The last frontier

PUERTO PRINCESA – Journalists visiting this place which has been called the last frontier of the country because of its conservation program cannot help praising Mayor Edward Hagedorn who volunteers the information he was a one-time illegal logger and jueteng operator. So he knows all the tricks of the rackets and therefore is an effective law enforcer on the problems of this beautiful city in the South with only 300,000 inhabitants.

With ULAP Councilor Elmer Datuin, president of the Councilors League of the Philippines and Raul Lambino I finally met the exemplary mayor who cleaned up Puerto Princesa and never looked back since. We had come as part of nationwide sorties to inform the local officials as well as the general electorate on Charter change . . . He stumbled on a clean and green (later adopted by former First Lady Ming Ramos nationwide) drive because the city had no money when he took over. The kitty was emptied by his predecessors and the council did not want to cooperate with him. He had to prove himself fast not only as a good mayor but an outstanding one. It became the cleanest city in the country. He laughs that a clean and green drive was born of necessity. It was the only thing he could do without money. ‘Broom and dustpan’ were all it took. To his surprise the people rallied behind him because he impressed them as a doer or perhaps that he came at the right time when the people were ready for a new administrator with new ideas.

Some visiting friends from abroad got a fine for throwing a cigarette butt on the street. The trick was to enlist the citizens to help him. Hagedorn offered rewards to anyone who apprehended violators. One violator was chain smoking Senator Rodolfo Biazon who was surprised when a group of avid citizens tailed him across town. Thinking he had won their hearts, he drew them to a prolonged conversation but first he had to get rid of his cigarette butt and tossed it right in front of them. Sir, huli. You have to pay a fine. He refused but subsequently returned to pay the fine when told that he would not win any votes in Puerto Princesa.

At the Cha-cha meeting he made sure the audience of barangay captains, SK and district officials paid attention closely to what was being said by giving special awards to those who could answer questions from the panel after the presentation. Neat. Puerto Princesa is a good example of a place which would flourish under a parliamentary federal system and its efficient mayor knows it.

Hagedorn is one of those mavericks who start from less honorable beginnings to become an exemplary leader. Part of his conversion includes his realization that he would not go very far unless we changed the country’s structure and this could only be made by Charter change. Once, President Erap was a close friend and so was the late FPJ who made a movie out of his life. He learned the lesson when after campaigning hard for opposition senators, Sen. Loi Estrada and Jamby Madrigal, they did not even deign to receive him when he visited the Senate week after week with requests for funds for Puerto Princesa’s projects. He understands now that more could be accomplished if local authorities were more independent and self-sustaining rather than waiting for crumbs from high and mighty legislators with no time for them except during elections. He pointed to national roads that can only be fixed by imperial Manila and has delayed his infrastructure program. I have no doubt Puerto Princesa will fly once the Charter obstacles are removed. The city after all, is where two sites were named by UNESCO as world heritage to be preserved – the Tubbataha reefs and the 8.5-kilometer long Underground River.

Hagedorn has many plans for the city’s eco-tourism but he is keeping these close to his chest until they have the infrastructure to sustain it. He wants the city to be ready for the thousands of tourists (already increasing since the tsunami) who will come. To be ready means to make sure it preserves its natural beauty – verdant forests, powder white beaches, clean air and widest array of the freshest fish. At the same time, he is making sure he will have the technology to meet the demands of a modern city, (I sent my column to STAR last Friday through one of the computers in a huge air-conditioned coliseum he has built for the city. In one of the rooms was a computerized center similar to 911 to receive emergency calls).

If the suspected killer of Batul has been apprehended its thanks to Hagedorn’s order to Police Chief Superintendent Delfin Genio to get the killer within 48 hours whatever it takes. He put up a P500,000 reward anxious that this is solved quickly because he had been one of those criticized by the former broadcaster now politician. He had many quarrels with Batul in the past, but told dyPR that he was saddened by the death of the commentator. It was not his style, he said. "I have always sought the protection of Dong Batul ever since because if something happened to him all eyes would be on me and that would be bad for the image of Puerto Princesa," the mayor said.

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While every consideration must be given to members of both Houses of Congress to come to an agreement on Charter change, recent talks at the Manila Polo Club bode ill. It is a pointless exercise. When private and personal causes are above the nation’s interest, no agreement can be expected between the brawling legislators. Charter change will have to be forced on them. The Senate’s agreement to a constituent assembly provided the two Houses voted separately is a ruse. I hope ULAP, Sigaw ng Bayan and the Advocacy Commission (USA) are not deluded or flag in their efforts as what increasingly looks like the only way to amend the Constitution. Indeed, they should double their efforts.

At this point the People’s Initiative has become not just a way to amend the Constitution, but a demonstration of the sovereignty of the people. That is what Congress is trying to stop when they pretend they are cooperating. As many Filipinos must keep signing on, even if the requirements of 12 percent nationwide and 3 percent in every district have been met. I am afraid the People’s Initiative today is the EDSA of our time. It is being bruited about that the Supreme Court will have no choice but to review the Santiago decision in the face of such an overwhelming number of verified signatures.

Apologies to Marawi City Mayor Solitario Ali. My column on that very successful sortie omitted his name when he had in fact made all the security arrangements and was our host reminded Dan Macarambon who is our resident Muslim in the Advocacy Campaign and Ronald Adamat, a stalwart for the rights of indigenous peoples who were also in Marawi City. That only means we will back, Mr. Mayor so we can make amends for that very successful meeting. See you soon.

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My e-mail is [email protected]