Sunday, June 30, 2008 ‘You can only hope your message gets across’ By Ocar C. Pineda Sun.Star Staff Reporter
YOU cannot please everyone.
Most parents eventually give their children this advice. In the case of Jonas Cabungcal Cortes, these words from his father helped him learn to make firm decisions in politics and public service.
The Mandaue City mayor, 42, is the 13th of 14 siblings. Three of them joined politics: former vice mayor Demetrio Jr. and former barangay captain Ariston. But only Jonas took the helm of the city as mayor, a position held by his father for 22 years.
Jonas completed his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the Visayas State College of Agriculture. He is married to Sarah Walker, with whom he was blessed with two children, Dimitri and Mikyla.
He had been a city councilor for two terms when he decided to run for mayor after his predecessor Thadeo Ouano, barred from reelection on his third consecutive term, decided to enlist his son Jonkie to take his place.
When asked what, out of all the advice his father gave him, served as his inspiration, Cortes said, “Public service is not an honor, not a privilege, but a commitment to service and hard work.”
Sun.Star Cebu interviewed Cortes on the eve of his first full year as a mayor.
What did you accomplish in your first year as a mayor ?
We put more focus on providing for the basic needs of our citizens, thus leading to social and economic reforms. An example is the reactivation of a number of cooperatives and support for their livelihood programs…We repaired roads.
We worked with NGOs (non-government organizations) to improve the lives of our constituents through more holistic housing projects and programs. It’s not enough to provide house and lots. Atong iapil ang (Let’s include) livelihood programs.
We are working towards our goal of having a transparent government. We reduced the city’s fuel consumption, thereby reducing our expenses and increasing our savings.
We improved our health care with the completion of our new Mandaue City hospital annex, and the distribution of 1,600 Philhealth cards to our unfortunate constituents.
We worked with our foreign and local balikbayan friends who donated books, computers and medical equipment.
Of the things you set out to do in your first year, what remains pending and why ?
What we did in our first year is to evaluate and assess the status of (the previous administration’s) projects in the city. Knowing where these projects stand allows us to know what to do next. In other words, we are putting things in its proper perspective.
Our public market is already near completion. To think that during the campaign period, poste ra nang namarog (all we could see were the columns).
Makita man sa tao nga wa ta magpabaya. (People can see that we are working on these projects). About the medium-rise housing project in Looc, we have yet to submit the income profile of the beneficiaries to the National Housing Authority. We are working on it now kay gusto ta mahuman ang maong proyekto (because we want this project completed).
As a first-time mayor, there were allegations that you are totally dependent on your lawyers and cannot decide without them.
To know the best course of action, all aspects must be considered. Not only the lawyers but also other experts in different fields (are consulted). I am not too proud to ask for advice when it will be for the benefit of the city and its people. The final decision is still mine, as it is my responsibility.
What would you consider as the most serious obstacle in your work? How did you overcome it?
I would rather see the obstacle as a challenge. My biggest challenge is the (need for a) meeting of the minds between the executive branch and the councilors. It is a continuing challenge but we will continue to persist in finding a middle ground so we can improve our city.
Nindot man sab ni, adunay check and balance. Makaingon ta nga sa syudad diay sa Mandaue buhi ang demokrasya. Sa ubang lugar bitaw ang demokrasya naa ra sa libro. (In a way, this is also good because we have check and balance. We can say that democracy is alive and well in Mandaue, unlike in other places where it exists only in books.)
You knew that on you first day, you were walking into the City Hall whose department heads may be sympathizers or appointees of the previous mayor. Do you think you are able to work effectively within that environment ?
I understand the sentiments of these people, lisod usbon ang naandan (it’s difficult to wean them away from what they’re used to). Respect is earned and it is given freely. It can never be taken by force, false promises or false security.
All the employees of the City, regardless of which administration appointed them, should know that their duty is to the City first, dili ang ilang (not to their) affiliations. This is how we as people of the City of Mandaue will earn the respect of others.
What did you change at City Hall?
We removed the climate of fear because we are sincere in bringing the government closer to the people. We plan to make a Taxpayers’ Lounge, diha sa silong sa (on the ground floor of) City Hall. This is to provide our taxpayers some comfort when going about their business at City Hall.
How do you manage to work with a council dominated by the opposition ?
Patience, a lot of it, and perseverance. We can never avoid having opposing opinions. You cannot please everyone. You can only explain your reasoning and hope that your message gets across. Persistence and never giving up. If you know that it is for the good of all, you are given courage and strength to do what is right.
What is it about being a mayor that you like least?
For me being a public servant is not a privilege. It is a commitment to a life of service and hard work. I find it hard to understand why, sometimes, some people still try to go against projects and programs that they know, in their hearts and in their minds, are good.
Some aspects of being a mayor that I don’t particularly like are: When I started to ran and when I became the mayor, my life was subject to scrutiny. My life is suddenly in a fishbowl. But I understand that it comes with the territory of being a public servant, that the people are more comfortable if they know who their mayor is.
