The politics of an executive order

Marginal Note

By Felix ‘Boy’ Espineda, Jr., BicolToday.com

At this early takers of greening position in local politics here in the province of Sorsogon are throwing stones with their possible opponents by way of couched personal interest, using position held by a family member who were given a woeful feedback on how to upend the incumbency in a position of influence and power.

For lately, legislative fiat is being secured by a woman chief executive inviting attention to its supervisory power over barangay affairs specifically in the monitoring of national funded projects. The scheme was seen as an early fireworks to the floated interest of her husband who is aiming the seat of an incumbent representative.

Disguising its family intent by way of an executive order was too much for the taking of the provincial board where sitting committee members were heard that its all about politics and nothing more. The exercise was futile, though arguing certain provisions of the local government code which was interpreted to suit its political purposes.

It was a dismal performance by the lady chief executive and her staff who argued their cause but who willfully misinterpreted the exact provisions of the local government code. The committee does not want to be in the crossfire for 2013 is just about in the corner, thus doing the explaining is the provincial director of the interior and local government, supplying the missing, omitted provisions of the local government code with regard to the role, duties and responsibilities of a chief executive.

Pity for the executive order is full of antagonistic ideas to the sitting congressman and did put to test the position of the engineering district, thus the value of loyalty was opened.

Creating a technical monitoring team was too good to be true, it was the icing of the executive order, but the biggest chunk of the take is to negate the authority of an independent local government executive to accept a finish project in his barangay funded out from the national treasury specifically, congressional funds. That was the rub, and the play of the executive order is rubbish for it overstep its limitations and intends to transgress upon a legal authority to function as clearly defined in the local government code.

Taking the issue of corruption and using the line of the present administration of ‘matuwid na daan’ the executive order falls smack in the face of the executive, but do not blame her, it was her husband who purloined the interest by his ilks in the municipal government. He counts his people for he served nine long dubious years and the wife is currently on her last term in their moonless town.

Here’s another rub, at the hearing, she was overheard name-dropping a cabinet secretary who according to her is a relative, as if pushing out the contradiction of the provincial director of the interior and local government for their department is the same. But, to no avail.

Their object of ire is a man who do’esnt expect to win but took the seat from under for his district believed that he performed far better as local chief executive that his contenders.

Presentation of the Executive Agenda 2010-2013

Note: The following is the Executive Agenda presented by Hon. Mayor Helen C. De Castro before the Sangguniang Bayan of Bulan during its Inaugural Session on July 5, 2010 at the Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall. (PIO Bulan)

Inaugural Session

Presentation of the Executive Agenda

SB Session Hall

July 5, 2010/ Monday

EXECUTIVE AGENDA 2010-2013

By Mayor Helen C. De Castro

Honorable Vice-Mayor and Presiding Officer Marnellie Robles

Honorable Members of this August Council

Honorable Barangay Officials

Heads of Offices of the Local Government Unit

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good morning to all of you!

It is with honor and pleasure that I congratulate the Honorable Vice-Mayor and the Members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Bulan.

Today, the just concluded political exercise had given us the fresh mandate to lead our people for the next three years. I am deeply elated by the warm trust and confidence. We venture into a new beginning for our Municipal Government. And it is us, the new officials of this beloved town who will be instruments in ushering in that new beginning.

Tradition has it that as we start our work as the new officials of Bulan, it is necessary that we first meet, and set down in fundamental terms the basic blueprints for the next three years. These fundamental principles of local governance shall guide and direct our actions. It is necessary that we should be able to work in solidarity.

It has been mandated by law that the Office of the Local Chief Executive, or the Mayor, and that of the Sangguniang Bayan, as a collegial body, are co-equal in power and authority. According to law, one cannot do without the other. It is my firm belief that collaboration and harmony, whether constructive or critical, between these two offices, must always work for the betterment and welfare of our community. Even ideologies or political differences must not be obstacles with what we want to achieve or accomplish. Even within a deliberative body like the Sangguniang Bayan, your discussions and debates, your opinions and views, your political differences and affiliations, can be worked out to produce a syntheses of ideas and plans that can be concretized into policies, programs and projects. Our people must not suffer or be sacrificed just because we differ in our views. We are supposed to be held together by our desire to serve Bulan. The Executive Department shall heavily rely and depend upon your ideas, crafted into legislations, which we pray shall be great in quality, pro-active, pro-poor and pro-peace.

If I were to be asked as a re-electionist mayor, all I want is that we shall be able to help realize the vision for our beloved community – a safe, peaceful, progressive place to live in. It is not an easy task however, in a growing town like ours. The challenges are multi-faceted; the tasks enormous, the efforts needed are great. But it shall all depend upon ourselves as leaders and stewards of Bulan. We are here for the next three years to keep, protect and take care of this community. It ought to be our political philosophy that while we have the privilege of power and authority, we are also servants and stewards of our people. And many of our people are expecting much from us.

Bulan, being a premier, first-class town in Sorsogon must continue in its eminence as a model community. We have been looked up to by many of our neighbor communities. But more importantly, Bulan has a bigger number of souls with more needs to take care of.

Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen, I am respectfully setting down before you our three –year Executive Agenda, which shall serve as the bases of our development plans. And this shall need the necessary legislative support. We are fortunate, that in this my third term, we shall be having the Community-based Monitoring System (CBMS) and the State of Local Governance Report (SLGR) and the data therein shall be guides for all of us in both the Executive and Legislative aspects.

Allow me therefore to enumerate on our three-year Agenda:

1. We shall continue all along to strengthen, improve, enhance and institutionalize the HELEN Program – Health, Education, Livelihood, Environment, Nutrition and Food. These are the major programs which include the auxiliary/component programs, we are pursuing. These wide-ranging and general scope of activities shall, in one way or another, necessitate legislation, especially in its funding and budgetary support; we are improving and streamlining our educational assistance and support to poor but deserving Bulaneno college students; we are going to build a bigger and better Bulan Health Center and Birthing Facility, and we wish to purchase a Mobile Clinic to serve our far-flung barangays;

2. We need to strengthen and improve on our Peace, Order and Public Safety programs, especially in the areas of anti-illegal drugs program, Traffic Management programs, Disaster Management and Risk-reduction Programs, and the protection of our women, children and the elderly. We shall strengthen our relationship with the Philippine National Police, and when opportunity arises in terms of funds, we shall make necessary provisions and facilities to our police, fire and force-multiplier groups;

3. We shall put more emphasis on our Economic Agenda. I believe that notwithstanding the gains we have, if our constituents do not have gainful employment, much is useless. It is an obligation that we have to look in to. In this regard, the concerns and tasks are daunting, considering our limited resources. But we shall make sure that we shall make strong steps in this area like helping our farmers and fishermen with a Revolving Fund or Capitalization Scheme to improve on their productivity; We shall institutionalize the Municipal Investment Incentive program to attract investors to our town; we shall improve on our technical-vocational training activities for the youth and women sector; strongly coordinate and network with job placement agencies;

It is our plan to institutionalize the Coastal Resource Management Programs as this is vital to the fishing industry of our municipality, through artificial reefs installations, strengthening of the Bantay-Dagat program; and plans for seaweeds production programs.

We want to provide a Bagsakan ng Bayan, or a convergence terminal for all our local products.

We intend to now construct a Poblacion Terminal for all our Tricycles, Pedicabs, and Jeepney and Aircon Vans Sector. This job sector is very important in our growing economy.

And we intend to pursue our Farm-to-Roads programs as we have been wont to do. Our Road Program has been one of the greatest assets of this incumbent Administration. These economic arteries provide the lifeline to and from our barangays. Life has been a lot easier with improved roads, better bridges and all the necessary infrastructures to help our constituents be fully engaged in economic activities, have better access to education, health and social services from the local government;

All we have to do is to be creative and be resourceful in sourcing out ways and means for these local projects.

4. It is our executive plan, that in my third and final term, we hope we shall finally be able to put and set in place a comprehensive Tourism, History and Culture Heritage Development Program. This is a legacy I wish to leave to our next set of leaders and to our people. It is an ardent dream that we can have a Bulan Heritage Museum. History and Culture is the soul of the Tourism Industry. While we have the Padaraw Festival now fully in place, we must let spring forth and let flower the beauty of our identity as a community. A political philosopher once said that our political maturity as a nation or as a community is greatly dependent on our historical maturity. Leaders are poor who have no sense of history and identity. And our people also need to be inspired and be transformed by the lessons of our local history. History is a bond that makes our present and future stronger.

In this regard, we also intend to put in place a concrete program for Poblacion Improvement as the Poblacion is the showcase of the whole town — cleaner and better-looking streets and walkways, a good marketplace and greener surroundings. We have to work hard to clean up and protect our Managa-naga River, which has been an icon of our town. There is a positive psychology in greener, cleaner surroundings, especially in the Poblacion.

5. We need a new Cemetery or Municipal Memorial Park. Our LCR data says that we have an average of 450 deaths a year. This goes along with our burgeoning population. Our cemeteries are now congested and it is time we look for and build a new one to give greater dignity to loved ones who have passed away. And this shall need your greatest support.

On top of all of these plans, we in the Executive Branch would like to inform this Honorable Body, that in line with the Executive implementations of vital ordinances and codes, I think it is necessary that we have to review the following:

A. The Bulan Revenue and Tax Code

B. The Bulan Public Market Code

C. The Bulan Integrated Traffic Management Code

D. The Agriculture and Fisheries Code of Bulan

E. The Municipal Investment Incentives Code

F. The Zoning Ordinance

The Sangguniang Bayan must also come up with the Integrated Safety Code of Bulan and an Investment and Business Code. We must review our Disaster Management Code. It is also a must that the Sangguniang Bayan must work with the Municipal Planning and Development Office in updating the Municipal Socio-Economic Profile. The MSEP is a comprehensive volume of local governance literature that is the very basis of all our development and investment efforts. We cannot do without it.

I wish to also respectfully inform you that I would like to certify as urgent legislative matter the reconstitution of the different LGU organizations like the Local Development Council, the Health Board, the School Board, the Personnel Selection Board, the Municipal Child Protection Council, the Local Peace and Order Council and all the mandated local councils necessary to immediately put in place our tasks and functions in governance.

Also, it has become imperative that with the modern methods of governance, administration and supervision and the complications of local governments, it is necessary that the executive department, together with the legislative branch, must be kept abreast of all department activities. Thus we are planning to go full computerization in our municipal government. We shall network and wire the office of the Local Chief Executive with all our departments. This will make our task of governance, easier, facile and more convenient.

I hope that with Vice-mayor Robles at the helm of this Honorable Body, there will be a new impetus for the Sangguniang Bayan. In other localities, the Sangguniang Bayan is a source of pride and honor for the community. We hope this Council shall be that.

We must have foresight in the next 20 years of governance. Bulan is fast-growing and fast-expanding. The Sangguniang Bayan must come up with a very comprehensive Urban Expansion Program from which we shall initiate our Urban Planning and Development activities.

I hope you will not begrudge me if each one of us shall keep this list as a checklist, and that we keep on checking it so that we shall be able to accomplish them.

“A Public Office is a Public Trust” so we are being constantly reminded, and as the motto of this Council goes that we have to render “Service with Integrity”. So be it.

We are looking to a very productive term of office. During the campaign period, we have promised a lot to our people, and now that we have been endowed with that privilege of service, and power, it behooves all of us to do so as a matter of gratitude to our people. It is a sacred oath, a duty, a call; we cannot turn our backs from.

Once more, congratulations to all of us. Good luck and may God bless us in our endeavors and may God bless our beloved town.  //

                                                                                                          ——end—–

Ex-Governor Raul Lee Substitutes For Wife (Sally Lee) As Sorsogon Gubernatorial Candidate

 

From PIO- LGU Bulan Mr. Tonyboy Gilana

 

Sorsogon City, December 15, 2009:

In a sudden twist of events, incumbent Sorsogon Governor Sally A. Lee (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), gave up her bid to run for another term, when she filed yesterday at the provincial Comelec a certificate of withdrawal of her candidacy in favor of her husband, former three-termer Governor Raul Lee. December 14 was the last day for filing of substitute candidates by COMELEC-accredited parties.

Political analysts here said that with the entry of the former Governor, the opposition, led by Second District Congressman Jose G. Solis , running under the Kampi Party is in for a real run for their money as the former governor is seen as a more formidable force than his wife. While Governor Sally was seen as having done much for the province in her single term as governor, the ex-governor is believed to be a more unifying force on account of his political keenness and relationship with key political leaders all over the province. He never lost touch with all his political allies, and has continuously observed and participated in major political developments in the province.

While Lee is in for a tough fight in Bulan town, since Solis is from this place, which has a voting population of 46,000, the second biggest in the province, this was neutralized by the partnership with Lee of Bulan ex-mayor Guiming De Castro as vice-gubernatorial candidate. Analysts say Solis may win in Bulan but not with a margin big enough to carry him to victory. The De Castro camp promises a surprise win in Bulan for Lee, who has himself been beloved to the local populace. /

                                                                                                                           ……end—-

 

POLITICAL UPDATES ON THE TOWN OF GUBAT, SORSOGON

From PIO- Bulan

(Excerpts from Sorsogon Newsweek, JLG, November 29-December 5, 2009 issue)

Three strong contenders are expected to slug it out in the forthcoming May 10, 2010 mayoralty race here. These personalities include businessman Ronnel Uy Lim (Nacionalista Party), incumbent Vice-Mayor Danilo Pura (Kampi Party), and former SORECO II Director and Board Chairman Rene Hermo (Ang Kapatiran Party).

Hermo is said to be banking for support from the business and religious sectors here; Pura on the other hand reportedly depends on the political and logistical support of gubernatorial aspirant Jose Solis; while Lim is said to be supported and indorsed by the majority of local and barangay leaders.

Outgoing Mayor Deogracias Ramos (Liberal Party), who is running for the Second Congressional District is expected to be neutral, or shall decline to endorse anyone from among the three contenders.

The younger Lim, is said to be getting the edge, as of press time.

Other Mayoralty candidates include Cesar Bartolome (Independent), Alfredo Buergo (Independent) and Ramon EScoto (Independent).

In the Vice-mayor’s race, it will be a battle between incumbent vice-mayor Ramon Encinares (Ang Kapatiran Party); Councilor Juanito Escandor of Kampi; Sixto Estareja of partido Liberal, councilor Adan Eva (Independent). Another candidate is Angel Esmeria, independent.

There are 41 councilor candidates.

Meanwhile, there are three congressional candidates from this town. They are incumbent Mayor Ding Ramos, Cyril Ramos and Judge Edmundo Escalante. They will up against political bigwigs of the second district, like the wife of Congressman Joey Solis, former PCSO Manager Cardo Golpeo, Dr. Sappho Gillego-Ong (Daughter of the late Congressman Boning Gillego), Bulusan Mayor Johny Guysayko, and Provincial Board Member Arze Glipo of Irosin. /

                                                                                  ——end——

Update: SORSOGON PROVINCIAL CANDIDATES FOR 2010 ELECTION

 

From: Tonyboy Gilana, Bulan PIO

Bulan, Sorsogon, December 11, 2009: We are here furnishing our internet readers, particularly Bulanenos and Sorsoguenos, of the complete list of provincial/congressional candidates who filed with the Provincial Comelec Office to run in the forthcoming May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections:

FOR GOVERNOR:

1. Amadeo “Ding” S. Brin, Philippines Green Republican Party;

2. Ramon “Monching” M. Gallinera, Aksyon Demokratiko/Liberal Party

3. Felizardo “Feliz” G. Garil, Alpha Omega 9K Party

4. Antonio “Tony” V. Imperial, Independent

5. Sally A. Lee, Lakas-Kampi CMD

6. Jose G. Solis, Kampi Party

 FOR VICE-GOVERNOR:

1. Guillermo “Guiming” O. De Castro, Lakas-Kampi -CMD

2. Rosario “Cherry” D. Diaz, Kampi Party

3. Antonio “Kruni” H. Escudero, NPC/Liberal Party

4. Nida F. Gamos, Aksyon Demokratiko/Liberal Party

5. Mirafe D. Godisan, Alpha Omega 9K Party

FIRST DISTRICT, PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBERS:

1. Abitria, Edgar M, Independent

2. Amor, Owen B., Kampi Party

3. Anonuevo, Rolando, R, Lakas-Kampi CMD

4. Aquino, Rebecca DL. , Liberal Party

5. Borromeo , Nonito, Jr. , J, Kampi

6. De Hitta, Joseph G., Kampi

7. De Jesus, Gregorio M., NPC/ Liberal Party

8. Dioneda, Mark Eric, C., Liberal Party

9. Duran, Fernando David III, Lakas-Kampi CMD

10. Hitta, Marife L. Independent

11. Laguna, Ferdinand E. , Kampi Party

12. Lotino, Eddie O., KBL

13. Lucila, Raul M. PDP Laban

14. Marianito, Ramil A. Nacionalista Party

15. Merciales, Antonio R. NPC/Liberal Party

16. Perete, Arnulfo L., Liberal Party

17. Ravanilla, Franco Eric Ong, Liberal Party

 SECOND DISTRICT, PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER:

1. Barrun, Rolando G., Independent

2. Camposano, Gina F, Kampi Party

3. Doma, Benito, L., Lakas-Kampi CMD

4. Escandor, Angel E., Lakas Kampi CMD

5. Flores, Mariam D. Kampi Party

6. Frivaldo, Francisco G., Lakas Kampi CMD

7. Frivaldo, Juanita T. AksyonDemokratiko/Liberal

8. Frivaldo, Vladimir Ramon B., Kampi Party

9. Fungo, Salvador G. Independent

10. Genova, Angelita A. Alpha Omega 9K Party

11. Gois, Joey L. , Liberal Party

12. Gonzales, Toby A. , Lakas Kampi CMD

13. Guban, Renato DV, Lakas Kampi CMD

14. Guyala, Albino G., Kampi Party

15. Laguna , Theophane, E., Independent

16. Lopez, Saturnino L. Independent

17. Reyes, Carlos M., Kampi Party

18. So, Gino G. , LP/NPC

 FOR CONGRESSMAN, FIRST DISTRICT:

1. Escudero, Salvador H. , NPC

2. Hamor, Edwin B., Nacionalista Party

FOR CONGRESSMAN, SECOND DISTRICT:

1. De Guzman, Flocerfida A, Kampi Party

2. Escalante, Edmundo H., PMP

3. Gavanzo, Rosario G., Alpha Omega 9K Party

4. Glipo, Arze G. , Partido Demikratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan

5. Golpeo, Ricardo G., NPC

6. Guysayko, Juan G., Nacionalista Party

7. Ong, Sappho Gillego, Independent

8. Ramos, Cyril E., Independent

9. Ramos, Deogracias, B., Liberal Party

Meanwhile, in Sorsogon City, it will be a fight between incumbent Mayor Leovic Dioneda (Liberal Party) and the incumbent Vice-Mayor Edmundo Atutubo(PMP) for the mayoralty, while the Governor’s son Bobet Lee (Lakas Kampi CMD) will slug it out against incumbent councilor Roel Sta. Ana (Independent).

There are three councilorial districts in Sorsogon City, East, West and Bacon District. A total of 56 candidates will vie for the councilorial positions.

In Barcelona Town, Second District, Incumbent Mayor Salvador Estuye (Kampi) will try for a second term on an one-on -one battle against Provincial Administrator Manuel “Wowo” Fortes ( Nacionalista Party). There are four vice-mayoralty candidates and 21 candidates for councilor.

In Donsol Town, home of the world-famous Butandings or whale-sharks. Incumbent Mayor Jerome Alcantara (Liberal Party) will fight against three other mayoralty candidates: former Mayor Salve Ocaya (Lakas Kampi CMD), Incumbent Vice-Mayor Cleofe Migdonio (Aksyon Demokratiko/Liberal Party) and Pancho Abitria of Kampi Party. There are three vice-mayoralty candidates and 31 candidates for the municipal council.

Other Sorsogon towns will follow in our next PIO news release. /

                                                                   ———end———

BULAN COMELEC BARES LIST OF LOCAL CANDIDATES FOR MAY 2010 ELECTIONS

Submitted on 2009/12/02 at 4:10am

PIO-Bulan

Bulan, Sorsogon, December 2, 2009: The filing of the certificates of candidacy for the national and local elections in the May 10, 2010 automated election officially closed at 12:00 midnight of December 1, 2009.

Bulan Comelec Officer Ma. Claire Salut-Laceda furnished the Municipal Information Office the list of those who filed their certificates of candidacy for the various local positions.

Here’s a summary of the list of the local candidates:

Lakas-Kampi-CMD Party:

Mayor: Helen C. De Castro (incumbent)

Vice-Mayor: Manuel D. Gogola (incumbent)

Councilors:

De Castro, Guillermo, Jr. C. (incumbent)

Dellomas, Jolife L. (incumbent)

Delmonte, Luis C. (Zone 4 capitan)

Gerona, Simplicio U. (incumbent)

Engr. Gigantone, Ronnie L.

Guran, Patricia L. (incumbent)

Hao, Bernard H. (incumbent Board Member)

Tan, Jose G. (former councilor)

Aksyon Demokratiko/Liberal Party

Mayor: Cesar O. Gogola

Vice-Mayor: Crisostomo G. Gotladera

Councilors:

Alcantara, Noli G. (former councilor)

Asuncion Angelito Xavier L.

Diesta, Arque DV

Evasco, Permo E. (San Isidro capitan)

Porras, Andres G. (former Liga President)

Kampi Party

Mayor : Redentor G. Guyala

Vice-Mayor: Oscar G. Deri (former Board Member)

Councilors:

Bautista, Ernesto D.

Boncan, Antonio B. (Gate capitan, incumbent)

Cano, Vicente A.

Golloso, Alvin G.

Grafil, Jose Gunao

Guray, Gerry G.

Oseo, Gilbert C.

Valeriano, Recto G.

Nacionalista Party:

Councilor: Que, Roberto, Jr. M. (incumbent)

INDEPENDENTS:

Vice-Mayor:

Burias, Elmer C. (incumbent councilor)

Dellomas-Fundano, Joy L. (former Board Member)

Robles, Marnellie B.

Councilors:

Gernale, Arturo G.

Gocoyo, Ronaldo M. (former councilor, Lakas-Kampi, De Castro wing)

Grafil, Jose Golloso

Uy, Louie S.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Information Officer was able to obtain a partial list of candidates in the Provincial and District Levels.

FOR GOVERNOR:

1. Incumbent Governor Sally A. Lee (of Sorsogon City) Lakas-Kampi-CMD

2. Incumbent II District Congressman Jose G. Solis(of Bulan), Kampi Party

3. Ramon Gallinera (of Bulusan)

FOR VICE-GOVERNOR:

1. Former Mayor Guillermo O. De Castro, Sr. (of Bulan), Lakas-Kampi-CMD

2. Board Member Rosario Diaz (of Sorsogon City), Kampi Party

3. Former Vice Gov. Antonio Escudero (of Casiguran), Nationalist People’s Coalition

4. Former Mayor Nida Gamos (of Sta. Magdalena)

FOR CONGRESSSMAN, First District:

1. Incumbent Salvador Escudero (of Sorsogon City), Nationalist People’s Coalition

2. Former Casiguran Mayor Edwin Hamor (of Casiguran), Nacionalista Party

FOR CONGRESSMAN, Second District:

1. Flor Solis (of Bulan), Kampi Party

2. Former PCSO Gen Mgr. Ricardo G. Golpeo (of Bulan), NPC

3. Dr. Sappho Gillego-Ong (of Bulan), Independent

4. Cyril Ramos (of Gubat)

5. Mayor Deogracias Ramos (of Gubat)

6. Judge Escalante (of Gubat)

7. Incumbent Board Member Arze Glipo (Irosin)

8. Bulusan Mayor Juan Guysayko

Certificates of candidacy have also been filed with the Provincial COMELEC for the Provincial Board positions.

In Bulan, the three independent candidates for Vice-Mayor, Elmer Burias, Joy Dellomas-Fundano and Marnellie Ballesteros-Robles have all decided to adopt incumbent mayor Helen De Castro as his/her mayoralty candidate.

A total of  46,125 voters  have been registered by Bulan COMELEC. There are 265 precincts which shall be clustered to 83 polling precincts during the May 2010 elections.

                                                                                                         ——end—-