By Leonardo Micua

 

YOU must have noticed that the ongoing 2023 Dagupan Bangus Festival is being held and actually now about to reach its climax, without the usual baratillo and a food strip that were always seen in past editions of this yearly festivity.

This time, Mayor Fernandez does not want to commit the same mistake that her predecessor, Brian Lim and two others, were sued for before the Ombudsman.

To hold a baratillo, an ordinance must be passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod since it requires closing a portion of a street from vehicular traffic, and Mayor Belen knows that it is not within her powers to do just that.

In other worlds, the mayor does not want to risk being sued before the Ombudsman, a fate suffered by then Mayor Lim and his two other co-respondents, retired City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara and former Market Superintendent Aguedo Sta. Maria.

You know, Mayor Belen’s bashers that include members of the political opposition and their followers, are only waiting for the mayor to commit mistakes, so a case could be filed against her.

In this connection, it is interesting to ask what already happened to that complaint filed before the Ombudsman by Marietta Barrientos against Lim and his two co-respondents??

Recall that the SP had just belatedly passed the watered down Annual Investment Program (AIP) and its accompanying  Integral Plans as well as the 2023 Annual Budget of just P864.91 million.

The deadline given by the Local Government Code for the passage of an annual budget was December 31, 2022.

Unable to pass the annual budget on or before the December 31 deadline, the SP could not discuss any matter in their sessions until the ordinance approving the city’s annual budget was passed.

This is clearly provided for in Section 323 of the Local Government Code.  Provincial DILG Director Virgilio Sison appeared before the SP during its first session for 2023 to remind the city councilors of such provision, noting that Dagupan City was the only LGU in Region 1 without an approved budget that time.

That’s the reason why the city executive could not seek an ordinance for the closure of streets to give way to baratillo and food strip after the AIP and Annual Budget.

She could have asked for the ordinance after March 28, but it was already way too late to hold a baratillo and food strip. Logic dictates that a merchant would not be willing to hold a baratillo or food strip just for a few days. He wants to sell his goods exceeding the duration of the Bangus Festival as much as possible.

That was how the baratillos during the administrations of the Lim father and son operated: From opening one or two months before the Bangus Festival and fiestas and another extra one or two months after each activity.

This is because businessmen from as far as Baclaran in Paranaque, Metro Manila who are involved in periodic Dagupan street baratillos always insisted on having a longer period to sell their goods in the city for them to recover the way too high stall fees being imposed by baratillo organizers and fiesta executive committees.

Without the monies that could be generated from baratillo and food strip, Mayor Belen had no recourse but to appeal for the support of sponsors locally and in Manila to fund this year’s Bangus Festival. And the support for her was almost spontaneous.

You know, the Commission on Audit had restricted Local Government Units from using public funds to bankroll fiestas and festivals. That was why, Belen went to her friends, many of them suppliers of her family’s, CSI Group, and appealed for help from them which they willingly responded.

But is the Dagupan Bangus Festival better without the baratillo and food strip, that are considered by many as merely eyesores? I think so, because Galvan and Zamora streets are a lot cleaner without them.

Although considered as veritable sources of funds to bankroll fiestas and festivals, baratillos and food strips are actually big eyesores. The downtown area and around the city hall are in better order without them.

Without the baratillo, local traders would be at ease and would have no one competing with them! The locals would be the biggest beneficiary of a Bangus Festival without a baratillo. Of course, Belen as mayor prefers to protect our own, instead of outsiders.

And of course, the Bonuan and east-bound jeepneys continue to pass through unimpeded along Gavan Street.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments