IT CAME so swiftly, surprisingly, ending the 22-year reign of Marino “Boking” Pineda Morales in Mabalacat City. He has always been regarded the longest serving mayor in the whole country. Hard work, charisma, combined with strike of luck, coupled by favorable court decisions extended his terms in office.
He has had sterling performance too – the city college being the cornerstone of his legacy as it was emulated by other cities in Pampanga. Yes, the Mabalacat City College was the benchmark of success of inexpensive college education that once served as model for Angeles and San Fernando in establishing their own.
But just like all other things, there are certain endings,
The disqualification ruling by the Comelec En Banc cut short Boking’s nth term with two more years left to it.
Comes now Mayor Crisostomo “Cris” Cunanan Garbo, one who has not lost any election in his political career.
His shiny stints started in 1992 when he first won as Councilor of Mabalacat, then just a 2nd class municipality. He ran then in the ticket of the Mayor Catalino Domingo and Vice Mayor Reynaldo Candelaria (may God bless their souls) who won over the tandem of Boking and Perry Pangan back then.
And things have never been the same for this man originally from lahar-entombed Barangay Tabun, the northernmost barangay of Pampanga on the border with Tarlac province.
He completed his terms as Councilor and so did he as Board Member of the First District of Pampanga. All told, those were several consecutive wins in 25 years. Immaculate record until 2016 elections when he ran against Boking and two other candidates.
Now, I am not saying he lost in that war. What I am saying is that he won the battle. The disqualification case filed against Boking made it so.
While Boking is still seeking ultimate resolution on his disqualification in the Supreme Court, a new dispensation has come for this five-year old city.
Mayor Garbo has a huge shoes to fill. The next two years will be a tall order for him. But already, he has started to usher a new landscape in the city – business, environment, public safety and order, fiscal management.
I am not a Garbo convert but his own conversion (read: transformation) is lending him a lot of credence.
He speaks differently, citing Bible verses at the onset of his assumption into office. From leadership quotes from John Maxwell by Boking, Mayor Cris quotes compassion from a different John, one of the gospel writers.
He acts differently, cleaning the city of physical, social, financial, moral dirts. He also promised to help change people spiritually – thus, he scheduled Bible studies at the city hall.
Now before I get branded of taking his side, allow me to cite what I have seen so far in this city – my own hometown.
Foremost that I have noted in his one-month old administration is the imposition of truck ban along Macarthur highway which is not only timely but laudable as motorists, passengers, resident have suffered enough in this long-time problem. That’s public safety and order leading to good business with a more rationalized flow of goods and services.
He has also rid the city government of unnecessary Job Order and casual employees (numbering about 600) which will now save the city coffers of about P50 million a year. That’s a lot of savings that could now go to medicines, medical supplies, hospital bills and what have you. That’s fiscal management and prioritization of social services.
His transition team is threading the right path in instituting some reforms in business, human resources, administrative aspects of the city government, making it more responsive while being lean at the same time.
Heading the list is former Comelec regional director Emmanuel Ignacio, who surprisingly agreed to serve as legal officer over handsome offers in private practice, is a topnotch lawyer.
He has served political hotspots like Nueva Ecija, Isabela, and even Tawi-tawi, kept feuding politicians in those places during elections at bay. This is perhaps one reason why the Garbo Administration is vaunted when it comes to keeping things above board. No hanky-panky there. That’s leadership and sound management personified.
While I have always advocated for orderliness in the streets, I am not easily convinced that sweeping and cleaning the roadside of Macarthur Highway would fix long-time encroachments on sidewalks.
There has to be more towards protecting pedestrians and motorists by removing illegal street vendors, signanges, illegally-parked vehicles on expanded portions of Macarthur Highway.
But as they say, Rome was not built in a day. Let’s give it another.