Monday, March 10, 2008 'People tend to call us spare tires' By Oscar C. Pineda Sun.Star Staff Reporter
CARLO Pontico Cabahug Fortuna, grandson of Sotero Cabahug, has been in politics for nearly 10 years. At 26, he ran for city councilor in May 1998 and on June 30, was proclaimed.
The second sibling in a brood of four, Fortuna was born on Dec. 21, 1971 to Pontico Echavez Fortuna, himself a former Mandaue City councilor, and Cirilita Briones Cabahug-Fortuna.
Still a bachelor, Fortuna is known for being accommodating to his constituents.
One of his few handicaps is that he does not have the luxury of being politically close to his chief executive. Their views often clash, but to him this merely shows democracy is working in their part of the country.
Next month, Fortuna is expected to seek the presidency of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines (VMLP) against, among others, Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, a fellow lawyer.
(Sun.Star requested a parallel interview with Vice Mayor Rama, but he declined.)
What characteristics do you have that will help you win the national presidency of the VMLP? Why should vice mayors vote for you?
I am an approachable person, a friend to all, and I make everyone feel that we are all equal. I’m an action man. I walk the talk and am sensitive to the concerns and sentiments of my members.
What are the advantages of being VMLP president? Will it bring benefits to your constituents in Mandaue City?
Yes, it will bring benefits to the city of Mandaue.
It will bring recognition to my local government unit and raise it to the national map.
It raises the local government unit’s chances of receiving government programs, (as well as) projects and investments from foreign and local investors.
Do you think endorsements from local officials will help you win?
Yes, very significantly. Like in any political exercise, people will rate and assess you based on your acceptance and trustworthiness among townmates, officials of your city and province.
What makes you more qualified than the two other possible candidates, including Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, for the post?
I suppose my experience, programs implemented during my term as Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL) president from 2004 to 2007, plus exposure I gained being Ulap (Union of Local Authorities in the Philippines) secretary general.
During my term, I was able to prove that I can make the PCL financially strong and liquid. I left the league with P14 million in its coffers.
During my term in the league, I launched three one-of-its-kind nationwide programs with partners in various government agencies and private organizations. The first two are the Search for Outstanding Councilors in the Philippines and the Search for Outstanding Sangguniang Bayan and Sangguniang Panlungsod in the Philippines.
The third one is the launching of the Local Legislative Toolkit, which is still being used as reference materials for all Sanggunian (councils) in the country.
If you weren’t running, would you vote for Mike Rama? Why?
Yes, he is a good friend of mine.
How would you convince others to vote for Rama?
I will tell them he is a good friend of mine. (Laughs, then shifts to a more serious tone) He has shown his passion in the league and I think his commitment is unquestioned.
Are you sad about the situation that you and Rama are in?
Yes I am. I am hoping that we will find a common ground come election time.
What are your plans for VMLP if you win as national president?
My plans for the league will be directed towards the organization, members and external relations: (1) increasing membership, with good standing, to 98 to 100 percent to make the league strong and liquid; (2) devolving more powers to the local chapter; (3) sharing of funds and revenues with the local chapter; and (4) To upgrade personal and professional status of league members.
To upgrade their personal status I will enhance their current benefits like insurance, hospitalization benefits, death and legal services. Then I will expand the benefits to immediate members of the family.
Consistent with transparency, finances will be duly audited by an external auditor and reported to league members regularly.
To upgrade their professional status, there will be a continuing legislative education program for vice mayors.
People tend to call us spare tires. I’d like to shift that paradigm and show the two functions of a vice mayor: as Sanggunian presiding officer and in some aspects, as chief executive.
So we will introduce training, seminars and experience-sharing in order to know how to steer the Sanggunian or the local government unit. Because sometimes, in the absence of the mayor, we become the acting mayor, designated mayor or officer-in-charge, so we will prepare ourselves to become mayors soon.
As for external matters, we have to make the league more proactive in policy-making in the national scene, by actively advocating local governance and local autonomy and introducing reforms on how to strengthen the Sanggunian.
