28 September 2005
OPINION: Benjie, the Biyahero
The Pen Speaks
By Danny O. Sagun
COASTAL town mayors including Dagupan’s Benjie Lim left Wednesday for Taiwan purportedly on a study tour of the island’s rich aquaculture industry. Now, why do they have to go to that place considering that our country is not bereft of experts who, we learned, actually just transferred the technology to the Taiwan technicians? Only that the Taiwanese improved on it while most of our fisherfolk here contented themselves with the traditional or primitive system
The study tour may become just another junket as were the previous lakbay aral here and abroad by local executives and legislators. Remember the trips to Boracay and Bohol by some councilors from Binmaley? We heard no positive results after those junkets.
***
Before he left, Lim told mediamen expenses for his constant trips abroad came from his own pocket, adding that he was not just loitering or merrymaking but moving things for the city’s good.
The mayor was indeed noted often absent in his office and people just get informed he might already be in the U.S. or China. Several time, Vice-Mayor Alvin Fernandez was left to man City Hall.
What’s BSL doing in China, the birthplace of his father? Well, he might be seeing his relatives there. Or he might be taking care of a business. Rumor has it that he is partnering with a close political mentor of his on a certain business venture. Lim’s stint as general manager of the Philippine Duty-Free Ship during the Ramos years has established his connection far and wide. But he might be working really for the city’s interest, who can tell? BSL is a human dynamo. He was quoted as saying he was inviting investors for the long delayed fish processing plant in Bonuan the funding of which from the national government has yet to come although the President herself made the pledge during a visit in her early years in office.
Lim could not just wait endlessly for funds for the project from the national government particularly now that he had severed his ties with GMA when he joined calls for her resignation last July. So he must be looking for possible help outside, particularly from his father’s countrymen, that’s a fair guess. Is Benjie’s absence at City Hall already affecting his governance or performance?
After initiating bold changes in say, the traffic system to include the lights, park improvement at the city plaza, and renovations at City Hall including reassignments of offices threat, the city’s scene seems to have practically remained the same.
Some people say the city administration got “burned” with such big projects as acquiring the deteriorating Mac Adore building and construction of a new market-cum-mall involving huge funding. The new Malimgas market continues to suffer in terms of patronage and the Mac Adore building remains an unsightly abandoned edifice. What happened to the proposed transfer of government offices there after the construction of the Malimgas market?
Perhaps, Lim should limit his overseas trips and staying more at home to prevent the early deterioration of his grand projects. Sayang met kasi.
By Danny O. Sagun
COASTAL town mayors including Dagupan’s Benjie Lim left Wednesday for Taiwan purportedly on a study tour of the island’s rich aquaculture industry. Now, why do they have to go to that place considering that our country is not bereft of experts who, we learned, actually just transferred the technology to the Taiwan technicians? Only that the Taiwanese improved on it while most of our fisherfolk here contented themselves with the traditional or primitive system
The study tour may become just another junket as were the previous lakbay aral here and abroad by local executives and legislators. Remember the trips to Boracay and Bohol by some councilors from Binmaley? We heard no positive results after those junkets.
***
Before he left, Lim told mediamen expenses for his constant trips abroad came from his own pocket, adding that he was not just loitering or merrymaking but moving things for the city’s good.
The mayor was indeed noted often absent in his office and people just get informed he might already be in the U.S. or China. Several time, Vice-Mayor Alvin Fernandez was left to man City Hall.
What’s BSL doing in China, the birthplace of his father? Well, he might be seeing his relatives there. Or he might be taking care of a business. Rumor has it that he is partnering with a close political mentor of his on a certain business venture. Lim’s stint as general manager of the Philippine Duty-Free Ship during the Ramos years has established his connection far and wide. But he might be working really for the city’s interest, who can tell? BSL is a human dynamo. He was quoted as saying he was inviting investors for the long delayed fish processing plant in Bonuan the funding of which from the national government has yet to come although the President herself made the pledge during a visit in her early years in office.
Lim could not just wait endlessly for funds for the project from the national government particularly now that he had severed his ties with GMA when he joined calls for her resignation last July. So he must be looking for possible help outside, particularly from his father’s countrymen, that’s a fair guess. Is Benjie’s absence at City Hall already affecting his governance or performance?
After initiating bold changes in say, the traffic system to include the lights, park improvement at the city plaza, and renovations at City Hall including reassignments of offices threat, the city’s scene seems to have practically remained the same.
Some people say the city administration got “burned” with such big projects as acquiring the deteriorating Mac Adore building and construction of a new market-cum-mall involving huge funding. The new Malimgas market continues to suffer in terms of patronage and the Mac Adore building remains an unsightly abandoned edifice. What happened to the proposed transfer of government offices there after the construction of the Malimgas market?
Perhaps, Lim should limit his overseas trips and staying more at home to prevent the early deterioration of his grand projects. Sayang met kasi.
