SEVERAL mayors and governors are in quandary right now.
Unsaon na lang kaha kon molansad si Inday Sara og pagka-presidente unya molansad sab si Speaker Martin Romualdez sa presidential elections sa 2028?
Asa man kaha sila anang duha?
* * *
The reason for the mental problem is obvious.
They wanted to stick it out with Inday Sara because they believe in her winnability, her crusade for good governance and all the good qualities that she has shown so far.
But the problem is right now, the money is with Speaker Romualdez kuno.
Kon gusto kuno ka makakuha og mga projects, the better option is to side it up with Speaker Romualdez.
Now, more than ever, these local chief executives need to stay on top of the financial totem pole in their respective turfs.
Kon di ka kakuha og mga projects para sa imong baluarte, kataw-an kas mga tawo kay hinay ug di ka kamao nga pagka-leader plus di pa gyod ka kakuha og kikik or komisyon.
Importante kaayo ang kikik kay mao baya ni gastohon pohon sa 2025.
* * *
Two mayors recently met unexpectedly in one of the coffee shops in the city and after nursing some food and drinks, they finally found time to compare notes.
Kumusta Pre, was the opening statement.
Busy kaayo ko Pre og suroy sa mga kabaryohan, pakita sa atong mga tawo unya pirmi pod attend sa mga meetings nga ipatawag. Wa gyod koy absent Pre bisan kausa kay gusto nako makita nila nga seryoso ko nga pagka-Mayor.
Maayo ka Pre, ako Pre, replied the other mayor, kay sigi kong byahe sa Manila, pakig-kita sa mga politiko didto ug dang follow-up pod sa mga hangyo nako nila. Wa na gyod koy panahon mo-attend anang mga meetings nga ipatawag sa mga kabarangayan, ako na lang nang gisalig sa akong mga tawo sa munisipyo.
Now, who between them can be considered an effective political leader?
* * *
Some would say the first Mayor is better because he is always seen by the townspeople, he connects with them regularly, talks to them and makes them feel that the local governance is right at their doorstep.
In other words, dali ug sayon nga duolon.
This is the exact opposite of the other Mayor who is always on travel and can hardly be seen by his constituents.
But others would say the other mayor is better because while he is always on travel, it should be noted that he is after the procurement of infrastructure projects for his townspeople. Mas interesado siya nga makakuha og mga projects para sa iyang lungsod kay wa may budget ana ang iyang lungsod. Makakuha lang siya og projects kon magkugi siya og byahe sa Manila og mag-follow up sa mga projects para sa iyang lungsod. Total, wa man sab niya pasagdi ang panginahanglan sa iyang lungsod.
True enough, the other mayor has clinched several million-worth of projects for his town, some are for next year, the others are on-going and the others still are already completed. In fact, sunod-sunod ang iyang pangimbitar sa mga senador nga maoy mihatag sa mga projects sa lungsod.
* * *
It is beyond dispute that when it comes to being popular, to being sayon pangitaon ug duolon sa mga katawhan, the first mayor is tops. Labi na kon instant action ang iyang himoon sa ilang mga pangayo.
But when his constituents want better potable water service, better road network, more school buildings, better health and medical facilities, then the mayor instantly becomes defensive.
Wa man tay budget para ana kay gamay ra baya atong IRA, way ikagasto atong panudlanan sa lungsod anang mga problemaha, maghuwat lang ta og matagaan tag ayuda sa governor pohon, the usual excuse sa mayor nga sayon pangitaon ug duolon.
The other mayor who is after more projects for the town, who aspires to leave a lasting legacy to the townspeople, who wants to do a makeover of the town by securing more infra projects, can boast during those rare programs in the barangay that he is able to attend that he has already secured the pledge of support from senator so and so, or congressman so and so and the needs of the people for better service can be attended to very soon.
Makapanghambog sab siya og sunod-sunod nga mga inauguration program or project launchings ug pangimbitar sa mga dagkong politiko from Manila to visit the town during these inauguration or project launching activities.
Dili man tuod siya sayon igkita sa munisipyo pero masabtan ra sa mga tawo ang iyang pirming byahe kon daghan siya og mga projects nga makuha nga maka-improve sa kinabuhi sa mga tawo sa iyang lungsod.
So balik sa pangutana – kinsa may maayo nga Mayor, kadtong sayon duolon o kadtong kugihan mangita og projects?
* * *
A lawyer-friend was intrigued about our episode involving a mayor nga feeling-abogado, pero dili abogado.
Duna siyay abogado nga gi-retain pero ang Mayor gyod ang mangunay og gama sa mga pleadings para i-file sa korte. Ang gihimo nga pleading sa abogado itsa-basura lang kay ang pleading nga hinimo sa Mayor mao gyod ang ipa-file.
This is the reason nga pirmi intawon ma high-blood ang Judge inig kabasa sa hinimo sa Mayor ug pirmi sab makasab-an ang Mayor sa Judge. Diha pa gani time nga gi-warningan ang Mayor nga i-cite for contempt kon di magpatuo sa tambag sa Judge.
Nalibog gyod ang kutaw sa lawyer-friend kon kinsa ang maong Mayor.
Sa dihang gisultian na kon kinsa, naka-ingon pa nga ah, mao diay.
* * *
A businessman from Bulgaria is interested to invest in an agri technology-related project in Bohol. Specifically, the project involves developing a milk product technology suitable for typical yogurt or cheese production.
He wanted to meet Governor Aris Aumentado so he could discuss his plans for Bohol. Unfortunately, the hectic schedule of the governor prevented an early meet so I suggested to him that the meeting will be held in January next year, just in time when he comes back to the country from his Christmas sojourn in his native Bulgaria.
Offhand, he likes our lutong-bahay foods such as inun-unan and mongoes with gata and veges, including our native chicken, either fried or adobawo. He also likes to transfer his business in the US and bring it here in the country. He has not yet decided where but I keep on pushing him to make Bohol his retirement province so he could help enhance our agri potentials here.
Bason lang pohon.
