Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Mercado: Tony Mamac's model urban village By Ram Mercado First Person
BALIBAGO, Angeles City's largest barangay, is the center of the hospitality industry in Pampanga.
It is in fact the Rest and Recreation Center of the US military forces stationed in or in-transit at Clark Air Base for many decades until Clark Field was devastated by the 1991 Pinatubo eruption, with the resulting departure of the US military thereafter.
As one of the three top progressive communities in Angeles, Balibago today (Tuesday) has chosen at its village chieftain, a bemedalled police officer, now Barangay Chairman Rodelio "Tony" Mamac.
The residents' demand for peace in a barangay that attracts multi-ethnic groups, foreign nationals, and a cross-section of fortune seekers, including criminals and undesirable elements, has been wisely met after electing former police major Tony Mamac as their barangay chairman.
Seven months in office, Mamac has made remarkable progress in maintaining and sustaining a satisfactory level of discipline and order in this community of 45,000. He has used strong-arm measures against crime prevention, having identified problem groups, monitored strangers' movement, and undertook surveillance of night visitors, part-time residents, and new arrivals in the various housing areas of the barangay.
Mamac's immediate programs include sustained peace and order; general sanitation and cleanliness of the environs, and putting up a sense of order and discipline in the streets and public places to enhance tourism promotion efforts of the City Government.
For the first time in the city, Mamac has used senior citizens' power to implement his street beautification and cleanliness campaign, using personal resources to raise funds to pay the aging workers.
Mamac wanted to rid Balibago of the unsightly power lines hanging helter-skelter along principal streets. He considers these as unacceptable public eyesores, which reflect urban blight, like the presence of squatters in the village, mendicants, and professional beggars.
The City Council's loss, with the defeat of Mamac in the 2007 elections as aspiring councilor, is Balibago's gain. He has started expanding the basic foundations of a model community in the making, first with the building and improvement of roads, and public office infrastructures like a modern barangay hall to house its officials and personnel.
To prevent flooding, he has set in place a good drainage system; installed public toilets to instill sanitations habits; programmed continuous repairs and improvement of interior streets to hasten easy access to these poorer sections.
Already in the blueprint is a fire station to be established adjacent the police station inside CDC frontage area. "I want business and residents to have a peace of mind knowing a fire station of our own can be on call during any fire," he said.
He cited the problem of distance of the city firefighting units. "With a well-equipped fire station, highly trained personnel, and standard fire trucks, we will feel secure and safe, and not purely rely on Anthony Dee's firefighting units and the city firemen in case of big fires," he stressed.
Mamac bared his program of government during an interview with Sonny Lopez of Aksyon Central Luzon, Pampanga's pioneer TV talk show. He is currently doing mediation work between disputants Diamond Homeowners Association and several resident-members so that their conflict may be resolved amicably.
Tony Mamac is presently City Mayor Francis Nepomuceno's adviser/consultant on traffic management.
Residents owe Mamac their appreciation for the smooth and orderly traffic flow in major thoroughfares, which were once problem areas with congested traffic.
Mamac's strong focus to achieve tangible results in Balibago, guided by his laudable work ethics, and motivated by the vision of establishing a model village in the city seemed to be compensatory actions owing to his defeat as City Council bet under Nepo's ticket.
He sees Balibago as a principally growing and expanding business center facing a huge police problem. Here, people and enterprises make money, which provides endless opportunities for material success, he said.
For this reason, undesirable elements, criminals of all persuasions are magnetized to the place, like moths to a brilliant light, he said.
"I shall be the guardian of our businessmen, residents, and foreign nationals staying here," he said, warning intruders, opportunities, and even former political associates not to abuse his hospitality and friendship.
Tony is considered the father of the nightclub entertainment industry in Region 3, being the owner of the popular Fairways Club, a high-end watering hole.
Many Angelenos were not aware of Mamac's finer credentials during the recent polls. He was a Sergeant Major, Intelligence/Opns/Investigation Officer; Tactical officer, Chief of the Academic Division; Opns/Training Office; Intelligence Officer, Regional Narcotics Office; Chief of Human Resources and Doctrine Development, and Commandant, STU at Camp Olivas.
Tony taught at the Assumption University for 9 years; his alma mater (B.S. Management major). He holds a master's degree in Education, major in Psychology, finished the course for MA in Business Administration, and a senior student in law at the Harvardian College.
As a doer, focused on results, his leadership abilities were commended by his colleagues when he was president of Mimosa Golfers Association; president, Pampanga Golfers Association; president, Urdaneta City Entertainment Association; president, San Fernando City Entertainment Assn; and President, Sta. Maria Village Association.
For gallantry in action and his outstanding police achievements, Tony Mamac was awarded the Gold Cross medal; two Bronze Cross medals; three PNP Heroism medals; four Military merit medals; 2 PNP merit medals; One AFP Silver Wing Medal; six Military Commendation medals, three PNP commendation medals, and 11 other AFP/PNP Service awards.
He is today acknowledged as Most Outstanding Barangay Chairman of Angeles City.
