Stalled economic growth

I read in your newspaper that Bacolod City recently received awards and citations from the national government and private institutions. Topping these awards is the one granted by the Asian Institute of Management for having the “Best Compliance with Government Mandated Plans” on the responsiveness of local government units, in line with the 2009 Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project.

I envy the Bacolod residents for having a multi-awarded city, Cabanatuan, our beloved city could have also earned and garnered this year similar prestigious awards if only its progressive operation and development had not been hampered and derailed by the law limiting the term of elective local government officials to only three.

A once sleepy and violence-wracked metropolis, Cabanatuan was managed by Julius Cesar Vergara for nine consecutive years. Vergara was elected mayor in 1998 and reelected successively in 2001 and 2004. During his term, Cabanatuan had experienced its first ever unprecedented peace, economic growth and development. Capping his productive years in office was the twin-award given by Asian Institute of Management for Cabanatuan for being one of the country’s top performing and competitive cities and the World Bank for being a development model.

Having consummated the three-term limit, Vergara was barred from running in the 2007 elections. As a result, his administration’s high-impact development programs and projects ‘grounded to a halt’.

Now back to his mayoral post after winning in this year’s May elections, our hardworking mayor said he is resuming the disrupted operation and/or implementation of his administration’s development programs and projects which he added will hopefully bring back to Cabanatuan the prestigious status of a standout city.