Mayor Diezon faces tough choice in ’10
This low profile town executive of the coastal town of Clarin personifies the dilemma of most municipal mayors when confronted with the reality of a Chatto-Herrera gubernatorial showdown. He did, in fact, face a tough choice.
Although this is one confrontation mostly awaited by the Bohol electorate (after being subjected to the politics of unification), a showdown between Cong. Edgar Chatto and V-Gov. Julius Ceasar Herrera for Bohol governor put on the spot several mayors “caught between two lovesâ€.
This is where Clarin Mayor Hermogenes Diezon is placed in a tight fix because according to him “both protagonists occupies a soft spot in his heartâ€.
But Diezon is not alone in his political misery.
Several mayors are in a similar bind and putting their cards close to their chest as to who their choice between two formidable aspirants, is part of the hard and painful equation.
According to Mayor Diezon, the solution to the political puzzle of most mayors is when Gov. Erico Aumentado, the ruling party’s chieftain, will announce his fair-haired boy for governor.
“That’s when we are obligated to toe the lineâ€, Diezon said matter-of-factly.
Another big problem confronting the mayors is the choice of presidential contender.
The occasional forays of presidentiable Sen. Manuel Villar in Bohol made “stomachs of several mayors crawling with butterflies.â€
The same mayors including Mayor Diezon do have problems dealing with the Villa factor as the presidential aspirant is making headway in his Bohol sorties.
Villa is a shoo-in in the hearts of most mayors because of his close affiliation with Gov. Aumentado.
When Villar was the speaker of the House, he made Aumentado one of his deputies.
There are even talks circulating around that will surely massage the ego of the governor. Talks are ripe that if he makes it again as second district congressman (of which he is a cinch of a winner knowing the caliber of the opponent he is rumored to be pitted against), the come backing lawmaker is a strong contender to become the next Speaker in the event of a Villar presidency.
In fact, several Bohol mayors took their oath before Villar’s Nacionalista Party only to change allegiance at the first sign of the Lakas chieftain (Aumentado) starting to crack the party whip for them to “toe the administration lineâ€.
NO TOUGH DECISION
Another decision where the Clarin mayor did not find it tough to decide is the matter of his own political plan after serving his last and final term as town executive.
In consultation of his ward leaders, Diezon come to the conclusion that the best option available is for him to run for vice mayor.
The decision is a welcome development to the Clarin voting population because it will pave the way for the elevation of the well-loved V-Mayor Ray Allen Piezas as the next Clarin mayor.
Being the next vice mayor is not new to Mayor Diezon. He was once a vice mayor after the death of then mayor Saturnino Salera.
He was elected number one councilor when the mayor died catapulting him to the position of vice mayor.
LAST TERM
As he presides over the end of his term, Mayor Diezon is looking forward to completing what he has started since assuming the mayoralty in 2001.
High on top of his agenda is the completion of the Clarin Waterworks System.
An ambitious project in the annals of what legacy he is leaving to his beloved town, Mayor Diezon forged and agreement with the local Waterworks Administration (LWUA) for a joint venture to develop the water undertaking.
The LGU earmarked P300,000 for the conduct of a feasibility study to finish the joint venture to provide enough water supply for the town’s 24 barangays.
Once operational, the water project is designed for a 24-hour water service in the municipality.
The funding support is part of Clarin’s infrastructure outlay of P16,048,065.25 for the year 2008 until to date. (See Clarin’s Accomplishment Report elsewhere in this issue)
For this particular project to be finished, Gov. Erico Aumentado has pledged P 2 million.
Cong. Roberto Cajes of the second district is considered Clarin’s godfather in terms of public works.
Considered to be in the top tier of Cajes’ radar screen, Clarin was a beneficiary of P2.3 million pork barrel of the congressman.
The money was parceled to the town’s many road concreting and graveling projects.
The municipality is also a recipient of a new patrol car. It was an addition to an existing unit to compliment the town’s peace and order initiatives.
An ambulance is also due for delivery through the efforts of Cong. Cajes and Cong. Edgar Chatto. - Sunday Post
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