By Gonzalo Duque 

 

I’VE  been on a semi-retirement mode for some time which is why I suspended my favorite pastime, column writing. Truth is, my editor, Ermin, had been prodding me to resume my column to put my mind in shape but I could not find the right motivation and inspiration to do it right away.

However, upon careful reflection and because of the many issues happening in our midst that need to be ventilated so that the public can make their own informed opinion, I decided to end my hibernation. So here I am… in the line of fire.

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Many major problems continue to crop up in our city including old issues that remain unresolved for instance, garbage collection, construction of the new city hall, substandard projects of the past city administration, etc.

Months have passed and these problems still exist. We’re still in the same embarrassing situation because politics in the city already reared its ugly head. Petty partisanship is the people’s worst enemy.

One issue is the still unresolved construction of the Mother and Child Hospital. I’m disturbed because this worthwhile project could be lost because of a provision in the Local Government Code (Section 323) that the sanggunian cannot discuss any other matter until the 2024 annual budget is passed. Many are still not convinced that the majority will pass the 2024 budget. 

Given the propensity of the majority to continuously delay the passage of an annual budget since 2022, to sabotage the administration of Mayor Belen, this worthwhile project for our children and their mothers, might be withdrawn. 

So, I’m back this time to launch a personal crusade against obstructionist politicians responsible for the sluggish growth of the city. I remember the time when my brother, the late Dr. Salvador T. Duque, and his colleagues in the Metro Dagupan Earthquake Rehabilitation Fund Foundation (MDCERFF), like Dr. Viven Villaflor, the late Dr, Macky Samson and many others, engaged Atty. Andoy Decano to file cases against government agencies to facilitate the implementation of its vision. Many, including myself, doubted the cases would prosper but they succeeded. Their envisioned infrastructure projects to replace those destroyed by the 1990 earthquake were implemented.

We will do the same in the case of the Mother and Child Hospital whose P150-M budget could be returned to the national treasury if the money is not utilized by the city government for the purpose all because the majority in the Sanggunian refuses to act on the request of Mayor Belen to endorse the MOA with the DOH for the establishment of the hospital.

There are those who claim that the majority in the SP, being directed by former Mayor Brian Lim and his cohorts, will agree to support the project on one condition: That it will not be built on any property of Mayor Belen Fernandez or any of her relatives.

So, using the tested MDCERFF approach, I will file a case against the majority councilors who refuse to move forward just to avenge the miserable loss of their boss in 2022 election by sabotaging MBTF’s worthy projects.

Well, here’s my advice to them: You better shape up and approve the project because it is for the benefit and welfare of our people, not for the benefit of any particular person or group in Dagupan. I also recall that the P150 million allocation was released to Dagupan during the incumbency of my brother, Dr. Francisco T. Duque III, the former Secretary of Health under the Duterte administration so with more reason I must see the money used for its intended purpose.

I also hope Councilor Alfie Fernandez, a graduate of LNU College of Law, will address my concern. In case they reject the resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a MOA with DOH, I have other options to take other than filing a civil case.  I must warn that I am not going to telegraph my punches.

 Huwag na ninyong dagdagan pa ang problema ninyo. Lalo pang lalaki ang inyong problema kasi mayron na kayong pananagutan sa kasong filed by VM Kua. Besides, by refusing to act on this, you are not hurting Belen Fernandez or the minority councilors. You are hurting the people of Dagupan City. 

Our politicians in Dagupan City should remember, malapit na naman ang election. Baka malaglag na kayo. You will be judged eventually by our people.

More issues to discuss next week.

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