If I were governor …
By Farah G. Decano
IF I were governor, I would be very much concerned about the recurring floods in Districts 2, 3, and 4 of Pangasinan. I will make sure that, under my watch, no Pangasinan resident would say that I did not take this matter seriously.
If I were governor, I would be aware that the localities within these districts should only act within their territorial limits. This is understandable because the elected officials in each district have no power over other local government units (LGUs) in Pangasinan. To act beyond their jurisdiction would be overreach.
If I were governor, I would exercise my supervisory powers over these areas, invite elected local officials to a meeting along with their elected district representatives, and ensure that these officials will arrive at a consensus and declare their commitment of cooperation in finding and implementing solutions to the repetitive inundation in their localities.
If I were governor, I would humbly invite Dagupan City officials to the Anti-Flood conference even if their LGU is a chartered city, independent of the provincial government. I will convince them to cooperate, too, because climate change and calamities such as a prolonged deluge do not respect territorial or jurisdictional boundaries.
If I were governor, I would be aware that the flood issue has been politicized in some LGUs. I will not only invite the chief executives of each LGU but also their respective Sanggunian members. Securing a joint declaration of cooperation should not be sufficient for me. I would gently challenge the officials to put their money where their mouth is. I’d make them commit in principle a portion of their localities’ Internal Revenue Allotment or their calamity fund to a joint anti-flood project that would be arrived at by experts.
If I were governor, I would persuade the three congressmen who should be in attendance to jointly sponsor an Anti-Flood Act in Districts 2, 3, and 4 of Pangasinan. Similar to the Anti-Flood Act of Los Angeles, USA, this law should embody a yearly national allocation to the anti-flood measures and the commitment of the LGUs to annually contribute to this project. I’d rather have the proposed comprehensive solution be cemented in law rather than in a provincial or municipal/city ordinance which is prone to repeal or non-implementation.
If I were governor, I would be informed of what is happening in Dagupan City where anti-flood ordinances and resolutions vary depending on who won in the latest elections. In crafting the Anti-Flood Act, the congressmen and congresswoman in Districts 2, 3, and 4 should avoid the situation wherein the administration and opposition officials will have different flood mitigation ideas, or worse, conflicting solutions. It should be the time for the district representatives to flex their leadership over the warring factions in each LGU for a good cause.
If I were governor, I would recommend that the proposed legislative measure would force some yearly results, otherwise, the failing officials in charge and those who shall block the implementation thereof shall be penalized.
If I were governor, I would do all of the above. The only reason I would not is that my efforts to concretize an anti-flood scheme may become the measure of my leadership in the province and it may turn out to be inadequate. What will a fearful governor do, instead? Distract the constituents with other issues where he or she may shine.
But I am NOT the governor. I wonder what the real governor is doing about our perennial inundation problem in the province.
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