Monday, September 22, 2008 Pangan: The long-running feud By Benjie R. Pangan At Close Range
MISCOMMUNICATION begins when the open lines falter and end. Misunderstanding sets in when communication stops and fades. This situation prevails at the Pampanga provincial Capitol and no amount of appeasement seems to assuage the animosities existing between the executive branch on one hand and the legislative on the other.
Add to the confusion the dissatisfaction of almost all of the town mayors and their supporters and you will get a sorry picture of the provincial governance.
This long-running feud between the priest governor and members of the Provincial Board bears no good results for both offices. The stalemate only drags down the performance rating of the province on matters of trade, economy and overall administrative and operational activities. Say, do some of us still remember Pampanga on the top of the ladder some years ago?
Observers note and feel the hard stances being put up by the "warring" camps -- no one wants to break the impasse or bow to the other's wishes, as if doing so means loss of face, pride and competence! Whither thou goest, humility as a virtue? Who is to blame for the stalemate in the first place? Cannot the impasse be broken in favor of public service and delivery of basic services? Who's gonna utter Mea Culpa first?
* * * * *
I was impressed by the report of Fourth District Representative Anna York Bondoc-Sagum when interviewed by veteran broadcaster Alberto "Boy" Santiago at DWRW last week.
The good doctor and better half of San Luis Mayor Jay Sagum batted for transparency and no nonsense accomplishment of infra-projects in her district and wanted more roads to be done and projects implemented and completed on time to allow faster travel between towns in her area of jurisdiction.
For Congresswoman Bondoc-Sagum, there is no substitute for hard work and good planning for constituents whom she had sworn to serve.
Equally commendable is Third District Congressman Aurelio "Dong" D. Gonzales, Jr., what with his pet Bacolor rehabilitation bill now approved and soon to become a law. When this happens, the transformation of the once lahar-ravaged town will begin in earnest and the Bacolorenos will set in place the glory their town once had and will again have once the rehab work is completed.
Bacolor, once the capital of the country and the home of great men and women, will become known once more for its storied past, history and prominence.
* * * * *
The show of support and encouragement given me by my siblings, co-workers and well wishers last Friday was overwhelming and this space is so inadequate for me to thank all of them. But, off the bat, I'd like to mention: Alex Dy Reyes and his staff at Cyber City, Betty Jose of NLEx, minus Boboy Valles who was indisposed, Katrina and Philip Tan of Hausland, Jerry Arenas and Mac Salta of Aresun Trading, Board Member Tars Halili who gave an inspirational talk to my poor beneficiaries and Mayor Boking Morales who spoke to job applicants during our mini job fair, SB members Benny Jocson, Christian Halili, Eddie Sotto, Oscar Aurelio and Froylan Galang, Municipal Accountant Ted David, Budget Officer Roger Tanglao who called me up to say he cannot come due to illness and MA Rosan Pacquia, Atty. Jojo Rivera, Bien Mateo of SM, Punong Barangay Atlas Morales and Jimmy Jimenez and his kagawads, Roman "Aspog" Pontillas, mother- and-daughter tandem Lourdes and Tere Ragasas, Haidee Dizon of Ace Call Center, Sy Maglalang and Puring Gomez of MSWD, May Aurelio and Atoy de Leon of MAO and others who conveyed their messages through text like Atty. Eddie Rivera, GM Romy P. Calara, Angeles City Mayor Francis Blueboy Nepomuceno and VM Vicky Vega. Thanks a lot, guys, you made and completed my day!
