by Bohol Chronicle
Tagbilaran's horrible roads, believed to be the worst in the Philippines today, took center stage as three mayoralty bets in a debate Friday have unanimously blasted the city's most pressing problem of this century.
The synchronized opinion of former City Councilor Augustinus “Dodong†Gonzaga, Dr. Abraham Lim, and the city's number one councilor, John Geesnell “Baba†Yap, all vying for City Hall's top seat in the May 2013 elections, reechoed First District Cong. Rene Relampagos' remark in a Feb. 15 debate with City Mayor Dan Lim that Tagbilaran is a victim of “9 years of waste and negligence†as seen on its offensive roads.
Of the three, A. Lim appeared to be reluctant in pointing out Tagbilaran's most-talked-about problem. “Kung akoy pangutan-on, ang numero uno nga suliran sa Tagbilaran mao ang panglawas, pero kung ang katawhan maoy pasultihon, ang kalsada,†he told a sometimes unruly crowd all competing for an inch at a small University of Bohol (UB) Gym.
A Lim, whose handler is his own brother, the incumbent city mayor, clarified that he is not an “apologist†for Mayor Lim.
“Bisan kinsa ang inyong pilion pagka-mayor makasulbad sa suliran sa kalsada,†A Lim said. He added that if he gets elected mayor, 80 percent of city roads would have undergone concreting within three years of his administration.
The question stemmed from the debate moderator's opening-salvo question: “What do you consider as the number one problem of Tagbilaran City and what is your solution?â€
“Bisan buta makahibalo dayon kung unsa ang suliran sa Tagbilaran,†Gonzada told a roaring crowd, alluding to one's feeling of certainty over bumpy roads even without seeing them.
“Gitawag kini ug TBTK or Tagbilaran Busluton Tanang Kalsada,†he said, unleashing a punch-line that drew loud approvals even from those belonging to the opposite political fence.
Gonzaga said that the city has a total of 87 kilometers of road network in which 70 percent are in their worst condition not ever seen in previous city administrations. He vowed not to rely on bank loans in repairing the city's disgusting roads.
Gonzaga's statement on loan was an offshoot to his earlier protest to City Hall's move to avail of a whooping P240-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), a plan that has stirred a boiling public anger owing to the numbered days of Mayor Lim at City Hall before the May 2013 elections.
In several news reports, people have condemned the P240-million loan, saying people's money would just “obviously†be used to finance the current election campaign.
Councilor Yap, a nephew of the city mayor and Abe Lim, cited a research of the Holy Name University (HNU) which revealed that deteriorating roads had topped people's concerns.
“We will increase the budget for road repair and maintenance,†Councilor Yap told an animated debate audience whose t-shirt colors tagged their political affiliations. He hit City Hall for completing only 4 road projects between 2006 to 2009, out of the 34 identified projects.
Their views were articulated during the two-hour candidates forum dubbed as “Your Voice, My Choice, Our Future†held at University of Bohol gymnasium last Friday afternoon. Loy Palapos was the moderator.
The forum sponsored by the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. was the second of three episodes, the last of which will be held this Thursday with gubernatorial bets, re-electionist Gov. Edgar Chatto and Carmen Mayor Cheche Toribio de los Reyes. The final episode to be held at the HNU gym will be also be covered live over dyRD.
PROPOSED HEALTH PROGRAMS
At the debate, often interrupted by cheers and jeers of a raucous crowd, the three candidates were asked of their proposed health programs.
Councilor Yap said he would augment the budget for the so-called Blue Card Program, a failed policy of his uncle mayor. Blue Card, it may be recalled, was dishonored by all hospitals after it was found out that City Hall had no funds for Blue Card despite several releases of budgetary funds for that purpose.
The young councilor said he would ensure that more families would qualify for a Blue Card Program sans a biased politics.
“Atong wad-on ang pagpili-pili kung kinsa ang mo-qualify sa Blue Card,†Yap stressed. He added that he would also strive to put up a city-government-managed hospital, a vision similarly affirmed and shared with Gonzaga.
Atty. Gonzaga said: “We will strengthen health centers because these are the frontliners in serving the public. We will hire more health workers, provide free medicine for common illnesses, and conduct free medical check-up.â€
He said that the City could tap the proceeds of sin tax revenues that would give muscle to health programs here, underscoring the inclusion of senior citizens, children and women as priority beneficiaries.
A Lim, on the other hand, took a less traveled road on health issues, saying he would devote more efforts on prevention than on treatment.
“We need to educate people why they get sick,†he said.
“People need to understand the importance of regular exercise, right food, and clean lifestyle.â€
“We don't need money, but common sense,†A Lim said on health problems. “We need to change the mindset of people regarding health.â€
TAGBILARAN AS A TOURISM HUB
Gonzaga lamented that Tagbilaran has often been snubbed by tourists coming to Bohol because the city has no tourism spots to showcase (except the Sandugo Shrine) in the first place, a fact he blamed on City Hall's refusal to cooperate with the Provincial Government of Bohol and Gov. Edgar M. Chatto, a known tourism champion.
“We will make Tagbilaran as a true city of friendship,†Gonzada said.
He said he would build a Convention Center in Tagbilaran that would attract organizers of big-time trade fairs, conferences, and seminars.
Gonzaga also outlined the need to put up a handicraft village that will show the ingenious talents of Tagbilaranons, as part of his comprehensive eco-tourism programs.
For his part, A Lim said he would educate tricycle drivers as competent tourist guides whom he considers the City's “moment of truth.â€
“The attitude of tricycle drivers can affect the overall public image of Tagbilaran,†A Lim pointed out.
He said he would spread out the direction of city's developments to ease traffic problems, adding that he would fix and expand the existing old Tagbilaran Airport.
Yap, on the other hand, proposed that every barangay would have its own tourism attraction. He said that the dying Sandugo Festival should receive support from City Hall. He added that he would create a City Tour program that will showcase Tagbilaran's potentials.
The city councilor blasted the emptiness and lack of aesthetics of the City Hall, being the show-window to the City's image. City Hall gets an annual budget of P2 million for its nowhere-to-be-found landscaping.
SOLVING UNEMPLOYMENT
A Lim admitted that City Hall cannot singlehandedly solve the unemployment problem, but he said that “this is an area where private establishments should come in and cooperate with the government.â€
Yap emphasized that “daghang negosyo, daghang trabaho.†He revealed that 44 percent of city residents are unemployed today. He batted for a Tagbilaran that is business-friendly, a mantra also pushed by Gonzaga, and Yap said he would invite call center investors whose presence in the city can generate jobs.
Gonzaga said he would first fix the broken infrastructures of Tagbilaran and enhance peace and order to lure investors to come in. “Tagbilaran must be known as an investment-business friendly city.â€
He said he would put an end to the problem of massive delayed or denials of business permit and licensing applications at City Hall that have stalled economic progress here.
UNMANAGED CITY GARBAGE
All the candidates admitted that the city garbage problem is worsening due to misplaced priorities.
Yap said proper segregation of garbage at its source would be the first step in solving this headache. He disclosed that as of the moment only seven garbage trucks of City Hall are functional.
A Lim and Gonzaga agreed with Yap that city's garbage can be transported to Albur's proposed dumpsite, a project objected by Mayor Lim after he refused to join the dump-site cluster project.
Gonzaga offered a two-way approach to the garbage problem: a long-term and short-term solution. He said it is hazardous and impractical to create a dumpsite within Tagbilaran because it
will contaminate the city's underground water sources.
Gonzaga cited a specific example of enormous uncollected garbage at Gallares Hospital who for years continues to bury its toxic wastes underground at its own backyard without regard to human health being at risk.
Lim also pointed out of a hidden practice by Panglao hotels and resorts who bury their garbage underground right near the beach.
FIGHTING GRAFT AND CORRUPTION
“I know nothing of graft and corruption since I am not yet in government service,†A Lim told an intensely politically-divided crowd. “I don't fear of being assassinated but what I fear is of being corrupted once I am in government service.â€
He said he would solicit people's feedback on how to combat graft and corruption.
Gonzaga minced no words in slamming City Hall's absence of transparency and accountability as a perfect example of existing graft and corrupt practices.
“Employees at City Hall cannot even answer media questions so that the people may know,†Gonzaga said.
Lawyer Gonzaga moved on to lambast the millions of unliquidated cash advances at City Hall now under deep scrutiny by the Commission on Audits but no formal court charges have been filed yet.
“Dinhi sa Tagbilaran, usa ray contractor sa tanang mga proyekto. Mao niy dakong pangutana nga angayan tubagon sa City Hall,†Gonzaga hit such monopolistic practice, reminding Tagbilarananons of City Hall's disappearing vouchers.
Gonzaga, a UP graduate, vowed to probe into massive unliquidated cash advances at City Hall.
Yap staved off speculations he would inherit a bankrupt City Hall and stressed that if there is good governance, corruption has no place in it.
The nephew of the City Mayor himself attacked City Hall for lack of transparency as evidence of its failure to publicize in newspapers and websites of government projects as mandated by national laws.
Concurring with Gonzaga, Yap said he would open to all city-based business establishments the bidding of City Hall projects.
WINNING WITHOUT VOTE-BUYING
“Ang makapadaog sa kandidato mag-agad kung pila ka tawo ang natabangan ug mahatagan sa ensaktong serbisyo,†Yap said as he promised not to buy votes as it would be an insult to the intelligence of voters.
A Lim said he doesn't have a budget of P50 million to fuel his election bid. Later, during the rebuttal, he changed the figure to P100 million.
However, he made a straightforward pronouncement: “Why won't we admit that vote-buying is a way of life?â€
“Dili ko mopalit ug buto, manghatag lang ko ug kwarta,†A Lim said matter-of-factly.
A Lim warned that if a mayoralty candidate would spend P50 million for vote-buying, then “mapugos ta ug binuang,†a declaration that shocked a stunned crowd.
Gonzaga concluded that Tagbilarananons have been so desiring for change and that he objected money politics.
He said he doesn't have P50 million as campaign kitty, reminding the public that he is “a mere government employee and not a businessman.â€
“I believe that people in Tagbilaran would vote for a candidate who has the experience, competence, talent, and capability to lead and manage Tagbilaran the right way,†Gonzaga said.
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