By Anthony A. Araos
Finally, the time for Baguio City Councilor Faustino Olowan has come!
I’m most certainly proud to be a part of Councilor Faustino Olowan’s cherished dream to serve Baguio City in a much higher capacity. To be more precise, to be the vice mayor of the nation’s summer capital is the order of the day.
How does a dedicated and hardworking public servant who ran and lost for the same position twice shrouded by controversies come back from the brink of political extinction and eventually rise up to set the standard of good governance?
It seems unthinkable that it took only a few years back, that Vice Mayor-elect Olowan after two unsuccessful attempts to wrest the vice mayoralty post from the late Vice Mayor Danny Farinas, Atty. Olowan still entertained the idea of answering the call of public service.
Councilor Olowan joined the administration party PDP-Laban to advance President Dutrete’s advocacies, especially his anti-corruption and anti-criminality campaigns.
During the campaign period, many heard people demanding for a genuine change in Baguio City. The city saw multitudes upholding and supporting the outcry.
“I understand the frustrations that attended the failure to give access to vital services among the poor,” Councilor Olowan said. “Baguio City folks will suffer needlessly if officials ignore this problem,” he added.
His caring ways and compassion for the people, most especially the poor, as well as his peculiar style of feeling the pulse of the people, struck a strong chord in the campaign trail when he explained the key issues of the day besetting the city and issues affecting the populace.
Olowan, a former barangay chairman of Lucnab and renowned labor lawyer, won handily the vice mayoralty race in the just-concluded May midterm polls.
In recollection, an important query arises. How would the voters rate Councilor Olowan’s overall performance at the City Council? They gave him clearly a high mark as Councilor Olowan’s record will speak for itself. Now, it should serve as an inspiration to others for it shows the importance of hard work and competence.
After the polls, he declared: “Now is the time for a united effort to achieve progress in the city.” Such action would mean holding consultations with the people, even touching base with those who voted for his chief rivals.
Atty. Olowan is a talented, sincere and kind-hearted person as I know. You can easily see the incredible resonance he has with the poor. It is for this reason that I’m optimistic as ever that Vice Mayor-elect Olowan shall be at the forefront of apportioning more budgets for the needs of the marginalized sector. Obviously, this is in line with the government’s poverty alleviation goal and inclusive growth agenda.
The man who has been contented to stay away from “grandstanding acts” at the City Council in the past has emerged at the forefront of the city government’s success. Councilor Olowan’s story is definitely a testament that a lot of hard work and perseverance indeed payoff.
City residents witnessed on May 13, 2019 a change of leadership and a changing of a guard in this highly-urbanized city. Thus, voters are looking forward that Vice Mayor-elect Olowan will be instrumental in harnessing the full potentials of the people. This early, Vice Mayor-elect Olowan announced that he shall give premium and adequately address the people’s needs particularly the marginalized, including those who are vulnerable in depressed villages and communities such as the women and children as well as those belonging to the urban poor.
At the end of the day, it is up to the incoming vice mayor to mobilize the huge human resources at his disposal. In other words, as it has been said many times, in the first 120 days or so- or the so-called “honeymoon period,” of his incumbency, Vice Mayor-elect Olowan shall enjoy tremendous support from the people by rallying their collective voice. As presiding officer of the powerful and influential City Council, Vice Mayor-elect Olowan is expected to accelerate the passage of key measures geared to improve the conditions of the people.
Olowan’s fame as an exemplary official rests upon his resolve to exercise political will at all times to spur growth and reduce poverty incidence. The existence of a popular mall and high-rise hotels can’t even camouflage the mounting poverty woes. By 2022, the Philippines is envisioned to became an upper-middle income economy growing seven to eight percent annually. Overall, poverty rate is targeted to decline from 21 percent in 2015 to 14 percent in 2022. All of these are to be attained as the city deals with the deeply entrenched corruption to solve the poverty problem.
Atty. Olowan enjoys widespread support from the people. He should consolidate with allies and rally the other City Council members of other persuasions, most notably from the fallen Timpuyog ti Baguio group, to the cause of firming up the competitiveness level of Baguio. There will be time for victory party celebrations. More importantly, there will be time to face head on the city’s dwindling forest cover, overdevelopment, joblessness, traffic and pollution problems. Friends and foes alike should be consulted. In the long term, reaching out with his constituents- to include those who backed defeated bets Michael Lawana, Elmer Datuin, Rene Cortez and Peter Fianza, will be good for the city. I’m fervently hoping that Vice Mayor-elect Olowan will do that. Let’s face it: Good, responsive and participatory governance has been a longtime failure through several administrations in Baguio. It will continue to be so unless Vice Mayor-elect Olowan opts for out-of-the box solutions to the city’s pressing man-made problems.
By coincidence, days before the polls I went to the Cathedral and attended a mass. I prayed: “If it is your will, include my esteemed friend, Atty. Faustino Olowan in the company of winners in the May 13, 2019 polls for the promotion of the common good in Baguio City.” My prayers were answered.
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Many of Ifugao’s tourism gems are situated in Governor-elect Jerry Dalipog’s adjacent town of Hungduan.
Visitors can enjoy Mount Napulauan, a number of nature trails and other attractions of Hungduan. For the nth time, I’m strongly recommending Hungduan (as well as Mayoyao) as the “other destination” for local and foreign tourists to see. Now, I’m pleading my case for the incoming governor from Banaue , the undisputed top destination in the province. I see no reason for Governor-elect Dalipog not to realize the vast potential of Hungduan as an income generator in terms of drawing more tourists.
A holistic, viable and practical way, of course, is to collect an entrance fee for each visitor to an ecotourism destination. An ecotourism site maybe co-managed by indigenous peoples group in the area who shall receive 10 percent of the gross income and it is an excellent idea. Likewise, the barangay government gets a 10 percent share from the earnings. Another 10 percent goes to the local environment protection fund.
Hungduan is the wise choice for local and foreign travelers to spend two to three days after a Banaue trip. It is a godsend for tourists from any part of the world.
The opportunity to know more of the wonders of Hungduan came when I visited the town in recent times and when I talked at length with Mayor Hilario Bumangabang and Councilor Pablo Cuyahon. I felt a great urge then to tell the people the following message: “What are you waiting for? Go and visit Hungduan! Hungduan has got it all!
I left Hungduan with more just interesting notes. I also brought home an entirely different perspective and renewed vigor inspired by rich experiences there. That’s what I call priceless!
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Congratulations to Congressman-elect Solomon Chungalao of Mayoyao, Governor-elect Jerry Dalipog of Banaue and Vice Governor Glenn Prudenciano of Alfonso Lista. Ifugao’s new top three officials should adopt an innovative mindset of instilling in the public consciousness that meeting the challenges ahead demands the full support and cooperation of the province’s intelligent men and women- numbering to a few hundreds. A collaborative stance of these people in the private sector is crucial in overcoming the mounting poverty problem in Ifugao. With a clear mandate from the people, they should aim to have improved well-being of their constituents, attributed to improved brand of governance.
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Congratulations as well as to Councilors-elect Tom Guinomon (Partido Federal of the Philippines) of Lamut and Janni Albano (independent) of Kiangan. Both are youthful and promising soon-to-be lawmakers. Young legislators should have significant influence over the policies, programs and policies of the municipal government. The road to a brighter tomorrow in poverty-stricken towns might be a tough trail but I’m certain that with your perseverance, determination, courage and wisdom, your folks will soon realize the vision to achieve tasks bigger than themselves for their municipalities and for the nation. What’s the best way for both of you to tap the people’s trust and confidence entrusted to you for bettering their plight in the next three years? Begin at the beginning. Be an effective agent of change, lead actively through all the way, helping to uplift the lives of the people. This calls for a culture of thinking intelligently. For starters, address air pollution. Air quality could be improved by 98 percent by ensuring that every PUV (public utility vehicle) pass smoke emission standards and making sure no one burns trash. For the latter, re-educate and go after hard-headed and incredibly stupid folks who are engaged in open burning of garbage. It is a violation of the law. In the 1990s, folks were law-abiding. Not anymore.
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Distinguishing a rightful and wrongful order from the government remains useful especially in coming out with decisions affecting the barangay government.
Punong Barangay Simplicia Dipia-o of Poblacion West in Lagawe said barangay council officials were barred from campaigning for candidates in the last elections. I asked her for a copy of the DILG memorandum outlining the said ban. There was none.
A barangay council official is not violating the Constitution or any laws, rules and regulations as he or she campaigns for and endorses any candidate. This is because the punong barangay or kagawad is an elected, not an appointed, government official.
With regards to Quinto vs Comelec, the Supreme Court ruled that the constitutional ban does not cover elected officials because “elected officials, by the very nature of their office, engage in partisan political activities almost all year round, even outside of the campaign period. Political partisanship of a political office, elective positions included.” The Court likewise stressed that under the Administrative Code of 1987 which implements that provision of the Constitution, it is provided that public officers and employees “holding political offices may take part in political and electoral activities.” If President Duterte campaigned and endorsed candidates of his choice, what’s wrong if a barangay captain is doing the same? Both are elected officials! To the barangay council official: What if the government tells you not to breathe for an hour and you’ll readily follow?
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For our food delights corner: This is the time to offer you an all-day breakfast treat. This has reference to a meal of steamed rice, corned beef and tinapa (smoked fish). It is truly a yummy meal. Filipinos- young and old alike, shall appreciate the richness of this meal. Just add bananas, a slice of mocha cake and chilled pineapple juice. So enjoy breakfast with your loved ones. Say your prayer for the blessings at the table.
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Finally, here are some thoughts for our readers: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the land, having become a curse for us for it is written” Galatians 3:13
“My mercy will overrule judgement.” Jas 2:13
“Servant leadership is exercised when the leader is destined to work for people and the community. A servant leader looks at what people need and asks how to help people to solve problems.” Late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago**
