Brewing political pots

By Cris Diaz / September 11, 2006

THE political pots in Cagayan de Oro and the province of Misamis Oriental are starting to brew with some surprising turn of events. Although there are political alignments that are starting to be formed, the political climate is still too fluid to take a firmer or more determined form.

This is also the time for curious minds to play on the political mix-ups. In Cagayan de Oro, the quest for the the mayoral post is an endless guessing game. The grapevine is full of reports that Atty. Antonio Soriano, a former vice mayor, is running for mayor. But he will have to settle first with former vice mayor John Elizaga who has reportedly gone to talk to Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. so that he could get the party endorsement for the mayoral post. John Elizaga is eyeing the mayoral post!

But reports are heavy also that Atty. Cecilio "Jun" Pepito is running for any position that Atty. Tony Soriano will run for. Thus, if Tony runs for mayor, Jun will file his candidacy for mayor. If Tony files for the lone congressional seat, Jun will run for Congress. I’m not sure what made Jun, if this is true, vie for the position that Tony Soriano bats for. A personal vendetta? Only Jun Pepito can answer that.

And Councilor Zaldy Ocon is also reported to have the support of Atty. Manolo Tagarda Sr., a former mayor and father of incumbent vice mayor Atty. Michelle Tagarda, for the mayoral post.

Atty. Edgar Cabanlas, Atty. Maya Enteria, Atty. Ramon Tabor, Atty. Alvin Calingin, Atty. Pablo Magtajas and Atty. Rogelio Bagabuyo are also reported to be interested in the congressional seat. Add Atty. Noel Beja as a contender, too, with Carmen barangay chair Rolando Uy and Councilor Benjamin "Benjo" Benaldo for congressional contenders. It is also reported that Councilor Benjo has the support Mikey Arroyo, a former classmate at Ateneo and a son of GMA.

Surely, former councilors Bob Ocio and Roy Raagas are intending a comeback. So will former councilor Prexy Elipe.

In the province of Misamis Oriental, Rep. Danilo Lagbas will be defending his turf against congressional wannabes with board member Henry Clyde Abbott leading the pack. There’s also a report that Balingasag mayor Felix Borromeo, who is in his third and last term, will take a shot at the congressional seat of the 1st District of Misamis Oriental. And in the 2nd District where Atty. Jun Baculio is in his third and last term, the congressman is eyeing the position of governor and his son is the one he wants to succeed him for his congressional seat while his sister remains mayor of El Salvador town.

But Mayor Bambi Emano of Tagoloan town may run for vice governor and that would leave incumbent Vice Gov. Julio Uy no option but to run for Congress in the 2nd District against the son of Jun Baculio. And, as the news have it, former governor Antonio Calingin will also run for the seat against Bambi Emano. Wouldn’t that be interesting? The circus is starting the show as the political brew boils some more.

This does not yet include to which position Mayor Dongkoy Emano will throw his political hat into. And this is where the final word would come from. Board members Norris Babiera and Oliver Actub would surely toe the line of their mentor, the political-scientist Dongkoy Emano. And then Gov. Oscar Moreno would have to align his forces given the Emano-Baculio factor. Surely Mayor Felix Borromeo would support the quests of Rep. Jun Baculio since they are first cousins. That would force incumbent Balingasag Vice Mayor Alex Quina to align with either Gov. Moreno or Mayor Dongkoy Emano. The tendency is for Alex Quina to go with Gov. Oca Moreno. But how about his long and tested loyalty to Mayor Dongkoy Emano? Will he shed it in favor of Gov. Moreno? That is a political question Atty. Quina must soon face.

But the final determinant in the 2007 elections is still the party with the logistics to sustain a campaign. Mayor Emano’s group has the perceived resources. So are the camps of Gov. Moreno and Rep. Jun Baculio. And the rest are just taking a small bite but not able to partake of the whole meal. Unfortunately true for the political opposition but politics is always about money.

And come Christmas 2006, we will already know who would be caroling at your doorsteps. Some will bring goodies, others only tall tales that you have already heard in elections past. With Christmas just around the corner, the elections would not come far behind. Watch out for it! It will be a very interesting year to come.

This driver is a robber

By Joe Pallugna / September 4, 2006

AT noontime two Fridays ago, August 25th in Cagayan de Oro City, a father and a daughter tandem bringing heavy bags to the Lumbia airport flagged down a taxicab.

It was a white-painted taxi with license plates KVJ-613. Driven by a monkey but looking like a man, the taxi driver took on board his passengers and drove onwards.

The monkey of a taxi driver then harangued his passengers telling them that the taxi drivers in Cagayan de Oro City do not put on their taxi meters when they are bound to Lumbia airport. Instead he demanded a pakyaw of P200!

Could you believe that? A robbery in broad daylight!

When his passengers refused to submit to the robbery in broad daylight, the driver of the taxicab with license plates KVJ-613 stopped his cab and angrily demanded that his passengers get off his cab.

Harassed and intimidated, but angry and in a hurry not to miss their plane, the passengers got off, put their heavy bags on the street under the scorching heat of the sun, waited for another taxicab with an honest cabbie and grudgingly went on their way.

Now, this incident is for Mayor Dongkoy Emano and Atty. Darimbang of LTFRB-Region 10 to investigate.

This is not an isolated incident. This monkey driving a white taxicab with license plates KVJ-613 is only one of a gang of monkeys not only preying on helpless passengers but also destroying the very good image that Mayor Emano has been desperately trying to project for our City of Golden Friendship.

This is the very tip of the iceberg of abuses by taxi drivers that Atty. Darimbang must not only investigate unlike what the Senate does (in aid of legislation). Investigate and do nothing about it, I don’t believe Atty. Darimbang would do. This is an incident which Atty. Darimbang, the good and dedicated public official that he is, must investigate and act swiftly on and cancel the LTFRB franchise of the taxicab operator, or suspend it until full compliance with the law is assured.

Now, Porcawa Dia of the LTO-Region 10 should also act swiftly and confiscate the driver’s license of that monkey who obtained a driver’s license––most certainly in an irregular manner. For how could the LTO issue a driver’s license to a monkey? Dia should act fast to avoid a repeat of this monkey robbing his passengers in broad daylight. That monkey should never be issued a driver’s license!

Really, Mayor Donkoy Emano, in his weekly radio programs, should announce the creation of an office or a Task Force with hotline numbers so that abuses by taxi drivers, jeepney, motorela and trisikad drivers could immediately be reported and acted upon with dispatch. This is really serious and should be given immediate attention. For how many taxi drivers have been mulcting their passengers to and from the airport in the past year? So many!

But why are these monkeys still robbing their passengers in broad daylight? Because they have been emboldened with their illegal acts, arrogant and determined as they are, since they have never been apprehended, not prosecuted, and their licenses not confiscated. As if no one bothered them.

Another way to prevent these abuses by taxi drivers is to set up checkpoints midway to the airport and for the police to ask the passengers how much they were asked to pay for fare and to see if the taxi meters are running and to inform the passengers clearly that in Cagayan de Oro City the passengers never pay more than what the taxi meters show as the legal fare.

And the LTFRB-Region 10 should be quick to impose penalties on the taxi operators, and the LTO-Region 10 should be serious and swift in canceling the driver’s license of the monkey pretending to be a driver who acts worst than a robber.

And Mayor Emano should assign a public official to oversee this program of taking monkeys off the taxis, of taking robbers off the steering wheels of public transports.

For only then will Cagayanons and our visitors, our tourists and investors, the poor and the hapless passengers, will really believe that our government agencies are functioning and are not inutile as what the monkeys think of them.

I meant the monkeys driving the taxis. Including the monkey driving the white taxicab with license plates KVY-613.

Let’s see who the monkey is in the days to come.

Let’s see.

On building and burning bridges

By Joe Pallugna / August 14, 2006

AS Cagayan de Oro City moves into the next two decades, there is nothing comparable to the extreme necessity and outright usefulness than the bridges that cross our great river.

And as in any civilization, development always start on riverbanks. Rivers are not only sources of food for fishermen and irrigation water for farmers, they also provide for the best way of travel, transport and trade.

Any great city in the world has a great river. New York, Shanghai, Manila, Hongkong, Paris, London and all the great cities of the world have major rivers. And when they pour out into the sea, these great cities have great ports for ships to dock into and unload and load their cargoes and passengers.

This is so true with Cagayan de Oro. We have a great river and a great port area. So we have this great opportunity.

So Mayor Dongkoy Emano can never be wrong in building bridges over Cagayan de Oro River with earnest to capitalize on the mode of water transport. As one realizes, rivers and seas constrict the means to transport if left to themselves. Siltation inevitably ensues. Yet, these waterways can be exploited to the fullest if used as major transways.

By building bridges, the city is forced to make a comprehensive plan for dike building along the riverbanks, for dredging to avoid siltation and uncontrollable flooding and river-overflowing and the general plan of river-control and management.

Along these plans include beautification of the river embankments and the riversides where people could jog, play, watch the water flow and keep their peace. They then appreciate more the beauty of our river.

Thus building bridges across Cagayan de Oro River is a very wise and timely idea.

After the Ysalina Bridge, the second is the Marcos Bridge, third is the Pelaez Bridge, fourth is the Puntod Bridge, fifth is the Carmen-Macasandig Bridge, and sixth is the J.R. Borja-Carmen Bridge. From two bridges to six bridges in less than 10 years! That’s a great feat, really.

Only one with a vision for development and progress could think of that. Not even the past three mayors of our city did ever envision building bridges over our great river. Not one even accomplished one beyond getting millions of pesos for a feasibility study that never got off the ground––although all the P23 million have already disappeared days before election day in 1998.

And bridges really are that important. That’s why Israel bombed all the bridges leading to and out of Lebanon and why the US forces bombed all the bridges vital to travel in the invasion of Iraq.

Bridges really are that important. I’m sure the Spanish government thought of this importance when they decided to finance the JR Borja-Carmen Bridge project.

With six bridges in all, the comprehensive plan for river control, dredging, dike-building, siltation management, boat-traffic, safety standards and economic infrastructure-building will be finalized. This is the end-result of all these bridge-building binge of Mayor Emano.

I’m sure there is no better way. Building bridges has always been desired by civilizations past. From the Tigris and Euphrates rivers did civilization begin. From Cagayan de Oro River will our city move into the next century.

Anyone who criticizes the city government in the issue of bridge-building are just sourgrapes, attention-seekers or just plain ignorant of it. Many had their opportunity in the past to make our city great and all they thought of were projects they could have probably made money of. No one made a determined effort to build bridges like Mayor Emano did. And not only a determined effort but a sustained and strong determination to bring these bridges to reality.

With these passable bridges now, two more to be completed in the next couple of months and another bridge courtesy of Spain, we are on the road to progress six times faster.

Let us commend Mayor Emano for these bridges––if only, that is the best we could extend by way of gratitude or recognition. He deserves it.

But then again, there is always politics in other people’s mind to prevent them from commending a good plan already implemented––as in these bridges.

Nevertheless, if you don’t, many will, including me. I commend Mayor Emano for all his visions on bridge-building. I hope he builds some more bridges. Unlike those politically opposed to him who burned bridges in their minds and hearts, broke friendships in the name of politics. Like many you-all-know-who.

Sulog, what?

By Joe Pallugna / August 4, 2006

THAT was the reaction of Atty. Manuel Ravanera when I asked him last Wednesday morning in court why he did not attend the meeting of some opposition leaders at the Philtown Hotel last Saturday. In a mocking manner, Atty. Ravanera said, "By the name Sulog alone, it is going nowhere but pa-salop na (going into sunset). Tell them to change that name." Well, that was his immediate reaction.

Maning Ravanera ran for Congress in the last election and for city councilor before that. He was referring to Sulog, that new opposition group convened by Atty. Butch Bagabuyo and Atty. Fred Gapuz which is short for Socialist Union of Local Opposition Groups.

Comes now Atty. Augusto "Titot" Neri, the barangay chair perceived by many to be part of the political opposition and he said to me that "I cannot see eye-to-eye with Butch Bagabuyo, so I did not attend. Besides, I was not invited by them to attend." So, one fact comes out, the ‘‘United Opposition’’ is not united at all because many were not even invited. Probably, they consider Atty. Titot Neri not to be a "socialist" to fit into Sulog.

And what about Atty. Ed Tamandong? This good man ran for mayor of Cagayan de Oro in the last elections against Mayor Dongkoy Emano and lost. Sulog claimed that Atty. Ed Tamondong already gave his support to the Sulog cause. He declined the invitation, he said. Again, we could surmise of the reasons, which are many.

And Atty. Manolo Tagarda Sr., the former mayor-by-ascension of Cagayan de Oro. He did not accept the invitation to attend the Sulog affair last Saturday. He has his own battles to wage in the political arena. And he is reportedly rooting for Councilor Zaldy Ocon as his mayoral bet for 2007. Kag. Ocon also did not attend the Sulog meeting. And this speaks much of the rift within the opposition ranks, more particularly in the Sulog organization.

And what has Atty. Jun Pepito to say of Sulog? Jun Pepito also ran for mayor in the city in the last elections. His absence at the Sulog meeting speaks a thousand words. Did his absence there make the Sulog leaders’ hearts go fonder? Probably not.

Surely, Atty. Tony Soriano, the former vice mayor of Cagayan de Oro, was prominently present. And so were a few barangay leaders, including the has-beens and the ‘‘ex-future’’ barangay chairs, those who had been dreaming all their lives but never got to the post.

But then, again, as I have observed in the past, the opposition cannot ever get their acts together. There will always be one reason or another to get them splintered and divided. There are always personal animosities and deep-rooted vendettas to prevent all into breaking bread at the opposition caucuses.

Now Sulog is dreaming that they could muster or gather 10,000 people to attend its launch on Aug. 25. Maybe, if they count with them the fiesta revelers who flock to our growing city every fiesta time, then they could say that the terminals and airport and ports are full of people because these people did not come here for the fiesta on Aug. 26, 27 and 28 but for the Sulog launch on Aug. 25. What a coincidence. But people won’t believe them.

Atty. Maning Ravanera and Atty. Titot Neri and Atty. Tamondong and Atty. Tagarda Sr. and Atty. Jun Pepito are but few of the learned and experienced ones who saw this early the futility of the Sulog effort. The people who attended last Saturday’s Philtown meeting were more on the observers’ side. Some even suggested that many of those who attended were "spies" of Mayor Dongkoy Emano. But, really, no one is sure if it is true that the ranks of Sulog are all for the genuine opposition. Politics is always a hornet’s nest of vested interests. And of spies.

Sulog, according to my compare Maning Ravanera, is bound to fail. Maybe, his political nemesis Dean Manny Jaudian agrees with him as Jaudian often agrees with Atty. Titot Neri, his beer-buddy.

And these lawyers’ reactions I cited are prevalent in the city. Even non-lawyers hold the same opinion of Sulog. Some may even think worse.

I am not questioning the intentions behind Sulog for I believe in democracy. I am doubting their means. And I am certainly predicting their outcome. Just like Maning Ravanera, I think Sulog will fail soon, very soon, in uniting the opposition. That is because, in 2007, the opposition cannot anymore be united. It is too late in the day to unite. It is too late for Sulog to move on. Sorry, but too late already.

Of tourism, beggars and scratch-car boys

By Joe Pallugna / July 19, 2006

I WAS elated to have heard Mayor Dongkoy Emano declare over Bombo Radyo that one of his intended legacies for Cagayan de Oro City is tourism promotion.

That is why he is pushing heaven and earth to have the international white-water rafting competition held here.

And that is why he has also encouraged investors to help turn Cagayan de Oro into the Convention City of the Philippines.

True to his word, the national conventions of Rotarians, Masons, Sorotimists, Jaycees, Lions, architects, engineers, dentists and almost every organization or association you could name have had their conventions here in the past eight years.

In fact, the national convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) will be held here next year. That was after Baguio City hosted the national convention of all lawyers last year. After Baguio City, we are the next host. And we are proud!

But what destroys all the efforts of Mayor Emano are the patent, direct and clear irritants––a shame actually––that pervade the streets of our city. The daily presence of the ironically opposite image we all want to project.

I am referring to the few kinks that are ever-present and ever-shameful. Ever-irritating and ever-offensive.

One is the presence of beggars on many street-crossings. No one can deny this!

Take the Licoan-Highway crossing near the UCCP church and the provincial capitol park at Velez Street corner C.M. Recto Avenue. Beggars abound when the traffic lights turn red.

Take also the C.M. Recto corner Osmeña avenues near the Coca-Cola plant. Then take the Kauswagan-National Highway crossing near Makro and the Pelaez Street corner National Highway near Ororama Mega Center. Beggars not only knock on car windows. They also scratch the car sides and knock off the side mirrors if you don’t give them any money. They harass commuters and drivers.

I have experienced these a number of times and I have received and heard numerous complaints from car owners on these beggars in our city’s midst. Why are beggars getting control of our streets? Are these part of tourism promotion? Certainly, they are not!

And take also the very valid complaint of Atty. Taumaturgo Macabinlar, the soft-spoken and amiable clerk of court of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 20, about the "watch-car boys" that abound in our convention city.

They harass car owners into "watching" the cars otherwise, if you refuse to give money, you will find scratches on your car the next time you park. These bastards of "watch car boys" have perfect memories of those who bleed with their money and those who do not when they park their cars in front of Mercury Drug at Divisoria.

These "scratch car boys" also abound in front of Dunkin Donuts and near R.A.Uy Appliance Center and DBP at Divisoria, all around the new Cogon Market, and at Ororama-Cogon and Mega Center. Also at Xavier University, at the Cagayan de Oro Airport parking lots, even at Cathedral and Gaston Park, and in many other places.

They are very insistent, irritating and very destructive. Very destructive. Very destructive to property and to tourism. Very destructive to our souls.

I really hope Mayor Dongkoy Emano’s CSWD, RTA, City Planning, City Tourism and the police officials will take these observations very seriously and very soon. Very, very soon!

That soon means before I kill a boy, and many times they are grown men (not boys) and women (others bringing small kids as props). Killing out of anger and frustration.

And I am not alone. Believe me, I am not alone.

Many of our citizens are very angry.

Indeed, tourism does not start nor end in infrastructure nor tourist spots nor convention centers nor brochures and sales pitches. Nor of the very matters that kill tourism.

Tourism also takes the basic spirit of contentment and peace of mind of the people. Of happiness and good-naturedness of the citizenry. Of peace and security of the residents.

And, indeed, the presence of beggars and "scratch-car boys" are the anathema to all these.

Unless we solve these itchy but persistent problems, the efforts at tourism promotion of our Good Mayor Dongkoy will all go to vain.

Unless we act, we all lose in the end.

Unless we act now, or never!

Fare wars

By Joe Pallugna / July 10, 2006

WHY is there a need for regulated fare for buses, taxis and jeepneys?

The answers are both on public policy and economic practicability.

The question has been raised in view of the fares that one bus company, Super 5, has been charging. Its fares for the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan or Cagayan de Oro-Bukidnon routes, vice versa, are too low. In comparison, Rural Transit Mindanao Inc. (RTMI) charges more based on the rates set by the government.

The question basically is whether the riding public benefits if the fares are very low. Of course, that is true at first glance.

However, as Director Mandangan Darimbang of LTFRB-Region 10 has expressed, there is danger if companies charge too low because the safety of the passengers would be compromised. Buses and jeepneys would not be properly maintained, and expect the use of substandard spare parts, and the lack of proper checks on oils and brake linings and other safety checks.

Brake linings may not be replaced as needed. Changing engine oil and brakes may not be done. Tires would be so worn out but still these would be used just to reduce maintenance costs.

Lower fares may result in maintenance cost-cutting. This is the downside of very low bus or jeepney fares.

And this is so true!

That’s why the LTFRB has to conduct public hearings on fares for buses and jeepneys to ascertain the true, economically viable and truly safe fares.

Indeed, there is no substitute when it comes to the general safety of the riding public. When the competition becomes so cut-throat, the safety of the passengers would certainly suffer all the more. That is why the state has police powers and it can regulate franchises as a way of raising the standards of our public transport vehicles.

Finally, the smaller bus or jeepney companies would never survive in the long run if the fares are so low.

For example, if you only have two or five jeepneys or buses, your costs in maintaining a repair shop would be so high. You need to pay welders, mechanics or painter, drivers and conductors. However, if you have 200 buses or some 50 jeepneys or 100 taxis, you would be able to easly afford to hire welders, mechanics and painters. This is simply economics. Spare parts and oils, lubricants and diesel or gasoline fuel could be purchased in bulk and they are then definitely cheaper.

Thus, in the long run, the smaller jeepney or bus or taxi operator would suffer more if fares are set too low or are not regulated. There is logic in regulating the fares and in apprehending those who only think of temporary profits without ever considering the long-term negative effects that the very low fares would cause not only on the transport sector but on the general safety of the riding public as well.

Large companies with huge capital and extended resources would kill smaller operators and plunge smaller public transport firms into banruptcy. That is the long-term effect of non-regulation.

That is the point of state regulation on public transport fares. Stop the undercharging of fares and let the people, the general riding public understand and know the truth.

Doing so would serve the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Let us not be blinded by the false publicity.

Let’s have public hearings extensively on public transport fares. And, after the public hearings, impose the law even how harsh it is.

Don’t be duped and misled by sensationalized issues on very low fares. Let us be realistic and practical.

Let’s have public hearings and have respect for the law.

Otherwise the riding public suffers the more in the end.

An officer and a gentleman

By Joe Pallugna / June 26, 2006

YOU can’t really put a good man down. To all of Police Supt. Antonio C. Montalba’s critics, here’s one for the books. On June 22, 2006 at the famous Manila Hotel, Tony Montalba received the 2006 Outstanding Professional of the Year Award in the field of criminology.

This Award is granted by the Professional Regulation Commission annually after a very thorough search nationwide. As the congratulatory message sent to Montalba by Leonor Tripon-Rosero, the Chairperson of the PRC Awards Committee said: ‘‘The Outstanding Professional of the Year Award is the highest award bestowed by the commission upon a professional as recommended by his peers for having demonstrated exceptional professional competence and integrity in the practice of his profession; participated meaningfully in professional activities through the professional organization contributed significantly to the advancement of the profession and to the effective discharge of the profession’s social responsibility through the meaningful contribution/participation in socio-civic related activities."

The award carries the privilege of promotion one rank higher in the police hierarchy. So Tony the police lieutenant colonel is now a full-fledged colonel. Those used to calling Tony as major should start getting used to address him as colonel.

From police superintendent, Tony is now a police senior superintendent. We in Cagayan de Oro should be proud of Tony Montalba for being recognized nationwide by the Professional Regulation Commission. Tony, the most maligned police officer, the often-ridiculed and often-criticized man by the radio commentators seeking attention from their listeners, have proven them all wrong.

This silent and low-profile man had his due recognition in a national award. And a one-rank promotion that goes with it. And the award proves that there is really no substitute for hard work. And that respect is earned and not demanded.

And everyone should realize that he is a rank away from becoming a brigadier general (chief superintendent). So that when another feather is added to Tony’s cap in the coming years, it would be one star. The star of a general.

So we should seriously take Tony Montalba in the business of police work. He has shown his mettle as a dedicated police officer. He has shown courage amidst the challenges. He has stood tall amidst the criticisms. He has proven himself worthy in the field of criminology. The PRC held so and we cannot help but agree.

And when his good deeds are added on and counted in the years to come, we will be proud once more to have an officer and a gentleman in our ranks.

One that deserves the rank of general.

To Antonio Montalba, my salute!

You really deserve to be a General!