CEBU - Responsive, Efficient and Dependable.
These three words can best describe the young representative of the Cebu fifth district, Congressman Ramon “Red” H. Durano VI, who is celebrating his 40th birthday today.
A scion of one of the politically entrenched families in the country, Representative Red Durano is the eldest son of Danao City Mayor Ramonito Durano III and the brother of Department of Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano.
He is one congressman who does not sleep in his job but is ever sensitive to the needs of his constituents.
He delivers the services that are expected from a public servant like him, a way of etching his name in the minds of his people.
The FREEMAN sat down with Durano as he tells the public about how he takes care of his district.
TF: What were your accomplishments for 2008?
DURANO: I can not go into specifics. To name some, duna tay infrastructure projects-asphalting and road concreting, construction of classrooms, providing health care benefits and insurance for our constituents and financial assistance to our cooperatives.
Duna sab tay scholarship programs nga gihatod nato together with CHED and TESDA. In fact, naa tay Memorandum of Agreement with TESDA for skills training programs. I gave P1.5 Million and TESDA shelled out P3.5 million for the 10 towns and one city in our district. That was just for 2008. This project is ongoing.
TF: What is the RED Program and how is it doing? (RED is the Acronym for Responsive, Efficient, Dependable)
DURANO: Actually, RED Program represents the different activities that we have in our district. It has been on going since 2005. For example, kaning atong scholarship programs ug ang atong medical assistance in Vicente Sotto Hospital. In 2008 alone, millions ang atong gipundo sa Vicente Sotto para magamit sa mga tawo nga nagkalisud ug pagpatambal. Ang gikinahanglan ra sa mga tawo nga mo-avail, ang proof that they are from the fifth district.
TF: How are you helping your constituents cope with the global financial crisis?
DURANO: This global financial crisis, the most affected g’yud sa amo is Mitsumi which is on electronics. At least 4,000 workers had been laid off. So what we try to do is stimulate the economy for 2009 by implementing 60% of our projects in the first quarter of this year. And padayonon sab nato ang atong financial assistance to cooperatives where they will also provide livelihood trainings, seminars and workshops.
TF: What are your long-term goals for the 5th district?
DURANO: Ang atong long term goal is ang full development of the district. Not just in terms of infrastructure but also development of the people. Dako kayo ko ug suporta aning mga Coop kay dako man gyud ni ug matabang sa community sa ilang panginabuhi.
To develop our people, we need to start with the youth. We will provide them with education by continuously providing classrooms and giving scholarships to those who deserve. Also, we will have programs that could help develop their talents in sports or arts and culture.
TF: What is your advocacy?
DURANO: Since my background is business, I would encourage these small medium enterprises. Filipinos are known for our creativity pero if buhaton ug business, they don’t know how to start it. So I have to find ways to enhance this like the first Christmas Bazaar that we did last December which catered to Small Businesses. So kadto nakatabang na ta ug unsaon nila pag-start…nakahatag ta ug idea para sa ilang mga negosyo. That’s why I am encouraging the LGUs to support this SMEs kay in the long run, if ma-successful, it would benefit them.
TF: What is your wish for yourself on your birthday?
DURANO: Wish nako nga matuman nako ang tanang expectations sa mga tawo nako. I’m really trying my best and I really wish that I can meet their expectations. — AJ Dela Torre / LPM (THE FREEMAN)