By Gonzalo Duque

THE elections will be over by Monday, and as far as Dagupan City is concerned, methinks the ticket of Belen Fernandez and Bryan Kua is unbeatable.

My sense of Mayor Brian Lim is he devoted too much of his time, even when he was still vice mayor and councilor, attending to his Jaycee affairs. While I congratulate him for having made it to being the Jaycee world president, it did not teach him how to govern the city. By spending more time with the Jaycees while in office, he deprived his constituents of his time that they rightfully deserve from their elected mayor.

Given the three cases filed before the Ombudsman because of his series of miscues, Dagupeños cannot help but compare his performance to that of then Mayor Belen Fernandez.

He failed to see that civic organizations like Jaycees or Rotary, do not make their officers accountable because membership is voluntary unlike in governance.  Elected government officials must be accountable to their constituents, they who pay their salaries from taxes paid.

Take one specific issue brought against him before the Ombudsman – his refusal to operate the Dagupan Diagnostic and Lying-in Center funded by the past city administration and the Department of Health, all because it was established by his predecessor, Mayor Belen.

I’m told that the unused brand new equipment among them, state-of-the art x-ray machine, ultrasound machine and a blood testing laboratory, are already at the mercy of the elements when these could have been used by the poor at the height of the pandemic. Why he could not see that people needing medical treatment spend a lot, even just to have a referral from a clinic to have an x-ray, is beyond me.

My sources say Brian’s flimsy excuse or alibi for failing to operate the facility is his not being able to find the qualified radiologist. Anto tan? But he has all the resources to find the best radiologist. The city could have easily  announced its search for a radiologist in the Sunday PUNCH or through Aksyon Radyo Dagupan. it was easier for him to just keep the facility closed.

I asked Chito Samson, the most senior among the city councilors, to compare the father and the son. His answer: “Ibang kausap si Benjie Lim. Itong anak ay malayo sa daddy niya, Makapoy tay anak to,” I’ve been trying to understand what Chito meant.

Then, I note that Mayor Brian’s standard reaction to the cases filed against him before the Ombudsman is “it’s politically motivated”. Anong klaseng logic yan? The cases are about accountability.

Methinks, Brian needs a father to advise him. But with Benjie gone, he is perceived to be depending on his barkada for advice. Naloko na!

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The recent celebration of the Bangus Festival after a two-year lull due to the pandemic was only in form but not in substance. The city has not done anything to improve the quality of water in our rivers.

Worse, the city rivers are now teeming with illegal and oversized fish pens and cages. These seriously affect not only the quality of the water but the the city’s number one agricultural product, bangus.  

Aside from releasing fingerings into the rivers for photo op, he should and start inspecting the rivers. Clearly, Brian refuses to acknowledge that the real problem in the rivers now are the illegal fish pens and cages that he tolerated in violation of a city ordinance. Even worse, these  already obstruct navigation, to quote Councilor Lino Fernandez, kapitan of Lucao. 

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Let us be careful with what we wish for because it may happen. History showed that the most popular among those who run for president was Joseph Estrada. He won handily but look what happened to him when he was already in power. Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make him mad.

In relation to this, let me share to you my preferences among the senatorial candidates: Sal Panelo, Alan Cayetano, Mark Villar, Harry Roque, Guillermo Eleazar, Chiz Escudero and Win Gatchalian.

Of course, my Vice President is Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. We need young people in the government, like Inday Sara. Our old looks tell us we should prepare the young to take over the reins of the government. Sara is still young, a lawyer and has a vast experience in local governance.

My presidential candidate? I won’t make it public since President Duterte himself hasn’t disclose his nor endorsed somebody up to this writing.

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