Duterte’s order to mayors, COPs, CENROs

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

I note with admiration President Duterte’s first order to newly re-elected and elected mayors under his watch for the next three years.

“Clean your cities or I will force the government’s mindset on you,” he said pointing out that he means “maintaining a clean environment, imposing law and order consistently and equally, especially drugs… limit the movements of criminals!”

Only a President who’s been a mayor knows and understands problems of local governments can issue an order like that. Can anyone recall a president issuing a similar order in the past? Anggapo!

“It’s either they accept the present mindset of the government, if not, we will force it upon them. There’s no other choice,” he added.

As I read him, he was warning mayors specifically about open dumpsites that continue to be operated, the violation of easements prescribed by law around and near rivers and shorelines by allowing illegal settlements or occupation by squatters and business establishments. I believe that’s also a directive for provincial and community environment and natural resources officers.

In the same vein, it’s obvious that President Duterte is not easing up on his war on drugs, unmindful of efforts of his detractors here and overseas to discredit him, if not have him convicted by the International Criminal Court. As far as he is concerned, PDEA and PNP operatives should not concern themselves about numbers of deaths in their operations, only about undertaking operations by the book.

Between the two marching orders, Pangasinan has a lot to do for environment protection.  Both PENRO and CENRO need to crack the whip because if they don’t PRRD will. A number of open dumpsites continue to be maintained in many towns even long after the law was passed in 2001!

On his directive for the war on drugs, fortunately, the new police provincial director, P/Col. Redrico Maranan, already spelled out the strategies for the police chiefs. How he can make all towns and cities truly drug-cleared is what he needs to prove in the months ahead.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

*                *                *                *

SAVE OUR YOUTHS. Our headline this week reports a Sangguniang Kabataan official arrested for selling marijuana!

It confirms our suspicion that many of our young have already been lured into earning easy money for drug syndicates by selling prohibited drugs where and when they can.  In fact, I have reason to believe that many of our SK members in the barangays are drug users themselves.

While drug testing for them in schools is not mandatory but certainly as public officials, Guv Pogi surely can order and require all barangay officials, including SK officers, to take the drug test.

This is what directive of President Duterte “to clean” should mean to the provincial government. The towns can be obligated to provide the counterpart funds for the drug tests after perhaps the provincial government agrees to shoulder 50% of the costs.

Let’s save our young from the clutches of drug syndicates.

*                *                *                *

LEGACY FOR THE RECORD. I have an unsolicited advice to outgoing mayors in the province.

Many great performing mayors leave a legacy of unequalled public service in their towns and cities. Sadly, these same accomplishments that they painstakingly initiated and completed are soon forgotten, worse, are even credited, wittingly or unwittingly, to their successors. Not good!

If only to keep credit where it is fairly due, I suggest that the mayors who believe they left a legacy for their communities to remember, should seek to have these specific programs and completed infrastructures documented and published as a public record.

Except for their State of Municipalities/Cities Addresses in the past, I know of no mayor in the past that deliberately documented his/her accomplishments for public reference.   

My suggestion is simply for them to make a list these accomplishments (accompanied by pictures will be ideal) according to the years launched and have these published in Sunday PUNCH.

Why us? We are the only newspaper in Pangasinan that has kept a journal of the political events and development of the province since 1956!   

*                *                *                *

While Pangasinenses merrily went on with their lives as usual over the past 7 days, political detractors of President Duterte were egging him to confront China over the maritime incident involving our fishermen and Chinese fishermen.

The irresponsible politicos were angling for a scenario that will push our country into war-footing with China without regard to welfare of millions of Filipinos.

Initially, they want the country to break relations with China over an incident involving two privately-owned fishing vessels!!

Remember the LP obstructionists in the senate who are up for reelection!

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments