INDECENT RESURRECTION. Is LIFE (Lim-Fernandez) team rising from the grave so soon?

This question cropped up after Vice Mayor Brian Lim announced last June 28 that he’s teaming up with now former Councilor Alfie Fernandez in 2019 in a bid to wrest city hall from Mayor Belen Fernandez.

Just a little rewind, LIFE was the tandem that once bound Brian’s father Benjie and Alfie’s brother Alvin, the team that was victorious in the 2001 polls. But after four years, their relationship went pfft as Alvin began to critize Benjie’s governance.

Then Alfie’s father Al decided to return to local politics, resigning from his post as chief of the Bureau of Immigration and went on to beat the still greenhorn Brian who was pushed by his father to run for mayor as he went to challenge then Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. in the fourth district’s congressional race.

Al of course won then lost in the subsequent election because of the Bolosan incident that involved then City Administrator Alvin.

Then Belen, who was vice mayor to both Al and Benjie, challenged and beat Benjie in the next election that followed and the rest is history.

With the impending revival of LIFE from the grave per Brian’s announcement, many are wondering whether their supposed team-up had something to do with their objection to the passage of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUB). Obviously, they thought that the approval would further boost the political stock of Mayor Belen, especially if the latter–because of CLUP–will succeed in building a new government center of Dagupan along the Jose R. de Venecia Expressway.

In the case of Alfie, his actions became suspect when he withheld the submission of a report on the series of public hearings held for CLUP, only to recommend that it be submitted for further public hearings and prevent its passage.

Who says they are not playing politics here? After losing in the bid to shelve the CLUP, they could no longer keep their political agenda secret. LIFE is now being inflicted on the city after their attempt to hold back Dagupan’s progress, never mind that the city will be overtaken by its neighbors Calasiao, Mangaldan and Binmaley in the years ahead. – Leonardo Micua

 

MORE OF THE SAME. The big task officially began noontime of June 30 for new set of officials in the country.

I attended at least three inaugurals in Pangasinan the past days and what did I usually hear from mayors delivering their speeches? Motherhood statements.

To some discerning newsmen, it’s called “generic”, something that denotes in general, applicable to all. From thanking the people, call for unity, solidarity, cooperation, end divisiveness, work for progress, etc. to describing plans and impossible dream for constituents plus sweet promises.

Of course I’m not a pessimist. I’m simply realistic. I’ve seen what actually happened during the campaign onward to the last minutes prior to the elections. Money overflowed everywhere, even by those who pretended to advocate that votes should not be for sale. Exception possibly applies in areas where top bets were unopposed.

So if a candidate won because he managed to buy more votes than the other, can people whose votes were bought honestly expect the elected official to work for them with full dedication? You must be dreaming.

From what I’ve heard from conversations with both winners and losers, they are all convinced that money, rather a lot of money, spells the difference during elections.

Ang maubusan ay talo.

Of course, the case of President Digong is one exception. We are all aware of that. And I believed him when he said in his inaugural speech that we have to believe in prayers and believe there is miracle. His victory is one big proof of this, he admitted.

After the jubilation has subsided, what’s next? Expect best public service from our elected leaders? Or expect the worse graft and corruption practices from them as they recoup their election expenses?

We only have ourselves to blame if they fail us.—Tita Roces

 

WHAT? BROWNOUT AGAIN? It has been a year now since we moved our residence to Malasiqui so aside from missing the noise and lively ambiance of Dagupan City, I also miss the service of the Dagupan Electric Corporation (DECORP).

Last week, our barangay experienced several unannounced unexpected brownouts. It was so frustrating that we had to miss the inauguration of President Duterte and the game 7 of NBA finals.

I felt it was all right to endure several unannounced brownouts on an almost weekly basis during the night because it was summer compounded by El Niño but today being the rainy season with La Niña, electricity should no longer be an issue.

And if there are valid issues, shouldn’t the members of the cooperative know? Or at least announce power interruptions earlier so we could prepare? – Hilda Austria

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