I FEEL blessed that God has given me the opportunity to become a court-annexed mediator. As a mediator and peacemaker, I learned not just in book and PowerPoint presentations the art of negotiation and dialogs—means of moving parties in conflict toward a mutually acceptable outcome. Dialogs in areas affected by conflict are ways of bridging divides and bringing communities together to heal divisions.
That’s why I am aghast that Mayor Evelio Leonardia has politicized the Bacolod Anti-Baha Alliance as the political arm of former mayor Monico Puentevella.
“They are the same persons complaining the floods during my administration, but during the time of Puentevella, they are so quiet,” Leonardia said.
I congratulate Jean Trebol and the Bacolod Anti-Baha Alliance for ignoring the mayor’s cranky accusation. No one can deny that Bacolod experienced severe flooding early this month. Quipped a local resident, from the City of Smiles, the city can be called BAHA-colod.
Still, allow me to congratulate City Administrator John Orola Jr. and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials led by Assistant District Engineer Leah Jamero turned fruitful as most questions raised by those concerned residents were answered well by officials who have the actual knowledge of the flood control project which is still being implemented along Lacson Street.
At one point, though, Orola lost his cool when he accused Baha of playing a “blame game and finger-pointing.”
Trebol said: “We are not here to point fingers on anybody. We came here to be able to understand the reason why and we have prepared questions for the DPWH to answer so we can also help inform the people about the Lacson Street drainage.” Touché.
They discussed the various questions raised by the alliance regarding the flood control project along Lacson Street, the recent flood that struck some major areas of the city on August 2, what happened to the regulation of the use of plastic bags, illegal settlers, and others.
Yes, I wonder too what happened to the city’s ordinances. Did the Sangguniang Panglungsod enact these local laws so that local chief executive can ignore them?
Early this year, the city launched an anti-jaywalking and an anti-no helmet campaign. The Bacolod LGU did it once, it can do it again. Orola said the recent flooding in Bacolod City needs to be immediately addressed.
Now that we have to see in the coming weeks and months. The objective of mediation, dialog, and negotiations is not just to get parties to agree but to comply with the outcome. (bqsanc@yahoo.com)