‘I offer myself as an alternative’

Mary Ann delos Santos
Kusug/Nacionalista Party

If you win, what are the first three bills you intend to file?

I would like to make an amendment to the law that prohibits down payments before patients can be admitted to hospitals.

In 16 years as barangay captain, I tell you, maghilak ang adlaw kon way moadto nako mangayo ug (every day, someone comes to me for help with) down payment for hospital admission.

That law, however, lacks teeth. When people are refused admission, they are content to be sent home with palliative measures. Ayum-ayuman na lang sa na. That’s the reason the mortality rate is very high. That’s why this amendment will be a priority.

Second, I intend to initiate a comprehensive health and medical program, because that’s what I see as an urgent need. Luoy gyud kaayo. This program will bring doctors and nurses, as well as medical services, right at the doorstep of every barangay. Basic health services should be accessible, such as through outpatient clinics, not just in name, but with staff and basic medical equipment and supplies. That is what is lacking. Health centers at present lack doctors, so they can only stay open for certain days. Wa gyu’y tambal bisa’g Betadine na lang (There’s no medicine, not even Betadine). There is no equipment. Most of my siblings—there are eight in the family and I’m the youngest—are in the medical field. My brother is a director one of the biggest hospitals in Chicago. He and the rest of my family helped since Tomas Osmeña stripped my barangay of services, even gasoline. The medical missions we did for the past two years…these are funded solely by my family…Senior citizens in our barangay get pneumo-vaccination. We spend for that. Wa’y bisa’g singko centavos sa gobyerno nga gigamit namo (We have not used even five centavos of the
government’s funds).

The third priority is education; it’s very important. We need a comprehensive education program for everyone, from pre-school to college, for those who cannot afford it.

Can that be done? Yes. Why not? You have to think big and dream big. Otherwise, ug diha ra ta taman, dira ra gyud ta taman (if we impose limits, then we will not get
very far).

Have you been to the north mountain barangays? Raul (Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar) has been congressman for 23 years, pero tan-awa ang da’an sa bukid (Look at the roads in the mountain barangays). There is one Sitio in Adlaon, Sitio Hagimit. We went there together with my family, for a medical mission…The residents told me that in 23 years, they never saw their congressman. I was the first politician to ever set foot in their sitio.

Do you plan to introduce any innovations in the way the pork barrel is used so that it will be spent better?

I believe in participatory governance. In my 16 years as barangay official, I have never ever been asked to sit down with the congressman, together with the people of Barangay Lahug, to talk about the needs of the barangay.

The reason, perhaps, why I have never lost in Lahug is that I am advocating participatory governance. I do my rounds all year round. I go down to the 46 sitios in my barangay, I sit down with them.

I identify the problems together with them, and then collate everything, and prioritize. Bati man gud na nga ako’y magbuot sa ilang proyekto (It would be wrong for me alone to decide what their projects should be). So I ask them what their needs are. When I ran in 2007 for mayor, Tommy distributed thousands of t-shirts in Barangay Lahug marked “Lahug is an Osmeña country.” There are 120 precincts in Lahug and Tommy Osmeña lost in every one of them, even Beverly Hills...

When I first entered politics in 1994 as barangay councilor, my father taught me: You’ll never go wrong if you go directly to the people.

How prepared are you for the challenges of working in Congress?

The barangay captain’s office is the most unique among all positions. It’s not only executive. It’s also legislative (as presiding officer of the barangay council) and judicial.

Unlike the president, the barangay captain exercises all three functions at once. So in terms of my preparation to become congresswoman of the north district, I am very prepared, given my 16 years’ experience and my educational background. I have earned two degrees. I’m a graduate of Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science and I’m a graduate of Bachelor of Laws. Congress is all about making laws and debating, which I can tackle and I can handle.

Experience is the best university.

What are the habits or traits that will help you most?

I’m very systematic, driven and focused. I’m very determined and patient, otherwise mi-quit nako, di na ko mosukol ani na race (I would have quit this race if I was not patient)…I have continued with my programs despite the harassment.

What was your reaction to former senator Sonny Osmeña’s endorsement of you?

I was astounded. I would like to thank him for his confidence in me, considering that he is an Osmeña, a relative of Raul del Mar, and a political scientist. I believe he has made a bold and intelligent move. His endorsement has given my campaign a boost…I’m still very hopeful about the last few days of the campaign. I just hope Cutie (candidate Rachel Marguerite del Mar, the incumbent congressman’s daughter) will come out, for the sake of transparency. I’ve been educating people in my sorties that it’s not Raul del Mar who’s running. If it was Raul del Mar running for office this year, I would not have run.

But it’s high time to give other people with the capability, with the potential, the opportunity to serve.

Even within the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, there are members who are more qualified, more deserving to run for Congress, than Cutie del Mar. I remember talking to one of them, who said he was interested to run, but could not.

I told him, “This country is going to the dogs because of that attitude. If you believe you are more qualified, why should you be complacent?” Life is all about risk. How would you know if you will make it or not, if you won’t try?

People have teased me about going up against the political Goliaths; first, Tommy Osmeña and now, Raul del Mar. I offer myself as an alternative candidate. For the past 23 years, the del Mars have held the congressional district’s seat. Let’s not be contented with skywalks, flyovers, health cards and burial assistance…I’m pretty sure there’s more to it. You’ve seen the markings on the skywalks? “Ipadayon ang tabang.” Who is capable of helping the people, someone who has been serving the people for 16 years, with a proven track record, or someone who has only shown herself in the district recently and who has no public service experience to speak of?

What do you think of the proposal to create a third district?

That’s good. I’m for it, especially if it will mean paying more attention to the mountain barangays. This will allow the legislator to focus on services, on what is lacking.

These are mostly basic: water, roads, transportation. These will generate employment and bring progress to the mountain barangays, pwede na to di monaog (so that mountain barangay residents won’t even have to come to the city).

Do you favor moves to amend the 1987 Constitution?

Yes. Times have changed. There are some obsolete provisions that need to be reviewed. So much has happened to the country that there are some provisions that are not functional anymore and should be scrapped. The Constitution has to be read and re-read, and deliberated on. But I do not favor a change in the form of government.

Changing the form of government is not the answer to the country’s problems. Ang tubag gyud ana, ang kaning mga tawo, ang tawo nga ibutang sa puwesto og ang tawo nga mobutang sa puwesto (The answer lies in the people we put in power, and those who elect them.) No matter how good the form of government is, it’s the people that matter.