What to to keep come May 13

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March Fianza

As political campaigns roll to a home stretch, many are still in a dilemma as to whom to vote for on May 13. We are nearing the time to completing our “codigo.” As I discussed with cousins last week as to whom to vote for in Benguet.

I noticed that the list I was holding was incomplete. There are factors that each of us have to consider in scrutinizing whom to choose, ranging from personal reasons to other qualifications of candidates.

As to the minimum qualifications, the Omnibus Election Code says that a candidate must be of legal age, must be able to read and write, and a natural-born citizen of the Philippines.

Looking at these qualifications or disqualifications, depending on whether or not a candidate falls squarely under the law, all those who filed for the open positions were qualified, except for a gubernatorial bet whose citizenship is being questioned by his “diminutive” but witty opponent.

For the congressional bets in Benguet, both are qualified when it comes to the minimum requirements under the law. When it comes to personal character, both are soft-spoken, approachable and kind. As for vice governor Crescencio Pacalso, he graduated as mayor of Itogon, became a board member and will finish his term as vice governor in June. For incumbent Congressman Ronald Cosalan, as a lawyer he has co-authored laws of local and national application, among which are the law on ancestral lands, the law that reduced the retirement age of mine workers from 60 to 50, the law exempting from income tax of retirement benefits, among others.

By the way, from any angle, vice governor Pacalso, congressman Cosalan and this writer trace their tangled roots to the same tree. Hence, the same blood runs in their veins. That way, their relatives find themselves in a tight spot, as they now attempt to find ways of how to get away from the fix. Personally,

I believe that blood relations should not be the main reason in holding back a voter from choosing a candidate. Unless the clan population is quite big that it could really dictate the results of a coming election, I believe that wise Benguet voters should better look at what the candidates can deliver to the people and the province once elected.

If one looks around, he cannot deny the fact that the present administration through the efforts of Cosalan who was unanimously chosen by his colleagues as the chairman of one of the most coveted committees in congress – the committee on public works, is delivering basic services at a faster pace than yesterday.

In just a few months from now, the cementing of the Gurel-Kabayan-Abatan road that has been unpaved for the longest time will be finished. The same rate of faster delivery is being experienced by indigent beneficiaries of educational and medical assistance.

As one who has links with influential powers in the central government, the congressman knows that Benguet has to take advantage of this factor as long as he is there.

Sometimes I wonder why some people in Benguet, Baguio or anywhere refuse to see the truth. Sometimes I come to think that just because their requests are not granted by a congressman or a certain official, they look at elections as a means to get back at a candidate, forgetting that by doing so is disservice to their community.

I am particularly talking about some pseudo public works contractors, especially the ones who are only interested in getting their “yangib” after successfully disturbing a bidding process at the DPWH. Although, I know of some who did not get what they want but have kept their peace.

I also wondered if the congressional race in Benguet is a political formula that would result to falling into the trap devised by another politician. By the way, I have met cousins on either side and they were all saying “sayang, nagtaray kuma ni Cencio nga gobernor!” I am writing this not because of my closeness to any of the two, but for the future of Benguet.

That may also be the reason why two former congressmen in the persons of Samuel Dangwa and Andres Cosalan Sr. have teamed up to unite under the theme “One People, One Benguet” to support Ronald, together with lawyer Jerome Selmo for governor and Nelson Dangwa for vice governor. The choice is yours. Think of the future benefits your kakailyans will get.

People described it as “political blackmail” when beneficiaries of an educational assistance program were asked to line up for their checks that they received in front of an audience during a political campaign rally in Baguio.

I was told that the faces of many among the audiences turned sour while that was happening, with many of them saying“apay ngay, haan da met nga kwarta dyta iwarwaras da? Kwarta met ti gobyerno!”  

At least that does not happen in Benguet.

Not yet, except for a couple of government financial assistance doled out to some organizations in La Trinidad where the funds were released through a municipal candidate who took the chance to distribute the checks to the guiltless beneficiaries who became victims of political maneuverings in the valley. As I was told these stories, I asked myself, “is this how campaigning in Baguio and Benguet has turned into?”  

The educational assistance program, according to Baguio mayoralty bet Joe Molintas, is falsely being called “scholarship program.” It is also being used as a tool to blackmail beneficiaries who are being told that the funds will stop coming if the donor-politician does not come out victorious in the May 13 elections.

Joe Molintas is right when he said it is not a “program” but merely “financial assistance” because it does not guarantee the beneficiary a four-year college course. Under a scholarship program, once the student is enrolled and becomes a beneficiary, he or she should be guaranteed a four-year scholarship grant that even goes beyond the three-year term of the donor-politician. If the politician wins again, well and good.

But if he loses, or shall we say, if Vergara and Domogan lose, the educational benefits to students in the form of financial assistance will not stop because that is not money that comes from their own pocket.

As we go through the last 15 days of the election campaign, important issues in Baguio such as the “privatization of the athletic bowl and the market” as well as other entities that can be managed well by qualified organizations in the city are back on the discussion table.

Sneaking in some of their campaign sorties, I do agree with LP Baguio congressional bet Mark Go and Joe Molintas when they called the attention of the public to be cautious of such “privatization” schemes. For me, I see it as a way to corruption as government money can easily change hands.

We have seen how privatization of the street sides have not worked as the city has not benefited from it. Although, I am certain that some officials gained something from the scheme. The infamous burned area along Magsaysay Ave. has been privatized through Jarco but up to now the public does not know just how much income does the city get.

It’s “no pee no pay” in all Burnham Park comfort rooms that are now privatized by managers who are getting richer everyday by ripping off the few pesos of citizens of all ages everytime they pee. The choice is yours. If you are not tired of the same people who have been running city hall for the last two decades, so be it. The choice is yours. You know what to lose and what to keep. –marchfianza777@yahoo.com