A NEWLY-ELECTED provincial official, while still drunk with overflowing joy and fully inspired to faithfully perform her duties as promised during the campaign, is suddenly beset with a personal issue.
She wants to maintain her independence, not beholden to any other party except her own party and plans to detach herself from the clutches of political patronage.
Gusto niya dili minority, dili sab majority. Kanang siya lang, mo-botar siya o mo-suporta sa bisan unsa nga legislative measure base sa iyang gituhoan nga makaayo sa mga katawhan.
Mahimo ba na?
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In theory, that is delicious to hear. Mora og mahimo ra, especially kon neophyte pa sa politika.
But in real life situation, that is like asking for the moon.
Why?
Any advocacy widely, publicly and passionately espoused during the campaign, no matter how innovative or novel is good only when translated into actual and concrete terms. Kanang ma-deliver gyod sa katawhan og dili kay igo lang hisgotan sa microphone.
Kon ikaw ra usa sa sanggunian unya walay mo-suporta nimo, unsaon nimo pagpalabang sa imong gusto ipalabang nga balaod? Any measure in the sanggunian is passed only when supported by the majority. Kon ikaw ra usa, basura ra pirmi imong proposal kon dili suportahan sa mga kauban sa sanggunian.
That’s one issue, another issue is doing errands for the constituents.
When a son, daughter or relative or even just a political supporter asks for favor like seeking casual employment in government, endorsement for promotion, and the like, an elective official can only “deliver the goods” if he or she is chummy or close with the vice governor or governor. If he is not, then he cannot “make things happen” by delivering what his constituent is asking. Di makapasulod og trabaho, di makatabang sa promotion nga gihangyo ug dili makatabang sa bisan unsa nga gihangyo sa iyang mga supporters.
Maayo lang mo-yawyaw sa iyang mga krusada pero dili maka-deliver, dili mo-angay ang mga tawo ana. Gusto nila kanang moyawyaw unya mo-trabaho pod, labi na gyod kanang makahatag sa ilang gipangayo.
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Another point is the ease in securing office supplies, including gas allowances. Processing the documents for all of the above is just a breeze for a member of the majority, and doubly hard and time-consuming if one is in the minority, more so when considered as a maverick.
There can be more than a dozen reasons why the requests for office supplies are always delayed, the signature of the approving official is very hard to get and regular office works are consequently delayed because of non-availability of office supplies like bond paper, carbon paper, etc…
The minority can only grumble and curse the high heavens for all the bureaucratic misfortunes but that is political reality. Among politicians, it’s always “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine.”
There is always a quid for any favor extended.
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Another thing is the ease in asking for special favors like an additional casual employee to be detailed in the LGU of the requesting mayor or in any office of choice. This is normal practice for members of the majority but considered a luxury or rare privilege for those in the minority.
There is also the issue of getting more invites to important public or official functions or activities, like proxies in speaking engagements, including distribution of ayudas and other governmental interventions. Very easy for those in the majority but difficult for the those in the minority.
These are the political realities that those in politics have to consider.
Gets?
