By Farah G. Decano

 

HAPPY 2023!

There is still much to be desired for our beloved Dagupan City.  While its past leaders may have had exerted their best efforts to steer our city to progress, the impact of their accomplishments diminishes as new challenges present themselves every year.  To cope with these inevitable changes, the present top honchos in the local government must be innovative in their approaches, exemplify extraordinary ability to foresee, prepare for the unexpected and be ready to embark on the road less travelled.

Nowadays, sacrificing one’s own agenda for the collective sake of Dagupan City residents has become a lonely path very few public officials dare tread on.  I could only wish for more audacious elective and appointive leaders who can betray their political and financial loyalties in order to honor their sworn duties.

Unlike in the yesteryears when political positioning, and thus bickering, started usually 10 months before every local election, these days, politicking came too early in Dagupan.  It is the public impression that the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) majority members are bent on derailing the administration of Mayor Belen. Many policies that needed SP nod were met with delay and buck passing. With an uncooperative majority at the Sanggunian Panlungsod, Mayor Belen Fernandez’s performance in 2022 is considered not at par with her potentials and track record. Being a visionary and an action woman, she could have easily accomplished much more.

I understand that most of the SP Majority have an ax to grind against the present dispensation.   I hope they could look past their own hurt feelings and instead see what their inaction has been doing to their city.

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The Sangguniang Panlungsod has not yet passed the 2023 proposed annual budget. It was only recently that committee hearings have been scheduled.  To those who cause hindrances in the passage of the proposed budget ordinance, please note that the said legislative measure is not only a list of projects and programs for additional “pa-cute” points of the mayor.  Please try to appreciate that the proposed appropriation contains the list of wishes of the residents because no less than the City Development Council recommended its enactment.

One aspiration reflected in the intended budget ordinance is the people’s hope that the prolonged inundation in the city be drastically diminished.  This is manifested in the many programs lined for funding.

The obstructionists must realize that hindering the suggested annual appropriations, that include funds for flood mitigation, is not only costing Mayor’s Belen’s political image.  It is also burdening the private citizens. I just paid over forty thousand pesos for the repairs of family cars damaged by floods last year.  Multiply the many households in the same boat – this means millions unnecessarily spent by private vehicle and public transport owners.  What about those who earn day to day for a living but could not do so for weeks because the roads are almost impassable? The damage is real, guys.  C’mon.

Now, complete the scenario with the rising prices of sibuyas and gasoline. How do we cope with another year of inundation if we do not address it properly?  Sobrang pahirap sa tao.  Tama na muna ang pang-iipit.  Sikamin totoo dia ed Dagupan la so untitit ed sakit.

To the SP Majority, if you do have resentments against Mayor Belen for her 2022 victory, or you so love the losing mayoralty candidate, please do your best in campaigning in 2025.  Sa ngayon, gawin muna ang trabaho at huwag kaming idamay.  Please help solve the flooding problems this year by evaluating and enacting the budget swiftly.

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