By Farah G. Decano

 

I worry about my former colleagues in the Dagupan City Council who now belong to the opposition.  Joining the bandwagon of their haters is not my bag of chips because I only remember our good and innocent times.  As former city councilor, I had good working and personal relationships with them.  We neither had issues against each other nor did we allow any fake news to break our working relationship. Under the baton of then Mayor Al Fernandez, Jr. and Vice-Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, we actually had fun serving the city.

When I was a third-termer Sangguniang Panlungsod member who chaired the Committee on Rules and Procedures, newbie Vice-Mayor Belen relied on my expertise for political and procedural advice.  It would have seemed that I was her pet but my colleagues did not take this against me.  Why? I did not push my weight around, did not abuse the benefits of her listening ear, and did not use this connection to prejudice others. In fact, on my own initiative, I had to minimize my requests and downplay my role in order to arrest any possible envy from others.

The chief executive then, the legendary Mayor Al, managed to exhibit no favoritism among the councilors.  He did not show any undeserved preference towards his son, Councilor Alfie and his nephew, Councilor Mike.  I learned only that I was among Mayor Al’s favorite when a grieving former executive secretary, Marge Navata informed me so at his wake. I did not even notice that. He made all Councilors feel valued and important.

As a result, relationships in the City Hall turned out to be harmonious.  We happily worked together even up to fourth week of December every year to evaluate proposed ordinances that were needed for constituents.

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It is sad that the present administration is riled up with so much hatred.  The Mayor Belen Administration immediately started with so much hostility from councilors belonging to the other political party.   They opposed the 2022 supplemental budgets, 2023 annual appropriations, 2023 supplemental budget which included the year-end bonuses of the city hall employees.  They offered no valid explanation for their acts.  It seems that they only have one thing in mind – annoy the Mayor and keep her achievements at a minimum. I could only surmise that this antagonism is not only political but personal.

The elected officials in the opposition should be able to distinguish work concerns from personal matters.  If they feel aggrieved for whatever Mayor Belen had done in the past, with or without basis, then they should take this up with her or in the next election.  It is no longer appropriate and just that they make the public pay for the “transgressions” of one person

I repeat, I worry about some of my former colleagues on the other side of Mayor Belen’s fence. I still firmly believe that they are good at heart.  Most people seem to think otherwise.  Their continuing silence for doing what they do, or for not doing what they should do is like poison in the minds of the public.   The political opposition should clarify their less than merciful stand against measures that are actually good for the city.   

May the political opposition realize that with their stubborn and unexplained objection to Mayor Belen’s good programs and projects, it is not she who is committing political seppuku.     

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