Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is reportedly eyeing another bid at being nominated the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet in 2010 but this time, he will be seeking the nod of the party’s general membership which will meet Thursday.

In a radio interview, Marikina City Mayor Lourdes Fernando, wife of the MMDA chief, said she and her husband remain members of the administration-backed party, adding that they are treating the decision of the national executive committee as a temporary setback.

Mrs. Fernando said she believes the party will still have to choose its presidential bet at the national convention set on November 19 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

In media interviews, Fernando has stressed that he has not given up hopes of running for president in 2010. However, he refused to give further details of his plans.

Interviewed at the Friday Balitaan News Forum, Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay said Fernando is free to pursue his presidential or vice presidential nomination during the Lakas-Kampi convention.

“He is free to do what he wishes. But I don’t know the nomination rules because I am not a member of the national executive committee,” she added.

Meeting two months ago, the Lakas-Kampi NEC voted unanimously to nominate Teodoro as the presidential candidate of the party.

Magsaysay said a bid by Fernando to appeal his case before the national convention may not bear fruit because the vast swift improvement in Teodoro’s poll survey ratings.