The ‘buzz’ started in coffee shops, right after super typhoon ‘Reming’, and spread and gained acceptance from the Sangguniang Palalawigan ng Camarines Sur under the leadership of Vice Gov. Salvio Fortuno.

        The ‘buzz’ was that if there must be a move to request the transfer of regional center from Legazpi City to Pili, Camarines Sur or Naga City, it must be now while proof of the permanent danger posed by Mayon Volcano stared threateningly in the horizon.

        But it was actually Congressman Joey Salceda who started the call in March at a press conference in Naga City when he endorsed the possible transfer of the regional center in Camarines Sur, as he responded to the same question a reporter fielded. That time, Mayon Volcano was showing signs of restiveness which culminated into an eruption in August to September last year, displacing tens of thousands families and destroying hundreds of millions worth of crops.

        The ‘buzz’ became an official call of the Sangguniang Palalawigan ng Camarines Sur, a position based on the objective condition of the regional center in Rawis, Legazpi City which had been flooded and isolated from the rest of the areas, 24 hours after the super typhoon.

        The official call Fortuno publicized through the local media, certainly invited strong reactions from Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzalez and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal. Gonzalez described the desire of the Camarines Sur provincial officials “plain opportunism”.

        The governor of Albay expressed disgust over planned move of the Sanggunniang Panlalawigan ng Camarines Sur to request the transfer of the regional center out of Albay province because of the wrong timing the call was made. With the huge losses in lives and properties from ‘Reming’ onslaught, Gonzalez saw that Fortuno et. al. were taking advantage of the miseries of the province.

        The statement from the second highest elective official of Camarines Sur ruffled some feathers from Albay and Legazpi City officials because it reopened old wounds between the two territories that have been competing for recognition as the true center of Bicolandia.

        Making their voices heard, the officials of Iriga City joined the fray by passing a resolution requesting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo “to transfer to Iriga City the regional offices of the different departments/agencies of government.”

        Holding a double-edged sword, Iriga City officials support Fortuno’s call to transfer the regional center to Camarines Sur even as they “earnestly request” the president to transfer some of these offices to their own city.

        Because it would only take two to tango, three bidders to host the regional center is a riot over a piece of opportunity that could be translated as a shot in the arm of local economies whose income could be boosted with a relocated regional government center.

        The interests of the Camarines Sur and Iriga City officials to bid for the regional center hosting are materialistically straight forward but at this point in time when hundreds of Albayanos are still reeling from the tragedy that befell them, the moves of the officials from Camarines Sur could be callous and oddly untimely or politically incorrect that expose the opportunistic side in every one of us.