The incredible vacation initiative catered eagerness to reconnect with our land
of endearment. The beloved city was there to greet us warmly. From different
parts of the world we came and enjoy the hospitality rendered by the town we
once left behind. She offered what she ably mustered and with open arms
welcomes back her children of lesser touch.
Our once little town changed. It's no longer a wayward place. Progress is
indicative. It's visibly moving onward into a modern city. It has a long way
to go yet, but the sign of the time is discernible. With its current trend, it
may someday catch up with other major centers.
I contradicted strongly the point of view of an ex-congressman. He said that
good government in city hall is only a good idea and this progress we are
seeing today are not really humanly induced but basically a routine process of
normal evolution.
I too criticized city hall from left right and center. But what I witnessed
recently would imply injustice on one's leadership to be denied credit where
credit is due. The squatters by the banks of the river are gone. South side
from the bridge, green foliage starts to replace the once eyesore of the city.
Shanties are also demolished at the north side.
One compassionate characteristic of the squatter's issue is the fact that the
squatters are not just bulldozed away to nowhere. They are all relocated to
safe and more comfortable dwellings. I was with Lodring Bismanus, the
city-housing boss with his engineers in Pagatpatan. They showed me where they
moved the squatters. The city acquired 82 hectares of land and presently 352
separate housing units are built and counting. Some units are already occupied.
I was at city hall with Roging Rosales and Eddie Tidalgo. We were treated well
at the mayor's office. Our visit coincided with the mayor's forum mostly with
delegates from the media. There were accusations of corruption. But all these
were the same vindicated issues of long ago. Maybe the media couldn't find
recent improprieties that they just kept on repeating the already resolved
archaic ones over and over again. It was boring and redundant.
What amazed me was the mayor's courageous move to put his architectural designs
of what he'll do during his current term of office. It's normal for any
politician to make promises. But it's unusual for one to put definite dates of
completion for this may somehow compromise a political career.
But the mayor did it. Most of these commitments are big items like the
12,000-seat coliseum in Baan, renovation and expansion of Rizal Park, the Buud
Promontory and the International Port in Mazaua. All these have dates to finish
except the International Port wherein national funding is required. Lately
however, the International Port project was open to bidding.
I keep wondering if our mayor could really build his dream on time. There is
nothing concrete to base on but on what did transpire. Well, the construction
of city hall building is finished. Then we just inaugurated the city library.
The construction of the new bridge is on going and so with the flood control
project. The irrigation system is about completed and the squatter issue by the
riverbank is resolved.
This mayor has been lambasted negatively by the media. I too had nasty
commentaries about the governance of our city and more so in the area of
electoral practices. I adhere to all I said and apology is a far-reaching
possibility. But there is one thing I missed about our mayor. I failed to
understand the content of his heart. He is serious and totally centered on
things he wants to accomplish. I have a feeling that he intends to write his
legacy on tangible achievement.
There is no doubt that progress is already in the city. This is reflected
outside and in the changing lifestyle of the inhabitants. The touch of class is
in the mind of people. Commercial outlets that are still in the bakya crowd
consumership could hardly compete with the sophistication of the flashy and
glamorous establishments.
A noticeable change is also featured in the ambience and elegance of social
assemblage and evening receptions. It has more quality now in style, fashion
and manners. The refinement in behavior with the accouterment of graceful
conduct is indicatory to a matured and robust community.
More than ever, charitable and civic organizations are needed. In the fangs of
progress, the less equipped usually falls into the cracks. Our social safety
net is hardly in place. This equates to unbearable suffering on the less
fortunate.
This is where programs ought to be on focus. To reface and decorate a mountain
and baptize trees to its scientific names by tagging it is undoubtedly a worthy
project. But an endeavor overriding the disparate needs of hapless human
beings, let alone our kababayan in our own city of affection evokes a premise
that priority is going the wrong way.
The wheel of progress is on the march. Suffice to say that the city is in
developing stage to entail improvement in the quality of living. This is
seemingly risky when such transition to abundance turns out to be inaccurate or
unsustainable. The city still contains fragility in the private sector. The
main source of income is heavily resting on public payroll. Manufacturing
industries has to be established.
We are in the threshold of an opportunity where when manage to fullest
competency grant prosperity and tranquillity to the people. It is with ardent
expectation that the hands at the helm carry the right attitude and aptitude to
realize our hopes and aspiration. With our mayor and his people, Butuan is
headed for glory.
This we trust.
