THAT'S the most I could say when recently asked by national guests how Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia and his team handle so many issues and concerns besetting the city and its people.
Enforcing stricter anti-Covid protocols from business districts down to purok level, at the same time intensying and expanding vaccination drive, while trying to ease pressures on local economy, especially on small and medium enterprises, and some headaches brought by anti-administration's sustained campaign of nasty propaganda, disinformation and divisive activities in some barangays.
I have neither seen nor heard of panicky actions from the mayor and the city officials.
Their responses to the crisis situation are so cool, objective and fair, which only the political mature, sensical and positive results-driven incumbent leadership can do.
I find it even more inspiring for other LGU colleagues that instead of disappearing acts, or laid back reactions, the mayor and vice mayor often lead city officials to flock to the frontlines to demonstrate right and quick responses to pandemic related concerns.
The city mayor support units especially CHO and Sectoral Concerns, have been tirelessly waging quick actions to frontline needs, and find ways 24/7 to provide much needed relief and other comforting assistance to economically distressed sectors.
Certainly, there are still many other concerns pounding other sectors in the city, like problems of vendors, public transport, delivery riders, and displaced OFWs among others.
I know that other city agencies and units are giving their best efforts to meet people’s needs. Still they are not supermen and superwomen. They can only do so much at certain times. In many cases they are constrained by national government accounting and auditing rules and procedures which are beyond their control and disposition.
This is where the citizens, especially those with so much; the NGOs, humanitarian groups, and foundations, have the social responsibility to share their resources, talents, and skills with those in need.
The late US President John F Kennedy said it well, do not always think of what the government can do to you but what you can do for the government.
The mendicancy culture spawned by mediocre and corrupt politicians have indeed corrupted lots of our people.
It is now easier to blame the government for ignorance, apathy of others, and scheming vested manipulation of some power hungry.
This time, lets' begin again in correcting these values and truly build a participatory and public interest driven governance.
Meantime, let’s emulate the city incumbent leadership, and all other servant leaders, in being cool, fair, inclusive and unifying in its governance.