By Ermin Garcia Jr.    NEXT week, Mayor Belen Fernandez (and many others like her) will restart her public service engine. And fairly or unfairly for her, the expectations are very high given the unprecedented mandate she got from the city, and after the disappointing and dismal performance of the…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE political zarzuela over the implementation of the 2022 annual budget of Dagupan City is definitely not over, until it’s over. And the day of reckoning will be July 1. In fact, whether Mayor Brian Lim approves or vetoes the budget ordinance by June 25,…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   OUTGOING Dagupan Mayor Brian Lim is facing another dilemma. Will he veto the 2022 annual budget that he proposed but will not benefit his administration or simply approve it as his last act of acceptance that he lost in his political poker he played with…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   NOW that the May 9 elections have decided what’s in store for Dagupan City, the majority group at the Sanggunian Panlungsod must act and finally give its imprimatur to the proposed 2022 budget for the city on June 28 at the very least. Recall that…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   OUR news story last week on the fourth case filed vs. Dagupan City Mayor Brian Lim can easily be dismissed as another case of political harassment, it being part of a series of complaints sourced from the COA 2021 audit report alone. Perhaps so. But…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THERE is one law about the use of the highways by tricycles, motorcycles, and yes, kuliglig, that apparently most if not all motorists are aware of. Not even the police seem to be aware of it because the law, reinforced by a memorandum DILG Secretary…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   IN my book, the 2022 elections were perhaps the next most stressful and emotional political event in the country, next to the 1986 People Power. The level of partisanship this year hit the roof, and the common factor in both was about the Marcoses. In…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   SEEING how hectic preparations were being made for yesterday’s series of miting de abanse by candidates, I wonder how many cared to remember to prepare for the celebration of Mother’s Day today, May 8, which in my book is one of the most important days…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.    ALLOW me to share names of wannabe senators who I know will make a difference for us given their track records. Of course, Alan Cayetano (14)! For good governance, livelihood and education. Consider: Harry Roque (54) for justice, international, domestic laws. Minguita Padilla (48) for…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   JUST when we thought the worst was over for our families that have been long separated by the pandemic after the IATF rescinded its resolution that required provincial buses operating in the region to use North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) in Bocaue, here comes a…