27 December 2005
OPINION: Mangaldan’s ‘peryahan’ mess
THE PEN SPEAKS
Danny O. Sagun
WE ARE amused by that report quoting Mangaldan Councilor Jessie de Guzman as saying he has received P5,000 from one “Engineer Flores” purportedly to facilitate the passage of an ordinance that will allow the use of the public plaza for peryahan starting this month up to March for the town fiesta. Vice-Mayor Bernardo Abalos, who was acting mayor at that time, vehemently denied De Guzman’s claim saying testily that the matter won’t stand unless the money was marked.
We now recall the frank admission of San Fabian Liga ng mga Barangay head Roland Villegas of having been offered not just a few thousand pesos for the speedy passage of a measure authorizing one entity to set up a water district in that town. If we recall right, Villegas’ brother Riby, the vice-mayor, strongly belied the claim of his younger brother. At least there are still public officials in our midst who are ready to spill the beans, if need be, although they would surely be subjected to scorn and ridicule by their colleagues, peers and friends for squealing.
Their motives are suspect too as the public knows who they are, as in the case of De Guzman and Villegas. De Guzman, it is recalled, has figured in some controversial spiteful actions in the town, while Villegas was tagged as a jueteng lord before although nothing substantial on this ever came out. Personal backgrounds notwithstanding, we commend them for their courage in exposing alleged irregularities.
*****
Mangaldan Mayor Hermie Romero, fresh from Singapore, heaped praises on that city-state for its cleanliness and orderliness. Shall we expect the mayor then (and the other fourth district mayors who joined that observation tour sponsored by House Speaker Joe de Venecia) to copy and implement in his turf even just a little of what he had seen in Singapore?
And yet, we hear of this controversial ordinance passed by the sangguniang bayan authorizing him to enter into an agreement with a peryahan operator that will just negate the plans and projects for the improvement and beautification of the public plaza, the window and attraction of any town.
The plaza, during the time of the late Mayor Bening Gubatan, was already teeming with trees and ornamental plants. Peryahan activities were located elsewhere. When former mayor Tito Sarzaba came to power, we were aghast to see the felling of the trees. Those activities usually seen during town fiestas to include shows and gambling sprees were back with a vengeance at the plaza. Many cried foul.
Romero refused to comment on De Guzman’s claim about bribery saying he has yet to get the facts. He also clarified he has yet to act on the ordinance as he wanted to consult the sanggunian first.
The mayor appears to be caught in the middle considering the court complaint field by three lawyers from the town who reminded the town officials about an agreement forged earlier for the proper use of the public plaza. We think the mayor should spare the plaza from further damages as a result of accommodating that peryahan operator. He can do a Benjie Lim or a Ferdie Calimlim of Dagupan and Mapandan, respectively. Look at the plazas of these two mayors’ localities, they are the pride of their city and town.
Danny O. Sagun
WE ARE amused by that report quoting Mangaldan Councilor Jessie de Guzman as saying he has received P5,000 from one “Engineer Flores” purportedly to facilitate the passage of an ordinance that will allow the use of the public plaza for peryahan starting this month up to March for the town fiesta. Vice-Mayor Bernardo Abalos, who was acting mayor at that time, vehemently denied De Guzman’s claim saying testily that the matter won’t stand unless the money was marked.
We now recall the frank admission of San Fabian Liga ng mga Barangay head Roland Villegas of having been offered not just a few thousand pesos for the speedy passage of a measure authorizing one entity to set up a water district in that town. If we recall right, Villegas’ brother Riby, the vice-mayor, strongly belied the claim of his younger brother. At least there are still public officials in our midst who are ready to spill the beans, if need be, although they would surely be subjected to scorn and ridicule by their colleagues, peers and friends for squealing.
Their motives are suspect too as the public knows who they are, as in the case of De Guzman and Villegas. De Guzman, it is recalled, has figured in some controversial spiteful actions in the town, while Villegas was tagged as a jueteng lord before although nothing substantial on this ever came out. Personal backgrounds notwithstanding, we commend them for their courage in exposing alleged irregularities.
*****
Mangaldan Mayor Hermie Romero, fresh from Singapore, heaped praises on that city-state for its cleanliness and orderliness. Shall we expect the mayor then (and the other fourth district mayors who joined that observation tour sponsored by House Speaker Joe de Venecia) to copy and implement in his turf even just a little of what he had seen in Singapore?
And yet, we hear of this controversial ordinance passed by the sangguniang bayan authorizing him to enter into an agreement with a peryahan operator that will just negate the plans and projects for the improvement and beautification of the public plaza, the window and attraction of any town.
The plaza, during the time of the late Mayor Bening Gubatan, was already teeming with trees and ornamental plants. Peryahan activities were located elsewhere. When former mayor Tito Sarzaba came to power, we were aghast to see the felling of the trees. Those activities usually seen during town fiestas to include shows and gambling sprees were back with a vengeance at the plaza. Many cried foul.
Romero refused to comment on De Guzman’s claim about bribery saying he has yet to get the facts. He also clarified he has yet to act on the ordinance as he wanted to consult the sanggunian first.
The mayor appears to be caught in the middle considering the court complaint field by three lawyers from the town who reminded the town officials about an agreement forged earlier for the proper use of the public plaza. We think the mayor should spare the plaza from further damages as a result of accommodating that peryahan operator. He can do a Benjie Lim or a Ferdie Calimlim of Dagupan and Mapandan, respectively. Look at the plazas of these two mayors’ localities, they are the pride of their city and town.
