Senatorial aspirant Luis Chavit Singson (front, center) with the editors of the Manila Bulletin and VP for Administration (2nd row, leftmost) (Ret.) Gen. Reynaldo Rafal
After 57 years in politics, Luis “Chavit” Singson will be throwing his hat into the Senate race with more than just “lakas loob” or strong will to rely on.
Singson will be running for a Senate seat in the May 12, 2025 polls as an independent candidate.
This comes as much of a surprise to everyone who has followed the storied and colorful political career of Singson, who had been expected to make a run for the Senate while belonging to a political party – be it coalesced with the administration or with the opposition.
“I no longer have (political) enemies. Pag away nang away walang magyayari,” said Singson on Monday, Sept. 23, when he paid a visit to the Manila Bulletin (MB) office in Intramuros, Manila.
Instead, Singson said he was counting on the support that was promised him by no less than the two most powerful leaders in the country – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte – in his bid for a Senate seat.
Told that the political paths of Marcos and Duterte may already be slowly drifting apart, Singson was quick to declare: “I hope to be the peacemaker. I hope I could be the go-between.”
Solid local support
Apart from such an ironclad commitment from Marcos and Duterte, Singson will be relying on his strong rapport with the country’s local executives, being the President Emeritus of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).
“I’ve always been a partner of all the mayors (in the Philippines),” he said.
Singson started his political career as a councilor Vigan in 1967 before representing the first district of Ilocos Sur in 1987.
He moved on to serve as Ilocos Sur governor in different periods from 1972 to 2013.
Singson then turned his focus on more local matters while serving as Narvacan councilor in 2016 to 2019, before assuming the mayoral duties from 2019 to 2022.
There, too, is Singson’s close association with the entertainment industry as he has now embarked on a career as producer of a television show.
Singson was also the principal investor in the Miss Universe pageant which was held in Manila in January 2017. He recalled that, while he had to spend a massive $15 million in bankrolling the pageant, these turned out to be a sound investment as the world-renowned beauty pageant was able to draw about $500 million in media mileage for the country.
Contribution to transport sector
The octogenarian political icon is also expected to draw much support from the transport sector with his latest foray into the transportation industry.
He will soon be launching an electric-vehicle (EV) company in partnership with a Korean company, which will manufacture 28-seater EVs that would be offered to the public transport sector with “no down payment, no interest” and at half the regular price in the market.
“We have talked to the transport groups. The EVs are not the problem. What they’re against is the consolidation because this will take away the franchises that they already have,” Singson said.
The EVs, which will include motorcycles and tricycles, would be able to travel 100 kilometers per charge, and solar chargers will be fitted for re-charging purposes.
Nationwide digitalization
Singson was also upbeat about what he considered his most substantial contribution to Narvacan when he was its mayor in 2019 to 2022.
It’s the Narvacan Card – a multi-purposed ID debit card, which his administration generated to empower the people of Narvacan to have a digital bank account while having access to the many services of the local government.
As a senator, Singson wants to institutionalize this banking alternative in local governments nationwide.
“This could be used by OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), instead of the usual modes of fund transfers today. No middle men handling their money. There will be transparency and this will be good for the economy,” he explained.
And he believes that, with his close connection with local executives, this could be replicated in other parts of the Philippines.
“Digitalization of the whole country, that’s what I hope to accomplish in the Senate,” said Singson.
At 83 years old and a career in politics spanning more than five decades, Singson will be bringing a treasure of practical experience and astute knowledge to the Senate.