By Gonzalo Duque

 

I am commending the new majority in the city council for passing more than 126 proactive measures (26 ordinances and over 100 resolutions) that benefit the people of Dagupan City in so short a time.

Two of the most important resolutions passed were: one endorsing the Tri-City Ferry System involving the cities of San Fernando in La Union, and Dagupan and Alaminos in Pangasinan; and another asking the Department of Transportation to implement the project.

These two resolutions gathered dust for nearly two years because of the obstructionist policy of the old majority in the city council.

When implemented, the ferry project will not cost the city anything as this is going to be a national project.

All we need to build is a small passenger port at the bank of the Calmay River.

It’s a novel project whose time has come!

Another resolution that caught my attention was the one authorizing Mayor Belen Fernandez to finally sign a memorandum of agreement with Holcim Philippines, converting the temporary agreement into a permanent one for Dagupan City to continue delivering its non-biodegradable wastes to the Holcim plant in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

As to the biodegradable wastes of the city, these are now being converted into fertilizer and given free to farmers in the eastern barangays and home gardeners.

For the more than 60-year-old dump site in Bonuan, a resolution was passed asking the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to extend its help for the permanent closure soon.

I am interested on the issue of garbage because I remember the time when then Mayor Benjie Lim assured me that he will resign in six months if he will not  be able to provide a sanitary landfill for Dagupan. At that time, he purchased some 30 hectares of property in Awai, San Jacinto for P16 million from one Mariano Cuna, who just bought the property from its original owner, Estrella Sanggalang, a few months back,  for P7 million.

He did not fulfill his promise and even the transaction  because it turned out that the land that they bought was under land reform , thus he was not able to use it as a sanitary landfill.

Compared to Mayor Belen,  she conferred with a lot of interested parties only to provide solution to the city’s worsening garbage problem. She first entered into an agreement with Sure Global to build a first of its kind waste-to-energy facility at no cost to the city. When she left the scene for a while, then Mayor Brian Lim refused to continue  with Belen’s project . When Belen was back after three years, she tried to salvage the Waste-to-Energy project, but Sure Global, hurt by Brian’s  stern refusal, already lost its interest in pursuing the same.

Then Belen went to Holcim and entered into an experimental agreement with it,  so that it can accommodate some of the Dagupan wastes,  and the agreement would not have been made permanents  if the obstructionists councilors still ruled the city council.

The other major ordinances passed were supplemental budgets for what we can call Christmas bonuses for both regular and job order workers as well as consultants of the city government.

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The old majority of the council, composed mainly of members of the Philippine Jaycees, think that when they do not agree with the leadership, they can just walk out, anchoring on the principle that the city government is like any voluntary organization, so they may withdraw their support anytime.

But being a public servant means having duties and obligations.

A public office is a public trust and if one decides to serve the public, he or she must do so with responsibility and accountability.

Mabuti at  mabait si VM Bryan sa inyo.  Masuwetrte kayo at  hindi pa kayo pina-filan  ng kaso sa pag-wo-walkout ninyo palagi.

My unsolicited advice to you is simple. Attend the sessions and participate in its deliberations. If you do not agree with the decisions of the new majority, you can still express your disagreement. Walkout is not a solution.

You are still receiving your salaries and our people expect you to serve them with honor and dignity. May hiya pa ba kayo?

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Now it can be told that the real purpose of the QuadCom in conducting those so-called investigations in aid of legislations was simply to embarrass the family of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Congressman Romeo Acop of Antipolo City delivered his own biased finding declaring the Duterte family as an alleged criminal empire, thus recommending that they be prosecuted for crimes against humanity and graft and corruption.

As I was writing this column (in advance because of the holidays), I just learned that the third impeachment complaint was filed against Vice President Sara Duterte by so-called religious groups.

This much I can say: Many of those who filed cases against the VP are running for congressman under the party list system.

It is obviously for political mileage and for propaganda.

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So far, I have not heard the group of Brian and Celia Lim defend the VP. It is already public knowledge that Brian is the regional director  of the Office of the VP in the Ilocos Region, and whose office is located in Poblacion Oeste, Dagupan. 

Maybe, their people should advise me if Brian and Celia Lim are standing up for Sara. 

I am sure though that Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil is taking the cudgels for VP Sara, not only in Lingayen but in the whole second district. 

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This Yuletide season, I would like to greet everyone in the Pangasinan Association of Northern California led by its energetic leaders, Pastor “Bogs” Esteves and Jose “Pepe” Rosario.

Hello there, I hope you are doing well as usual!

During my last visit in the USA, they were always there to accommodate and welcome me.

I just wish that we can be together again in the future.

A Happy and Blessed New Year to all!

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