MikeLigalig.com

By Loy Palapos
Bohol Sunday Post

The May 2007 elections brought some changes among the hierarchy of leaders, both national and local, and with them a lot of differences in governance. In Carmen, internationally famous for the Chocolate hills as a wonder of nature (although hundreds of them are shared by Batuan and Sagbayan), the changes are more observable. A visit to the Municipal Building, which is peculiar for its promontory location, shows in-house renovations resulting to more comfort and aesthetic balance; but more noticeable is the pavement surrounding the entire building, with the on-going installation of tiles replacing the usual cemented walkways prevalent in other municipalities.

Meeting Mayor Manuel Del Rosario Molina (MDM) in his office for this interview, after not seeing him for a year, showed me another wholesome patch of protocol.

The receiving clerks stationed adjacent to the Mayor's Office were warmly accommodating, requesting us to wait for a few minutes (for the Mayor was still busy attending to some guests ahead of us), while giving us current newspapers to occupy our time. When we were finally admitted to his office, I saw a man in his best elements, and clearly evolving into a real leader the town has learned to respect and admire.

Earlier, we passed by the Public Market, and witnessed the on-going cementing of roads around it. A chat with a restaurant owner made me realize that what Mayor Molina told me right after his election at the helm of the interior town has taken shape: the road repair, more serviceable water system, improvement in the peace and order situation, health care, livelihood, and increase in revenues.

Unquestionably committed to his job, which he has given the same dedication while in the private world of business, Mayor Boy Molina has proven true to his words.

LMP: Unsay imong labing dako nga accomplishment as Mayor of Carmen?
MDM: Atong gituman ang saad sa mga tawo sa Carmen adtong campaign period nga atong sulbaron ang water system. On-going ang process and transaction kay joint venture man ni sa SALCON sa Tagbilaran. Joint venture in the sense nga ang Carmen dili mogasto bisan usa ka piso. Ang amo lang i-counter-part kining existing nga water system karon.

LMP: Private ni siya?
MDM: Private ang developer. Kining Pilipinas Water Resources.

LMP: Unsaon nga bisan wala mo'y gasto, naa man gyoy magamit alang sa mga expenses when it comes to private business?
MDM: Mao na among gibutang sa MOA nga ang among counter-part mao ang among existing nga water system, ang pipeline ug kanang reservoir.

LMP: Pila man ka-barangay ang nasakop aning recent water system?
MDM: Duha ka buok sa Central, kining Poblacion Sur ug Poblacion Norte. Kadtong mga barangay nga gusto makabaton ug water system, moduol lang aron pabutangan ug reservoir duol sa ilang barangay.

LMP: Tagpila man ang agreement sa inyong MOA?
MDM: Ang ilang gi-offer is between 1-10 cubic meters sa tubig. Ang 10 cubic, equivalent sa 500 grams. P15 per cubic meter.

LMP: Pila man ang bayad kada buwan sa pamilya nga mo-avail ana?
MDM: P56 ang minimum. Pero dili ta makagarantiya ug 24-hour supply.

LMP: Asa man ang sourcing ani?
MDM: Ilang na-identify nga ang Carmen naay underwater. Kanang gihimo nga reservoir karon gibutangan nila ug sandbag nga mo-filter. Pero ang mogawas nga tubig sa Carmen lubog lang gihapon.

LMP: Dili ba di-ay madala sa filter?
MDM: Sayop man kuno ang pagbutang sa filter. Pag-abot sa tag-init, anhi ra kutob ang water level. Supposedly, ingon kadtong mga Engineers sa Pilipinas nga ma-utilize unta kadtong naa sa ubos pero wala man matunong ang reservoir.

LMP: But it can be corrected. Unsa man ang target date?
MDM: Ilang gipasalig nga kon aduna nay authorization sa Mayor, mo-sign na sila sa contract nila. Mga 3 weeks to 1 month, pero ang SB ang mohatag sa signal. Before 2008 ends, madayon na ni.

LMP: How about sa construction side?
MDM: Wala pa ta'y nahimo sa construction gawas sa atong gi-plano nga parking area ubos sa Chocolate Hills. Ang yuta ana gipanag-iya sa LGU Carmen. Naundang lang ang development kay pagtan-aw sa titulo, agricultural pa ang nakabutang. So nangayo mi ug permit sa DAR ug DENR. By the time nga ma complete ni, amo nang hinay-hinayon ug sugod.

LMP: Pila may capacity anang parking space?
MDM: Sa buses lang, 30-50 na.

LMP: Panagsa ra ang lungsod nga free sa insurgency problem. How is it solved in your term?
MDM: Under control na siya sa military kay sige man mi ug meeting. Naa pa man ang kampo, pero wala pa man poy reports. Kon naa man gali, minimal lang kaayo.

LMP: Kumusta man ang agriculture side? Considering that Carmen is one of the producers of rice, lately naa man ta'y shortage. Wala bay problema ang Carmen along that line?
MDM: Affected ang Carmen tungod sa global warming. Wala man ta kahibawo sa climate changes. Mao nga giingnan nato ang mga Barangay Captains nga maghimo sila ug impounding areas para sa tubig. At least, makahawid ug pila ka semana.

LMP: How about health?
MDM; Kalooy sa Dios, dako-dako na kita ug na-miyembro.

LMP: Kanus-a ma-kompleto nga ang tanang barangay maapil gyod?
MDM: Ang among target is kada tuig, magdugang mi more or less 500 members sa Phil Health.

LMP: Let's talk about the Chocolate Hills. When I asked you the same question before, you said that there's a possibility nga ma-privitize. Is it still the same stand right now?
MDM: Privatization is far from realization kay maayo naman ang kita karon. Gisakaan na nato ang entrance fee, P25 na. Kon peak months, mo-over 1 million ta kada buwan.

LMP: Pila ang kubra sa una?
MDM: P10 lang.

LMP: Naa man kaha gihapo'y kuwarta nga na-accumulate gikan sa unang administrasyon?
MDM: Wala kay matod pa sa Committee on Tourism sa Province, wala man kuno sila'y nakita. Ang report pod diri kay negative man.

LMP: Now that you are the one at the helm, nakamatikod ba ka nga it's profitable?
MDM: Profitable kaayo. In fact records show nga dako kaayo ang income sa Choco.

LMP: Pila ang staff nimo didto?
MDM: Including ang in-charge, 27 in all.

LMP: Unsa nga month ang peak?
MDM: Buwan sa Mayo gyod. Ang income ani will go to projects like the renovation and maintenance. Maghimo ta ug building nga lain sa parking area para sa mga souvenir shops. Ang mahibilin na lang sa ibabaw, kadto ng restaurant ug hotel.

LMP: Unsay lain nga projects that you initiated during your term?
MDM: Gipa-guwapo nato ug samot atong Municipal Hall. Aduna pod ta'y renovation sa Choco Hills gihapon. Kon mosulod ka sa right wing, naay coffee shop. Para pod na sa mga non-smokers. Kadtong restaurant sa taas, for smokers to nga lugar. Ang mga tindahan ibalhin na sa ubos para fair ang competition. Mo-supply pod ang lungsod ug shuttle bus nga mao'y sakyan pasaka ug panaog. Apil na kana sa entrance fee. By 2009, i- increase namo ug P50 ang entrance.

LMP: Wala ba ka'y plano to put up other activities aside from sight-seeing to make the tourists stay longer?
MDM: Gi-tagaan ko ug assignment ni Ambassador Chan nga kon mahimo, aduna po'y agricultural showcase. Kanang naay magdaro, magtanom ug mag- ani. Makita gyod ni sila sa mga turista aron dili lang ang Choco Hills ang ilang ma-focus. Mutabang siya pangita ug investors.

LMP: First class municipality ba ang Carmen?
MDM: Second pa.

LMP: Kanus-a man ni ma-first?
MDM: Pagkakaron, wala pa mi plano. Gi-interview ko sa radio station sa Tagbilaran kon kanus-a kuno mag-open ug night operation ang Carmen kay naa na man ang Loboc. Ingon ko, kon mahuman na ang parking area sa Choco, mo-operate na ang Carmen at night. Mangita mi ug paagi. Gi- encourage gani nako ang mga balay sa duol nga magbutang sila ug duha o tulo ba ka mga kwarto para sa mga backpackers. Dili na kinahanglan ug aircon kay bugnaw man ang Carmen kon gabii.

For me, the more widely accepted achievement of Mayor Boy Molina has something to do with the Chocolate Hills Complex. For several years, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the governance of the Municipality of Carmen have been at odds with each other. No less than Board Member Corazon Jamisola-Galbreath has been adamant for some reforms, and possible privatization, the latter first gaining adherents in the business world.

The adverse reaction to the previous management of the Chocolate Hills Complex was its registration of negative earnings since the LGU took over its operations.

The clamor was justifiable. The entry collection alone was a big amount. Adding the profits from its restaurant, rooms, and other rentals, there should have been a positive balance. And the Provincial Government, as previously agreed on, would have had its share of the next profit. Which did not happen… therefore resulting to an aghast Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Mayor Molina showed me the record of his one-year operation of the complex, which amazed me. After subtracting the expenditures, the margin of profit varied in the one-million peso mark per month, with May posting the highest at two million pesos.

So, privatization is not the answer to the problem. It is good management. And Mayor Boy Molina, a product of private business, who knows his assets and liabilities, is a superb Chief Executive.

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