Deretsahan

By December 6, 2015Archives, Opinion

Disappointing performance of councilors

BEBOT-VILLAR

By Bebot Villar

HOW time flies. Election day is practically just around the corner. For many, it becomes exciting or stressful everyday especially for neophytes in politics. Still, there are those who are again lucky na hindi na kailangan ang mag-effort just to get the sweet “yes” of their constituents.  Like our local officials in Sto. Tomas.

I still remember how we, then as local officials in Sto. Tomas, went out of our way to serve the people, to the different barangays to find out their needs and how best to serve them. Sa totoo lang, we always spent our personal funds para tumulong sa aming mga kababayan.  

And, it has been our policy to make each councilor responsible for their respective counciliary districts since dapat sila ang nakaka-alam ng mga problema at solusyon na nararapat sa mga nasabing problema ng kanyang mga kababayan.

I mention this because all the candidates, from mayor to councilors, in my town are unopposed! Perhaps this situation is unique to Sto. Tomas alone and we are all thankful to our constituents for their trust in our family.  

In fact, ang aking asawa na naging mayor ng 21 years, ang inyong lingkod for 20 years, and until today ang aking pamangkin at nasa ika-3 termino, still unopposed pa rin! Nakakakataba ng puso na tuloy-tuloy ang pagtitiwala sa aming pamilya, sa aming serbisyo sa aming bayan at sa aming maayos na pakikitungo sa mga tao sa ilang generation na.

However, I must admit I am a bit disappointed with the members of the Sangguniang Bayan who are now on their third term and are running unopposed. They no longer appear to be interested to find out more about their constituents’ problems. I say this because their constituents are coming to me instead of them. I hope they will soon stop being complacent and start thinking about leaving a legacy of public service by which they would be remembered.

Nalulungkot ako dahil wala akong nakikitang sipag at malasakit nila para sa aming bayan.  Parang naghihintay na lang yata sila ng sweldo?  I commiserate with my nephew dahil parang siya na lang ang opisyal na gumagawa! I hope magbago na sila, at mahiya-hiya at magsipag naman sana sila upang mas lalo pang mag-progreso ang aming bayan!

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The report that Dagupan City Chief of Police and DDB Awardee P/Supt. Christopher Abrahano admitted that there are nineteen (19) drug-affected barangays in the city today is not really surprising. Since kabi-kabila ang hulihan, it means marami na nga ang drug-affected barangays!

As usual, the problem points to only one fact – the failure of the barangay captain!  The barangay chairman is solely accountable for the proliferation of illegal drugs in the barangay level.

Here we go again, sounding like broken record: Don’t give your barangay officials known to be involved or protecting the illegal drug trade another term of office. Don’t gamble the future of your children!

Meanwhile, I urge our readers to continue cooperating with the police authorities with helpful information that will identify drug personalities in your barangay.  If you feel unsafe with your barangay leaders, don’t bother with them. Work with your police station!

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It’s a good thing that the Dagupan City government is being truthful about the situation, na may malaki silang problema sa iligal na droga.  This is not bad at all dahil mas makabubuti nga na maging aware ang kanilang mga mamayan sa nangyayari sa kanilang lugar. Also, the city government can plan on a better approach to the problem.

If only we have more chairmen like Barangay Chairman Arsenio L. Elegado, Sr. of Brgy. Mabanogbog, Urdaneta City, in our province, I am sure hindi tayo magkaka-problema nang malaki sa iligal na droga! Bihira na po kasi ang barangay leader na katulad niya na talagang tumutupad sa kanyang tungkulin at handa na gamitin ang kanyang right of citizen’s arrest para lang makatulong sa problema ng kanyang barangay.

Kaya, instead of electing traditional politicians, I encourage our people to vote those who can really be trusted and ready to serve their constituents.

Sabi nga, “topu-topu, walang bawian” dahil sa oras na ibinigay na ninyo ang inyong boto sa kanila, sorry na lang po talaga!  Talo ang tao pag ang inyong barangay chairman ay isa palang drug pusher!

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

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