Who will make a difference?
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
CONGRATULATIONS and good luck to the newly elected and the re-elected barangay officials.
I’d like to believe that new visions will show the way to good governance and hopefully start a new movement and advocacy in barangay affairs. While elections for local and national government appear more significant and relevant, nothing can be more directly relevant than BSKE. Our barangay officials’ programs impact directly on our daily lives in our neighborhood!
Today, barangays can already afford to launch and implement programs and projects without having to wait for the mayors to act because today, our barangays are provided with funds via Internal Revenue Allotment much like what city/town governments get though understandably lower.
Wonder no more where many barangays get their funds to have ambulances of their own. Barangays get funds from the national government by law! All kagawads should know this so it behooves them to keep their constituents posted every month on how programs and projects are funded.
In fact, there is no excuse why barangays cannot support an environmentally clean community, purchase mini garbage bins, employ workers with specific tasks in sitios. Such a program would be surely well spent because communities see and feel the difference.
I pray all the winners will seek to make a difference in their barangays. To be different from the past!
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IMPORTANT, USEFUL FORUM. The 3rd Philippine Leadership Forum organized by the private sector in collaboration with the national government will be held on November 11 at the UP-BGC campus.
Mayors should consider sending their city/town agriculturists to attend it because the forum will feature an expert discussion on the development of agriculture in the countryside. Such a discussion will surely open the minds of local agriculturists to many possibilities besides monitoring planting seasons, volume of production, damages to production from typhoons, etc.
RSVP Mobile: 09771350889 / 09189203277/09178033538 or email organizephilippines@gmail.com / maanysdlopez@hotmail.com
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EXPERTS IN OBSTRUCTION. The majority bloc at the Dagupan Sanggunian has become an expert in obstructing development programs in the city.
By simply invoking their numbers, they do their worst to block anything of significance to Dagupeños. They get away with their non-sensical views backed by their arrogance.
When they finally run out of stupid ideas including rules violative of provisions in the Local Government Code, they boycott regular sessions that will discuss issues and problems of Dagupeños. A case in point was the last session they boycotted. It was supposed to assess the status of water distribution and availability of facilities to meet exigencies and emergencies. Gosh, they didn’t even think that the establishment of a maternal and children hospital in the city is important enough to merit their presence.
Since they are in the majority bloc, they know that their boycott means there can be no quorum. No quorum means nothing can be passed. Galing nila, no?
So, feel privileged if you encounter any of these councilors on the streets: Red Erfe-Mejia, Alfie Fernandez, Irene Lim-Acosta, Dada Reyna-Macalanda, Alvin Coquia, Celia Chua-Lim and Marilou Fernandez! They can regale you with their lies and ridiculous responses and ideas about their being the most powerful political group in the city. (Please don’t forget to ask them how they feel about wearing their uniforms to call attention to themselves, who teaches them about law, and what prompts them to be dishonorable members of the city council).
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AVOID NLEX. Long holidays can be extra toxic especially if one is planning out of town trips, and when using NLEX to travel to and from the north (Dagupan, San Fernando LU, Vigan)!
Last week’s 5-day holiday saw hundreds of families and motorists finding themselves trapped inside NLEX because of bumper-to-bumper collisions. But being trapped and immobilized for two hours is still not the worst experience.
The worst is to finally reach leisure gas stations areas where restaurants abound, and where one hopes to get some relief for some food. BUT NO MORE FOOD AND DRINKS TO SERVE!
Then, everyone rushes to the comfort rooms after trying to hold it for hours. VOILA! After queuing for 5 minutes (for men) or 30 minutes (for women), one is ushered to a place that stinks to heavens and a big trashy mess on the floor!
I’ve been through that in the past. So, take it from me! Don’t risk NLEX during long holidays and think you can rush to your destination or home. You won’t! So, take the MacArthur Highway route for a leisure travel to experience warm hospitality in restaurants and gas stations in Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga and Bulacan! #
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