By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

WHY do the Dagupan’s 7 epaLIFE members at the city council think that an ordinance further amplifying the implementation of the Freedom of Information is needed?

The draft is not only redundant and meaningless, but it also does not add anything substantial to the declared objectives of that law. It could have made a substantial contribution if it further added how the city government can be made accountable for failing to refusing to observe the tenets of the law, like they always did when they exploited their majority number in the city council.

The 7 epaLIFEs not only refused to accept minority councilors as members of the formed committees but also refused to share minutes of committee meetings with the city council.

They violated provisions of the Local Government Code and refused attempts to correct these.

Hence, the motivation behind the submission of the draft ordinance that was adopted without a committee hearing is plain suspicious and dubious. I can’t help but think that they wanted an amplified Freedom of Information Act to make sure that the new majority in the council can still be made accountable through its lone minority voice in the 2025 city council, that the new majority will not pull the wool over their eyes like they did to their counterparts in the past without much ado.

Sayang sila. The 7 epaLIFEs could have made a difference for themselves and for the city when they had the opportunity to shine as dedicated public servants, not as the worst obstructionists that the city had ever seen.

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OMBUDSMAN ACTS. Still speaking of the 7 epaLIFE barkada, it should thank its lucky stars that Mayor Belen Fernandez did not file a complaint against them for refusing to pass the city’s annual budgets twice in a row. That could have earned them two six-month suspensions.

Unfortunately, for ex-Mayor Brian Lim, the Ombudsman found reason to hold him accountable for violating a provision in the Local Government Code.

Mercifully, the Ombudsman only found reason to impose a fine for closing a street during the celebration of the city fiesta in 2021 without an ordinance supporting it.

Let this serve as another lesson to all mayors who are power-drunk who think that the law exempts them from complying with the smallest provision of the LGC.

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HEED YOUR DOCTOR’S REMINDER. I’d like to make an update on my health issue that I reported here two weeks ago, if only to underscore the importance of heeding a doctor’s advice when given.

I was already 75 years old (two years ago) when I was reminded to have my PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen, not Philippine Statistics Authority. Hehe!) rating checked with my annual check-up. When I did, my PSA showed I had a 100+ rating, and further confirmation showed my healthy body was already struggling with a Stage 4 Prostate Cancer – and it has already metastasized!

Today, I find myself seeking treatment for different issues of prostate cancer.  Perhaps, if I had not ignored the early reminders of my friend-doctors, I probably would not be in this situation today.

As a close friend reminded me about my situation, he said in jest – “Nobody gets out of this alive.” So true! Hehe.

But looking at the bright side of my situation, like other cancer patients, I consider myself fortunate that I can prepare for my ultimate day of departure.

So, to my aging gentlemen friends, heed your doctor’s advice. Don’t change him because you don’t like being nagged about it.  The life you save is yours!

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