By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

I had hoped the 7 epaLIFE in Dagupan’s city council had already learned their lesson in Public Service 101 after they were dumped around the city’s 60-year-old dumpsite in their attempt to be reelected, but they didn’t.

Did they honestly think that by rushing the passage of additional allowances for various government personnel will correct how they would be viewed differently and positively from here on? Their last-ditch effort to compel the city government to grant additional compensation without the least consideration of its impact on the city government’s financial budgetary requirements smacked of their sheer hypocrisy, duplicity, and dishonesty towards public service.

How could they even tell their constituents that they want city hall employees better compensated with their last-minute ordinances when all they did since 2022 was to keep annual budgets of the city remain ‘reenacted’ all the way? That no additional compensation for anyone, not even for the release of cash benefits due to retirees, could be considered at all??

They could keep whatever is left of their self-respect by meekly accepting the verdict of the electorate, and simply allow the acclaimed winners to do what’s good for the city. They had the chance and they blew it.

They already insulted the intelligence of their intended beneficiaries with their “pro-employees” ordinances when they refused to articulate their proposed platform of government during the campaign. Instead, they believed idiotic stunts on TikTok were all that Dagupeños deserved to know. Tsk-tsk.

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STILL TRAPO POLITICS. Legislating higher salaries or allowances without studied data and committee hearings is an old, tried, and failed policy promoting patronage politics – or trapo politics.

It is a political act by the legislative department that requires no accountability or responsibility on its part. In brief, they order the payment of additional allowances without caring to know what and where the funds can be sourced by the executive.

In the case of the recent passage of the ordinances by the 7epaLIFEs, the ordinances didn’t even attempt to submit data to justify the passage of the ordinances.

The self-serving trapo ordinances should be vetoed outright since these did not even consider the basis how the proposed additional allowances should be paid as good governance practice dictates, i.e., whether based on merit, length of service, etc. 

The new majority in 2025 may consider refiling the draft ordinances, but with defined parameters as these impact the city’s annual budgets.

Tama na trapo politics, mga 7 epaLIFEs!

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THAT’S IT?? Judging from the video clips of the ballyhooed dancing fountain, colorful lights and music attraction at the Lingayen Capitol Complex. I’d like to believe that the project is only half-finished.

If that is all there is, then Guv Guico just found himself a not-so-flattering vision of himself.

Those who’ve seen the dancing lights and music at the Luneta will tell you that the Capitol version hardly used any advanced technology that could have easily impressed the crowd. But what is being shown instead is a straight line of water garden sprouting machines that go as high as only 3 meters.  The changing of colors is even predictable by the line!

So did the Gucio administration spend all those millions for garden sprayers??

I sure hope Mr. Guico can say – No, we’re not done yet… you’ll see the most electrifying dancing fountain and lights yet…without additional budget!”

Or the contractor will be asked: How much lang kinita nyo?

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MORE DRUG LABS PROTECTED. The recent recovery of sacks of shabu substance off our Bolinao and Agno seas cannot be seen as merely another isolated incident.

The reports of high incidence of trading on the streets should be enough to confirm that illegal drug trafficking in the country has already breached the boundaries established by the drug war of the Duterte administration.

Recall that the national media’s attention was focused on the illegal operations of POGO over a long period, so it’s not difficult to discern who was busy operating and protecting more shabu labs in the country. In fact, not a few dens operating in barangays were already found by operatives, accidentally!

Here’s the bottom line from where the Duterte drug war left off: No shabu lab can operate anywhere without the protection of local police and city/town officials.

Using the Bolinao and Agno seas as drop-off points already tells us that even our Philippine Coast Guard is already suspect.

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ENGLISH VS. ENGLISH. When will our country ever see the day when the national debates do not come down to the correct interpretation or translation of English words like “Forthright

But if that is not troublesome enough, see how we translate Tagalog words as these impact on Visayan and Mindanao culture!

Perhaps, this is the reason why other countries like Japan, Indonesia, China, etc. have no trouble enforcing their laws.  Their languages say what they mean.

Here, at the end of the day, our agreements on translations or interpretations can only be achieved by consensus when everyone is tired of making sense of the translations in English or other dialects.

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