Sensible voting

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

Baguio and Benguet permanent residents were once upon a time called wise voters. That was the time when voters prioritized their considerations for voting public officials centered on things that benefited a larger majority, whether silent or outspoken.

There were voters who balanced their choice on blood ties and closeness with the candidates, although on election day, they end up voting for what is best for the community. They knew well that election is more about the future of a community and the children, not family ties.

For Benguet, when barrios are in need of more public infrastructure in order to make things easy for them to go about their daily lives, this is the time to have second thoughts about who to vote for.

Will it be best for i-Benguets if they choose Gov. Nestor B. Fongwan whom they allowed to finish three consecutive terms, or should their votes go to incumbent Congressman Ronald M. Cosalan and also allow him to graduate as they did with his challenger?

I recommend that Benguet voters forget about the political career of “green party” bet Fongwan who will easily ripen and become “yellow” by the year 2019, because a province’s future should not be sacrificed with political careers. That is sensible voting.

Instead, i-Benguets should be “One People” and vote for Cosalan who has presented a genuine platform of governance. I have read posters and flyers of candidates branded as “action man” … that to me is far from being considered a platform, and that does not make sense.

According to his peers in congress, Cosalan’s performance as chairman of the committee on public works, the second most important committee, is unbeatable. That has practically made it possible for the DPWH to lay concrete on all national roads in Baguio, Benguet, Cebu, Mindanao and the rest of the national highways.

Last month, PNoy signed RA 10752, an Act Facilitating the Acquisition of Right-of-Way Site or Location for National Government Infrastructure Project that allows government to acquire real property needed as right-of-way (ROW) site or location for any national government infrastructure project through donation, negotiated sale, expropriation, or any other mode.  

Added to that, it is not easy to secure billions of pesos for infra projects for a single province which he already did in the past two terms. This year, DPWH will be implementing more or less P2.8 Billion for various infra projects in all barangays in Benguet. It is our choice. Should we let this go down the drain?

Be real and practical. A vote for Cosalan and his team of supporters is a vote for Benguet’s future.