Hindrance to progress

MANILA, Philippines - The appearance of multi-million peso infomercials or political ads in print and broadcast media particularly in television is an indication that the 2010 election process has set in.

Through your prestigious newspaper, maybe it’s time to remind the aspiring candidates for governor, city mayor and municipal mayor in our province of Nueva Ecija of the need to form credible and winnable line-ups. At least, if they and their fellow candidates in their respective tickets win, they will not encounter the reported problem of incumbent Nueva Ecija governor Aurelio Umali with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the provincial legislative body.

A former congressman, Gov. Umali defeated former Vice-Governor Boyet Joson, a member of the powerful Joson clan last 2007 elections. However, the Josons won in the vice gubernatorial race and retained the majority seats in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Working with an opposition presided and dominated Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Gov. Umali is finding it difficult to push through his programs and projects for the province. The apparent lack of collaboration between the provincial executive and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan indeed, stands in the way of the fulfillment of Gov. Umali’s last election promise to bring real peace and progress to the Novo Ecijanos. Worse, this brought Gov. Umali a string of graft suits before the office of the Ombudsman arising allegedly from his failure to secure the required approval of his administration’s projects from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

What is happening in Nueva Ecija is the opposite in the province’s component city of Cabanatuan. Run by the Vergaras since 1998, first by former three-term Mayor Jay and now by Mayor Alvin. Cabanatuan, a heretofore underdeveloped and politically notorious city, is today one of the country’s best mid-sized cities “in which to live, work, and do business,” according to a recent survey by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM).

Humbled and honored by their city’s achievements, the Vergaras attributed the feat mainly to their administrations’ good working relationship with the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, majority of whom are their partymates.

With a supportive city council, the Vergaras’ administrations were able to institute essential reforms as well as implement programs and projects that made Cabanatuan become what it is today.

Prospective aspirants for local government positions including re-electionists should take the cue and learn from the Vergaras’ experience in local governance if they aim to accomplish — once they get elected — the boring promise of real progress and development that the people expect to hear from them this coming election. — PRUDENCIO E. MAGPAYO, Cabanatuan City