WHILE we appreciate Cebu City Hall’s innovation in renewing business permits by putting a one-stop shop for easy access and speedy processing, how true is the report that there are some unscrupulous personnel at the business permit section who are doing “monkey business”? I received a complaint from an applicant who is doing small business at the Carbon market who claimed that she had been a victim of these unscrupulous personnel who had demanded money for speedy processing of her application.
First, she asked if the business permit application form is for sale? Because she was made to pay P200 for the form. Then, she also claimed that she was made to pay P500 for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) receipt and P900 for the notary public through two City Hall lawyers. She even mentioned the names of the lawyers, but I am withholding their identities. The notary fee will depend on the applicant’s income.
Applications will not be accepted if the notary is done by lawyers outside of City Hall. The lawyers who are with the City Legal Office did not issue an official receipt. There were also personnel, claiming to be from the business permit section, who approached applicants to help them speed up their processing for a fee. Although, the complainant could not confirm if these persons were really connected to the business permit section or fixers. If they were fixers, were they City Hall personnel or outsiders? If they were outsiders, how come they were able to penetrate City Hall?
I brought up this issue so that our City Hall officials will look into the matter. I hope they will not just dismiss this complaint outrightly. Wala man pud siguroy rason nga ang complainant magtumo-tumo. Naka-experience gyud siya siguro. Daghan siguro ang mga nabiktima diha pero nagpakahilum lang ang uban.
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Two administration senatorial candidates, former presidential special assistant Christopher “Bong” Go and former PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, visited the fire victims of Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City. They distributed relief goods and food packs to the victims. Well and good. At least, even if they are not from this place, they showed their sympathy, generosity and concern to the fire victims. But was it really their concern and sympathy to the fire victims that drove them to extend help to them? Or is it because of their political agenda as both of them are running for a Senate seat?
Well, we cannot really read what is in their hearts and minds. Whether they are really sincere or not. But if their intentions are good, then we will appreciate their move. But if their intention is to gain political stock then we can describe their action as “political opportunism” and that they are “political opportunists.”
Political opportunism refers to the attempt to maintain political support, or increase political influence, in a way which disregards relevant ethical or political principle. It is a political style of aiming to increase one’s political influence at any price or a political style that involves seizing every and any opportunity to extend political influence whenever such opportunity arises.
A political tendency seeking to make political capital out of situations with the main aim being that of gaining more influence, prestige or support, instead of truly winning people over to a principled position or improving their political understanding. May I pose this question: If Go and dela Rosa were not running for the Senate, would they come here on their own volition and extend their unwavering support and show their concern? I doubt. I am calling other “political opportunists” to extend their help, too, to calamity victims.
Pamugas-pugas ba para sa Mayo nga eleksiyon. Kini silang Bong Go ug dela Rosa ug uban pang mga pulitiko, di gyud ni katilaw sa akong boto. Kay ngano man? Dili rehistrado. Pagkatoytoy!