By Atty. Farah G. Decano

           

AT the time of writing, we may have already watched how the presidential candidates were quizzed by Jessica Soho and Boy Abunda.  It is interesting how their public relations managers packaged them as they answer the queries.

One wore the macho man style and brute of the streets flair of President Rodrigo Duterte.  He was direct to the point, thuggish and adopted the bullet-style responses of the present dispensation.  Unlike the latter, however, who came off as an unrefined but sweet charmer to the Filipino public, the former radiated braggadocio with only his ambition to support him.  His famous track record so far only spoke of shallow esthetic projects in his locality.  Beautify here, beautify there.  So-so clean up here and there.  I admired his determination at the start but all crumbled when I heard the news of the inhuman treatment of the poor by his administration.  One itinerant vendor cried to the media, “…hindi maganda yung ginagawa na higit pa kami sa daga na nagtatago sa sulok.”  For one who boasts of his impoverished past as his catapult to all the political positions he ran for, how could he easily forget their concerns?   Ah, beyond the rhetoric of beauty and glamor of the refurbished structures of culture-rich Manila, what else has he done to substantially protect, promote and respect the humanity of his constituents?

Ah, don’t boast to me the several condominiums allegedly made for the poor.  These are the kind of capital projects that most politicians will endeavor to build because of some other considerations like popularity and captive voters if only they had the budget as big as this Philippine capital city.   China also had this project of build, build, build condominiums in the early 2000.  Were its people happy?  Are Manileños happy now?

If his idea of progress is merely superficial with the so-called rats disrespected and disregarded, then what heart has this Duterte Wannabe?

I cannot help but juxtapose him against the achievements of the legendary Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr in Dagupan City.  Instead of prioritizing limited funds for “juicy” projects like construction of buildings here and there, he was more into soft projects like livelihood training, capacity development for the youth, elderly care and other projects that promoted the well-being of the Dagupeños.  He treated itinerant vendors with respect.  He ensured first their relocation before their final eviction.  Per my source, there were many dialogues that lasted for six months before they were finally evicted.  Despite the lack of beautiful buildings, the people in Dagupan City were more or less happy.  They loved Mayor Al.  In fact, he earned the monicker, “the most loved mayor.”  He has given the enforcement of the law a human face.  Can this Duterte Wannabe do the same?

Whenever I am reminded of Mayor Al, his mentee Mayor Belen Fernandez cannot be far behind.  She foresaw the need to build more offices and develop more programs to make the city more responsive to the constituents. She planned to build a few hundred classrooms pursuant to the K to 12 Program, however, her biggest hurdle was the lack of funding.   Ordinary and lazy local chief executives will just have to make do with whatever is available.  But Mayor Belen was neither ordinary nor lazy.    Without raising new taxes during her first term, she was able to achieve a spiked parallel growth in both infrastructure and people-empowering projects such as her anti-bullying program, free legal counseling for battered women, among many others.   Because access to government services was made easy for all sectors, people were happy.

Oh well, this Duterte Wannabe should first learn from Dagupan mayors before he aspires for the highest post in the land.

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