AS reported
in our column of May 31, 2010, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick
Mabilog has announced a 10-point agenda for his administration
after he was proclaimed as chief city executive. They are:
1) good governance
2) health
3) education
4) employment
5) low-cost housing
6) quality infrastructure
7) sustainable environment
8) public safety
9) police assistance; and
10) consumer protection.
It has been almost a month since he assumed office, but we
have not heard that our Mayor has presented a budget plan
for approval of the Sanggunian Panlungsod to adopt a definite
program and implement the foregoing agenda.
In fact, water and power have not been included in the Mayor’s
program. It is good, however, that Mayor Jed has conferred
with the Management and the Board of the Metro Iloilo Water
District (MIWD) after assuming office, and he gave them a
one-year period to straighten things out in the water firm.
On this point, we are wondering why the City Mayor who appoints
the members of the Board of MIWD cannot remove them for poor
performance. The power to appoint carries with it the inherent
right to withdraw such appointment or remove the appointee
from office. How come our City Mayor does not exercise this
prerogative even if the members of the MIWD Board are not
doing their job?
There is also the General Manager of MIWD, an appointee and
subordinate of the Board, but he filed a case against the
Directors, attributing certain anomalies and even demanding
their resignation! The Board did not fire or discipline him
for this affront to their dignity. Maybe he’s right.
Well, as to our power firm, PECO, it is again increasing
power rates even if we continue to suffer from brownouts.
On this, we have not heard a whimper from our Mayor or from
our kagawads in the Sanggunian. They are afraid of the electric
company.
The papers said the Mayor would stop begging or the giving
of alms in the city, as he will strictly enforce the anti-mendicancy
ordinance. How will our Mayor help the blind or other handicaps
that are dependent on alms for support?
Another thing we heard is that he will buy a towing vehicle
to remove transport units that will bog down on the street
or those that are wrongly parked. Maybe there is no need for
this towing service. There is enough space for vehicles to
pass even in the City Proper if we can request those who own
stores or live downtown not to make permanent parking lots
of the streets in front of their homes or establishments.
Then we read about the proposed port terminal to be built
at Fort San Pedro and centrally serve passengers for Guimaras
province across the strait. Well, this is a good idea, but
was this part of the Mayor’s original 10-point Agenda?
