’s public plaza.
Some furious netizens have gone further, complaining that the illuminated orbs make the plaza look more like a disco bar or nightclub than a cherished historical landmark.
Imagine that!
A historic public plaza transformed into what critics describe as a nighttime entertainment spectacle. And at a staggering cost of P80 million!
No wonder Greg and many Bacolodnons have expressed disappointment over what they consider the project’s uninspiring design.
Even Reverend Father Julius Espinosa, head of the Caritas Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod, has echoed public dissatisfaction with the plaza’s appearance. He also supported calls for an investigation.
The P220-million fountain project at the BCGC has generated an equally disturbing question. How could such an expensive fountain remain waterless, powerless, and practically useless?
The fountain’s failure to operate during the MassKara Festival, particularly its October 16-to-18 peak celebrations, only intensifies public frustration.
TIEZA cited serious safety concerns and technical limitations as reasons for withholding permission to operate the fountain. It maintained that public safety and critical infrastructure constraints must take precedence.
Fair enough. But to ordinary taxpayers, the explanation may sound painfully inadequate.
After spending P220 million, Bacolod got a fountain that could not even perform its most basic function. A fountain without water? Only in the wonderful world of government infrastructure projects!
‘APOLOGY NOT ENOUGH’
Earlier, TIEZA’s Gregory Oller apologized to Greg over the controversy. But the mayor was unimpressed.
“Apology is not enough. Words are not enough,” Greg declared.
Ouch!
That was no ordinary expression of disappointment. It was a sharp rebuke that carried considerable political weight. And perhaps a deeper message.
This brings us to the question now intriguing Bacolod’s political observers. If Greg and Albee were practically “politically married” during the 2022 and 2025 elections, why do they now appear to be drifting apart over the TIEZA projects?
Greg has made his displeasure unmistakably clear, repeatedly highlighting the projects’ excessive delays, technical deficiencies, and questionable execution. Albee, meanwhile, has been vigorously defending his position amid the controversy. One can almost see an invisible political line being drawn between the two.
Greg, a former broadcaster, certainly knows how to command public attention. He understands the power of carefully delivered statements, dramatic expressions, and memorable sound bites.
Indeed, the mayor has demonstrated a remarkable instinct for public relations.
Consider his declarations: “I was disgusted. I was disheartened. I would not sign any acceptance documents until the projects are completed.”
Powerful words. And politically effective, too.
By positioning himself as the mayor unwilling to accept defective and unfinished projects, Greg has managed to project the image of a public official standing firmly on the side of disappointed taxpayers. He has turned public frustration into a powerful political narrative. And in politics, whoever controls the narrative often controls the battlefield.
PERTURBED
Albee, on the other hand, appears increasingly perturbed by the controversy surrounding the TIEZA projects. Unlike Greg, who has been delivering sharp and emotionally charged statements, the congressman seems to be struggling to produce equally compelling sound bites.
“Indi amo ni ang aton gin-estoryahan. Lain ang inyo gin-propose, lain ang outcome. Kung ano ang gin-present kag gin-aprubahan, amo ang dapat nga natuman kag resulta nga makit-an,” Albee said.
In essence, the congressman was saying that the finished projects should reflect what had originally been proposed, presented, and approved. A reasonable argument, certainly. But politically? It lacks the emotional punch of Greg’s declarations. No thunder. No dramatic impact. No memorable sting. Just a straightforward explanation that risks getting lost in the noise of public outrage.
That’s the difference between the two political personalities. One is a billionaire businessman accustomed to boardroom negotiations. The other is a seasoned broadcaster who knows how to connect with the masses.
The former may be clever. But the latter appears to be proving himself wittier — and perhaps politically wiser — in this particular controversy.
‘COLLATERAL DAMAGE’
Another personality is being dragged into the controversy – TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid. And he may be emerging as the biggest collateral damage of this political spectacle.
The more the controversial projects are discussed on social media, radio, and in newspapers, the more Lapid’s name becomes associated with the mess. When Greg criticizes the projects’ defects and delays, the criticism inevitably reflects on TIEZA’s leadership. And when Albee defends his role in the projects, the controversy continues to draw attention to the agency responsible for their implementation. Either way, Lapid finds himself caught in the political crossfire. This could become particularly troublesome if rumors about his possible senatorial bid in 2028 prove true.
His father, Sen. Lito Lapid, is approaching the end of his final consecutive term in the Senate, fueling speculation that the younger Lapid may seek to follow in his footsteps.
But in Bacolod and Negros Occidental, Mark may have some serious explaining to do before entertaining bigger political ambitions.
Instead of enjoying the political benefits of government-funded tourism projects, Lapid risks becoming associated with their embarrassing shortcomings.
ON THE ROCKS
Returning to Greg and Albee, their once-solid political partnership now appears to be under considerable strain. Some political observers believe Greg’s public condemnation of the plaza’s condition was tantamount to driving a political spear into Albee’s heart. After all, the projects were initiated during Albee’s administration.
Which raises another intriguing question: Did the two political allies discuss the controversy before Greg publicly unleashed his criticisms? Or was Albee caught completely off guard?
Whether intentional or not, the political implications are difficult to dismiss. And now, Bacolod’s political cauldron appears to be approaching boiling point.
“Linyahanay portion” is reportedly beginning, according to a political insider.
The insider claims that Greg already has five die-hard city councilors firmly behind him, while Albee commands the loyalty of almost the same number.
If true, this suggests that the apparent political tension may extend beyond the two personalities and into the Sangguniang Panlungsod. The possibility of rival political alignments is beginning to emerge.
And that brings us to the million-peso question: Can Greg afford to lose Albee? Or, more importantly, can Albee afford to lose Greg?
The controversial “plaza balls” could become an unlikely political barometer. Public resentment toward the spherical installations has become so intense that some residents are now questioning not only the design but also the people responsible for approving it.
The “balls tragedy” has become a favorite subject of conversation among Bacolodnons across generations and social classes. And Greg appears determined to have the final say. The mayor has promised to address the plaza’s design problems after the MassKara Festival, taking into consideration proposals from the United Architects of the Philippines–Bacolod Chapter and local artists.
If he follows through, Greg may finally demonstrate that he has the political “balls” to remove the plaza’s much-criticized balls! Now, that would be quite a spectacle.
But such a move could also leave Albee and TIEZA in an awkward position, particularly if the redesign effectively repudiates the original project.
For Greg, however, it presents an opportunity to reinforce his image as a decisive leader willing to correct what he considers the mistakes of the past.
And who knows? Those controversial plaza balls might eventually become political ammunition in the run-up to the 2028 elections.
Abangan!/PN
