EVERY time I talk to mayors, even governors, one issue they usually mention is the problem attending local agriculture — they lack water. Yes, how can we improve our food production program if we continue to wallow on the problem of lack of water?
And they are correct.
But on close inspection, do they really lack water? Is water really a problem?
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This was the statement of one mayor that I met recently.
Daghan unta kaayo mi og mga plano para ipalambo ang among food production program pero duna mi dakong problema.
Unsa man nang dako ninyong problema Mayor, I asked him.
Tubig, wa gyod mi tubig sa among lungsod. Og naa man gani, gamay ra pod, mao nang maglisod gyod mi nga molambo ang among programa parte sa pagkaon.
Kon di gyod masolbad ang maong problema, pirmi ra gyod mi magsalig sa ubang lungsod para sa among pagkaon, he added.
So I asked him if he is interested to solve that problem and he instantly said Yes.
Kon pananglit suwayan ninyo Mayor nga magtukod og mga rainwater collection system, bisan unhon lang usa ninyo ang tanang mga building nga gipanag-iya sa munisipyo. Dili na kinahanglan mogasto og dako kay mahimo man gamiton kadtong mga GI sheets nga tinangtang na so dali ra kaayo ninyo buhaton ni, I told him.
Kanang tubig nga inyong makolekta sa mga barel o bisan unsang sudlanan, makasolbad na sa duha ka mga butang – pwedeng imnon pero pabukalan una unya ang ubos nga bahin mahimo ninyo gamiton pagpamubo sa mga pananom ninyo.
Dali ra kaayo pun-on ang inyong mga barel kay sigi man nga gaulan rong panahona, kasagaran kay kusog pa gyod ang ulan so daghan kaayo mo og tubig nga makolekta, I explained to him.
And he was shaking his head. I really don’t know what’s playing in that head that moment in time.
If you can institutionalize the establishment of rainwater collection system in your town Sir Mayor, then I believe you are one step closer to making your dream of re-introducing green revolution in your town a reality, I stressed.
And he was shaking his head again, this time with a smile on his lips.
Of course, I would be checking on him every now and then if he translated my idea to reality.
If he does, then that would make a happy man.
* * *
I attended one meeting last week that aimed to address the high cost of fish in the local market.
From the data they gave us, I noticed outright that even if the province could get assurance to lower the cost of fish for once, the cost would still be high. Not really the one Governor Aris Aumentado had in mind, which is, to drastically drop the price of fish.
A local fish trader for instance explained that it has become customary for fish vendors to borrow from a financier, which controls not only the money but also the price of fish.
Naanad na sila anang paagiha, she explained. Kon dunay credit facility nga i-offer ang province, additional utang na pod na kay mouna man gyod to sila’g duol sa financier, she added.
Another one said that between utang from the bank and utang from the Turko or Bombay, they would prefer the latter.
Why?
Because the transaction is simple, no 3-page long requirement. Igo lang mi mopirma sa notebook nga mao nang kantidara among giutang unya bayaran namo og inadlaw sa nasabotan nga kantidad, human na dayon, mohatag na dayon sa kwarta nga among hulaman, she explained.
Kon moadto mi sa bangko, susko, pila ka adlaw pa mi magsigi og balik-balik so langan kaayo sa among trabaho plus, daghan pa kaayo silag pangayoon nga mga dokumento.
Kon ingon ana man lang gani, adto na lang mi mangutang sa Turko o Bombay, he said.
* * *
Another issue was the usual bureaucratic headache.
Using government funds for the purpose would entail a lot of safeguards, like getting the go signal from the Budget Office, from the Accountant, from the provincial legal office, and so on, and so forth.
And if the COA opines, for whatever reason, that they don’t like the expenditure one bit, then they would flag it and that’s the end of the story.
Nobody questions the COA when it comes to their opinion, yes, opinion, on the proper or judicious spending of public funds.
So if the COA says No, then it’s a No, no ifs or buts.
* * *
So if Governor Aris wants to make a big splash on his first 100 days in office, then he has to do something more drastic, more direct action because going through the usual channel would entail a lot of time.
And I think he has found a way to solve it.
So barring any unforeseen events, there will be something new on the fish market comes Wednesday this week at the old airport.
From what I heard, at least 4 kinds of fishes that are considered as “poor man’s fishes” would be sold at 150 pesos per kilo at the old airport.
Far from the usual 260 per kilo price that is prevailing in the local markets in the city.
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LMP-Bohol President and Buenavista Mayor Dave Duallo has proposed October 27 and 28, 2022 as the date when the Bohol Mayors will meet with the Regional Directors of different national agencies here in Bohol for a one-stop shop meeting-discussion.
The date has already been forwarded to RD Sal Jimenez of DepEd-7 who is also the ARENA-7 President for immediate action. RD Jimenez is now contacting his fellow RDs for that date.
So what will happen on October 27-28, if plans push through?
Well, Bohol Mayors will get a chance to directly meet/discuss with the RDs of different national agencies right here in the city all of their proposed or pending issues with that particular agency and in turn, the national agency could also meet/discuss with the Mayor the agency’s particular issue or concern. This benefits both the LGU and the national agency.
Because this is pre-arranged, the meeting would last no more than 15 minutes per agency so that means, in 1-day time, they could meet/discuss with no less than 15 RDs.
After the one-stop shop, the RDs could tour around the province’s beautiful spots before going back to their base in Cebu early evening of the following day. Or, they could choose to stay the weekend with their respective families.
All in all, this is one big project of LMP President Dave Duallo, and to Governor Aris Aumentado as well, and for their initiatives, we extend our warmest congratulations.
