By Eva C. Visperas

 

“GOOD governance is not just about being seen, it is about being heard—and more importantly, being acted upon.”

In Dagupan City, this philosophy now takes center stage with the launch of Bantay Dagupan, Sumbungan ng Bayan, an initiative of Mayor Belen Fernandez that puts the people first by giving them a direct line to City Hall. The project, which had its pilot broadcast via Facebook Live on October 1 at 2:00 p.m., is more than just another program — it is a governance revolution in real time.

The concept is simple but powerful: let the people air their concerns directly, and let the government respond immediately. No middlemen. No red tape. No excuses. Just the mayor, her department heads, and her people — face to face, albeit through a digital platform.

In the maiden broadcast, anchorwomen Violy Valdez-Ferrer of Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan and Ilet Mor Breguerra of DZRD Sonshine Radio read real-time complaints from viewers on the mayor’s FB page. Traffic and infrastructure issues dominated, but what stood out was not the volume of complaints, but the quality of responses.

City officials were present: Public Order and Safety Office Chief Arvin Decano, City Engineer Josephine Corpuz, City Legal Officer Atty. Aurora Valle, and Public Alert Response and Monitoring Center head Melykhen Bauzon, who updated residents on the looming Typhoon Paolo. Instead of passing the buck, they tackled issues head-on. Atty. Valle, for instance, clearly explained the legal implications of business establishments blocking sidewalks, reminding everyone that public spaces are for the people, not private gain.

This is governance with accountability  —and accountability made visible.

But make no mistake: behind the camera and beneath the public praise lies a mayor who has made herself a lightning rod of criticism. Flooding in Dagupan? Bashers blame Mayor Belen. Infrastructure delays? Bashers blame her again. In fact, one might think that she alone holds the tides of nature at bay. And yet, paradoxically, she is also one of the few local leaders who is consistently visible  —in the barangays, in project sites, in meetings, and now in this new interactive platform.

I once told her, “But bashers might have a feast. They might have their grand day criticizing you again and again.” She simply shrugged and replied, “Never mind. I’m used to it.” That statement alone reflects her grit: a recognition that public service is not for the faint of heart.

What makes Bantay Dagupan different is the intimacy it creates. This is not a staged press conference or a carefully scripted report. This is live, raw, and interactive. Citizens send in their grievances, and the city government listens and responds instantly. Kung totoong gusto ng mga Dagupeño ng aksyon agad sa kanilang problema, direkta na dapat kay Mayor Belen. And if the concerns are true, why hide under anonymity? This platform thrives on sincerity, not shadows.

Of course, the system is not perfect. No single mayor, however tireless, can carry the burdens of an entire city alone. Governance is not a one-woman show. It is a collective effort, a daily grind of cooperation among leaders, officials, and ordinary citizens. The mayor can listen, the department heads can act, but ultimately, change will only come if the people themselves are part of the process.

And that is the challenge.

Bantay Dagupan is not just Mayor Belen’s project — it is OUR project. It belongs to every Dagupeño who wants safer streets, clearer sidewalks, better infrastructure and other services and a more responsive local government.

Yes, Mayor Belen works non-stop, often to the point of exhaustion. But even the hardest-working leader cannot build a city alone. Dagupan’s progress will rise or fall depending on whether its citizens treat governance as a spectator sport — or as a collective duty.

So here is the call: Use the platform. Speak up. Be honest. Be constructive. Help shape the solutions you seek. If you want a Dagupan that listens and acts, then you must also be a Dagupan that participates and cooperates.

“Good governance is not a solo performance. It is a duet between the government and the governed.”

With Bantay Dagupan, that duet has begun. The microphone is in your hands, Dagupeños. The question is — will you use it?

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