Wednesday, March 21, 2007 Balingit: Big Brother, too By Allan Balingit On a High Note
IF THE giant network ABS-CBN has a Big Brother inside the "Bahay ni Kuya," then CSFP (City of San Fernando, Pampanga to those who don't know) also has its own at the City Council.
Alex F. Patio, dubbed the "Big Brother" of the City Council probably because of his considerable physical stature (he certainly has huge hands I can assure you that), would be seeking his second season this coming May elections, much like his famous counterpart over at the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Season II.
Similar to the success of that program, Councilor Patio certainly could be considered doing well as a first time councilor, getting noticed for his numerous resolutions and ordinances filed in just a short span of three years in office.
He was instrumental in the construction of additional public school buildings in the city when he authored a resolution allowing the administration of San Fernando to enter into a loan contract with Land Bank of the Philippines for funds for the said project.
Now parents, teachers and students are reaping the benefits of his decision, which he believed was necessary in order to resolve the increasing problem of lack of public schools buildings here.
He told me in his office during a break in the session of the council, that education is the key to our country's progress, envisioning in the near future that all students here in the City of San Fernando would eventually be going to school for free as "Iskolar ng Siyudad."
A tall order I admit, but he was still steadfast in his belief that it can be done. What is needed is perseverance he says. Well, I wouldn't want to argue with him on that one, perhaps because he surely can be an example of a guy who persevered, becoming successful despite being poor.
Patio also increased the revenue of the city through a number of legislations he worked on as chairman of the City Council ways and means committee.
A true blue Fernandino from Barangay Dolores, he authored an ordinance mandating all business establishments, investors, contractors, and the like to hire a minimum of 40 percent of their workforce from a bona fide resident of the city.
Alex recently joined some of his colleagues in the San Fernando City Council in receiving an award in Cebu, for being the "Best City Council" in Central Luzon, as they were also adjudged as one of the top three in the entire country by an award body headed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Whatever political colors you wear in this intensely anticipated elections, you would agree that the current San Fernando City Council deserves our credit for doing good work. Don't you think?
And perhaps like PBB, our big brother here also deserves a second season.
