By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

JUST when I thought there was only one councilor remaining in the majority bloc in the Dagupan Sanggunian who could possibly redeem the lost integrity and honor of the 7 epaLiFes barkada – Councilor Marilou Fernandez!

But it was she herself who proved me wrong.

While the city slept peacefully and confident that the city will soon have its own Maternal and Children Hospital, little did anyone suspect that the usually quiet Councilor Marilou Fernandez, would gamely play the part of Brutus – stabbing the cause of mothers and children in Dagupan City in the back!

Being a mother herself (even as a neophyte politician), she could not have possibly missed out on the promised benefits that the hospital would bring to the needy mothers-to-be who only depend on the government for their essential health services and their children.

It’s truly disheartening to see the likes of her standing up instead for the discredited political colors of her barkada than stand up to fight for the cause of mothers’ and children’s health. Perhaps she believes that since Councilor Celia Lim, a mother herself and whose husband, then Mayor Benjie Lim, initially wanted the same hospital for the city, also shares the obstructionist agenda of the group, so she, too, can be no different. Pathetic.

Unfortunately for her, she had the rare chance to prove to Dagupeños that the cause of 7 epaLifes barkada is still relevant in spite of past obstructionism. She either didn’t see it that way or simply allowed herself to be used to block an issue what should have been closest to her heart.

Unless she corrects her position and moves to stop all planned committee hearings and endorse the resolution authorizing Mayor Belen Fernandez to sign the memorandum of agreement for the establishment and operation of the Maternal and Children Hospital, her name shall forever be associated as another trapo in the city who worked against welfare of poor mothers and their children in the city.

Tsk-tsk. I was really naive to believe that she would make the difference.

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LACK OF POLITICAL WILL. On the other hand, the totally unexpected obstacle created by the 7 epaLifes on the establishment of the Maternal and Children Hospital did not really surprise me. 

I actually expected the continued obstructionism of the group when Mayor Belen Fernandez showed she’s afraid to hail them to court for their series of anomalies and deliberate moves to deprive the city of the benefits she promised.

Didn’t she bravely threaten them with administrative and criminal cases, only to be muted later? 

It was unfortunate that Mayor Belen showed her weakness at a time when the city was practically fighting for its life. The city needed a political leader to fight back, but her advisers told her to hold back. And hold back she did!

I had warned and predicted, that the 7 epaLifes will continue to exploit her fear and weakness. Boom!  They got her where they can hurt and embarrass not only her administration but question her ability to govern and lead since she cannot persuade the opposition to support a service that will benefit mothers and children.

She’s in the US today breaking bread with officials and youths of Milpitas City.  The rejection was obviously calculated and timed while she was away on a “goodwill visit.” It was obviously the reason why the 7 epaLifes had to call on their reliable Councilor Alvin Coquia to register his attendance in the regular session while on leave! Without his registered attendance, there would have been no quorum, no session where Councilor Marilou Fernandez can report her rejection of the recommendation to endorse the establishment of the Maternal and Children Hospital.

As scripted with Councilor Dada Reyna-Macalanda as presiding officer, Councilor Marilou’s report rejecting the minority bloc’s recommendation was put on record for Milpitas officials and youths to know.

Given what she has shown what she’s capable of doing, many now expect Councilor Marilou to be as arrogant like what his idol Councilor Red did – to demand Mayor Belen’s physical presence in her committee hearings. And, the worse that Mayor Belen can do to the city today is to lend her presence in a committee hearing again – to be humiliated, again!

Unfortunately for the Dagupeños, Mayor Belen’s lack of political will to fight back and keep the corrupt in check, it is they who have to suffer the brunt of it all – no Maternal and Children’s Hospital until the 7 epaLifes say so!

Sad… sad… sad!

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OUT OF THE BOX. The plan of Guv Mon-mon to introduce sea plane passenger transport to-and-fro primary tourism destinations in Pangasinan is definitely one great thinking from out of the box!

It’s certainly to the Guv’s credit that he understands the business of flying being an entrepreneur and a pilot himself.

There is no certainty that it will work but at least it’s an idea that’s viable if properly planned.

It’s wild ideas like these that Guv Mon-mon should solicit and encourage from all sectors.

So far, the 8-year-old tri-ferry idea (San Fernando, LU-Dagupan-Alaminos) remained an idea and was not given any serious consideration to this day. Can Guv Mon-mon be interested in this as well?? #

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