By Gonzalo Duque

 

THERE is not much excitement anymore in the deliberations of the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod.

From what I understand, all questions, legal or political, have been resolved by the DILG regional office headed by Director Jonathan Lausen Jr.

But I gather that the Honorable Redford Erfe-Mejia made a statement that they will elevate all questions to the office of DILG Secretary Junvic Remulla.

I can wish them all the luck but I find it rather peculiar that the actions of the Sanggunian during the preventive suspension of three opposition councilors would still be elevated to the Office of the Secretary of DILG.

Most of the actions promulgated or approved by the so-called new majority benefited the people of Dagupan.

For instance, solutions to the longstanding problem of garbage in the city is part of the resolutions approved by the Sanggunian during that period.

Under the approved Supplemental Budget No. 2 for Calendar Year 2024, Mayor Belen was authorized to purchase four brand new dump trucks, one pay loader and one backhoe, all to be utilized in effectively managing our garbage problem.

The agreement between the Dagupan City government and Holcim Philippines, Inc. has now become permanent.

What does it mean? That Dagupan will continue to deliver all non-recyclable wastes of the city to Holcim’s plant in Norzagaray, Bulacan to serve as fuel and as cement component while the biodegradable wastes will be processed in the city into fertilizer.

As a result of this agreement, made possible when the new majority passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Belen to sign a MOA with Holcim, our lady city executive is now busy mapping out plans to permanently close the dumpsite in Bonuan.

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We are writing about this particular concern because I remember the time when then Mayor Benjie Lim assured me that he would resign from his post if in six months he would not be able to close the dumpsite and provide a new one for us.

That commitment was made during our breakfast encounter at Dagupeña Restaurant at its old site along A. B. Fernandez Avenue.

His commitment did not materialize because the land in Barangay Awai, San Jacinto purchased by him for P16 million from Jose Mariano Cuna was already a subject of land reform and the tenant occupants protested the sale of the land.

Other than failing to provide a dumpsite for the city, Dagupan lost a precious P16 million in the transaction.

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I am really afraid that Comelec Chairman George Garcia and his commissioners will make the May 2025 national and local elections a mockery.

They have been disqualifying candidates for public office left and right only to be restrained by the Supreme Court from doing so.

Without in anyway anticipating restraining orders from the Supreme Court, they wasted P132 million worth of ballots already printed.

They have also engaged the services of Korean technology provider Miru Systems in the 2025 election despite the fact that this company has no proven track record as defined by our laws.

Another bit of surprise, Congressman Rodante Marcoleta intimated to me that he would confront Chairman Garcia and bring to his attention why Senator Bong Revilla’s name has been listed ahead of the others when his actual name, Ramon Revilla Jr., should be in one of the bottom lines.

Observing the action of the Comelec, I could see that the senatorial contest will just be “Comelected”.

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