Saboteurs

HOARDERS, profiteers, saboteurs. They belong to the same group and are engaged in what are perceived, at the least, criminal activities and are, at the most, scourge of the national economy.

First, it was sugar that was hoarded by traders, hidden from public view and consumption. Then the rice commodity became scarce. And now the liquefied petroleum gas or LPG.

Who now says the current administration is doing its darn best to put things in their right and good order? Old habits, especially the bad ones, die hard and linger long. We always go back to our evil ways no matter what prodding we hear to change and mend our ways.

So what happens to the consumers, the so-called bosses of PNoy? Well, they get shortchanged so often and are always at the receiving end of the pricing game. Now there are reports that electricity, water and power rates will be hiked and the brunt is borne, yes, by the end-users, the consumers.

As usual, the Department of Trade and Industry, the agency tasked to monitor prices of basic commodities appears helpless and hopeless to stem the tide of spiked prices. All that it does is monitor and nothing more, although it has some coercive powers to make traders toe the line. Er, what else is new?

Who says relief from the hardship is forthcoming? As it is, nothing much for the better can be seen and felt. The vicious cycle of misery and want continues even as the new administration promises change.

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Mabalacat Anti Drug Abuse Council (MADAC). By virtue of Executive Order No. 19, Series of 2011, dated December 19, 2011, the Madac was created to "function as citizen's arm in aiding the PNP, PDEA and the municipality to identify and subsequently to arrest through a buy-bust operation of prohibited and regulated drug users and pushers within this jurisdiction". It may have been inspired by the relentless efforts of Mabalacat local officials to weed out the drug menace in the municipality and once headed by the Drug Czar, the late San Francisco Punong Barangay Marcelino "Boy" Cruz who, by the way, died in the line of duty. Recognizing the need "to prevent the proliferation of prohibited drugs and neutralize this public menace (that) threatens our society" the established drug abuse council is composed of Mayor Marino Morales at its Chairman; Dr. Oscar Aurelio, SB member, as Vice Chairman and members Ira D. Morales, SKPP President, Armando Sanchez, Jr., the hard working and former San Francisco Ex-O, Rodolfo Abella and all punong barangays of Mabalacat. Madac should not rest on its laurels and should continue on with its mandated tasks to eliminate the drug menace.

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So the public may know. It is good practice that the GSO headed by Jun Magbalot has posted documents at Marina and same documents at Xevera municipal hall, in the exercise of maximum transparency. This has the imprimatur of Mayor Boking Morales who observes the full letter of the Local Government Code which mandates publication of the financial transactions of the local government unit.

This gesture is admirable and should be religiously observed by Jun and company. This way, the public's curiosity and anxiety will be appeased and will not entertain doubts as to the sincerity of the officials handling the financial affairs of the new city. Any doubting Tomas can look at the documents for scrutiny such as: Annual Budget, Income and Disbursements and Results of Biddings and Awards. Other documents tacked on the bulletin board are: 20% component of IRA utilization, Statement of Debt Service, Annual GAD accomplishments, Quarterly Statement of Cash Flow, Bid Results on Civil Works and Goods and Services and, most importantly, LGU compliance on full disclosure of local budget and finances and bids and public offering and supplementary procurement plan.

Who now says somebody is hiding something? Not in Mabalacat City.

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Like her superior, Angeles City Mayor Edgardo "EdPam" Pamintuan, Vice Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting has reported on her accomplishments for the city residents on health, education, environment and women and barangay empowerment through relevant and sensible legislation. Complementing the good mayor's proactive programs, Vicky and her fellow Sangguniang Panlungsod members have passed several important ordinances "that will surely benefit the city". More beneficial projects are lined up by Mayor Ed, Vice Mayor Vicky and her group. Agyu da talaga.