By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

IT’S crunch time for the 7 epaLiFes at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.  The setting is set for a showdown between them and the DILG!

I say this because the DILG finally came around and warned all the Dagupan City councilors of sanctions if they do not pass the 2023 annual budget on or before December 31, 2022!

While that directive was an omnibus warning addressed to all sanggunian in the country prescribed by the Local Government Code, the situation at the Dagupan SP will not be a simple matter of compliance but a situation with serious political repercussions for the 7 epaLiFes

The 7 epaLiFes (the members of the majority led by Councilors Red Erfe-Mejia and Celia Lim) who thought nothing about wearing their campaign blue shirts when they entered the cathedral for a first “Simbang Gabi” are certainly full of themselves. That they made certain they would be recognized as the political team to reckon with eight months after the election, who they are, and what they are capable of doing to anyone in the city. They are the 7 epaLiFes with a mission from bullying their colleagues in the city council, and  thumbing their noses at the city mayor. They do have the gumption to use and abuse their legislative functions to sabotage the Belen Fernandez administration.

Well, with the DILG openly issuing the warning to the 7 epaLiFes, perhaps they will rethink their current blackmail strategy, withholding action on two proposed measures: the proposed Supplemental Budget No. 1 and Supplemental Annual Investment Program for 2022, lest they are forced to eat humble pie in January 2023.  Will they? I seriously doubt that.

After all that they believe they got away with a lot of things, so it’s not likely that the epaLiFes will comply meekly. In fact, I won’t be surprised if they decide to weaponize the proposed 2023 annual budget as well, like they are doing to the two measures. They have already violated a number of the rules and regulations as a legislative body, yet DILG never lifted a finger to sanction them.  They are wont to believe that the DILG can again be coopted to see things their way.

As both Councilors Celia Lim, mother of ex-Mayor Brian Lim, and Mr. Erfe-Mejia see it, the passage of the 2022 annual budget was delayed by almost 8 months but that didn’t upset the DILG.  Why should DILG bother itself with the delay of the passage of the 2023 annual budget for 8 months as well? Or so they think.

She’s right. The past DILG city director never called out 7 epaLiFes’ boss, Mayor Brian Lim, for continuously refusing to submit documents required by DILG. In fact, that previous director never reported the Lim administration’s bad governance, tainted by corruption all the way. In sum, the7 epaLiFes are confident they can continue to pressure the Belen administration to come across with the “deals”, i.e., the unconditional payment of grants to all scholars selected by Lim administration amid findings of anomalies in the implementation of the scholarship program and the restoration of 10 “job order (ghost) employees” with a P10,000 monthly item each assigned to them.

But like Mr. Erfe-Mejia who doesn’t vet his moves, Mrs. Lim forgets that the new DILG city director Romarie Siapno is an independent professional unlike her predecessor who was clearly coopted by the Lim administration.

So, it’d be interesting to see if the7 epaLiFes will stand up to the DILG as well… and still have a Merry Christmas in their patented blue uniforms.

*          *          *          *

VIDEOKE BAR ATOP QUINTOS BRIDGE. Who’s the idiot from Dagupan City Hall who ordered the playing of favorite old ballad music of some barangay tanods, not even Christmas carols, over giant loud speakers installed on the bridge in full volume, close to midnight? If one didn’t bother to check out the source of midnight songs, one would think that a videoke bar was given a special permit to operate atop the Quintos Bridge!  The high sound volume was enough to blast anyone’s ears of everyone within 50 meters from the bridge. Did this idiot think it was the way to bring holiday cheers in the city under the New Normal??

Last Thursday night, slumbering, weary guests at the Star Plaza Hotel were suddenly jolted out of their sleep by what sounded like a videoke party concert at 11 p.m. by the bridge. But the bridge was empty. There was no special event for the Diamond celebration.  I’m told this has been going on for nights, for weeks and the police were reportedly tolerating the blasting sound in the middle of the night. If that sound had come from a videoke bar, the owner would have been arrested but this time, the   police just stood idly by all the time. In other words, that order could have only come from an idiot “with “authority” inside the city hall.

I wonder if Fiesta Hermano Mayor Michael Fernandez was aware that his authority was being usurped by an idiot. He should check this out.

*          *          *          *

GADGET-MADNESS. I hate to sound like a grumpy old Scrooge but the Christmas rush to shop for gadgets this Christmas is ominous.

Today’s generation will soon suffer from lost skills in person-to-person communication. Soon, most will feel intimidated and uncomfortable when forced to be confronted up front, and would rather rely on texts, chat platforms, aided by emojis to settle any emotional or interpersonal issues.

The use of smartphones already serves as a convenient escape for many to overcome fear of rejection in front of a person. Even proficiency in the English language will take a backseat in favor of abbreviated Tag-lish, or mixed Pangasinan-Tagalog-English with apps that are readily installed in smartphones.

I truly dread to see the day when parenting is left entirely to gadgets in the hands of toddlers and the latter learn their values in life from “entertaining” kiddie shows on YouTube.

A habit forming today is about being the first to hear about a “rumor” or an information from friends via chat platforms whose sources are not verified. It is always tempting for the receiver to be the first to “forward” the “news” at the risk of breaking relationships and respect for others.  It’s simply convenient and yet easy to deny responsibility. Tralala-lala!

I’m afraid it will take another generation that suffered from this gadget-madness that will seek to correct the situation, and restore good old person-to-person relationship.

Until then, I wish our readers and friends… a MERRY CHRISTMAS! (Do try to let go of the smartphone consciously, occasionally, and show you are a true friend who appreciates the presence of the person in front of you).

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments