No significant accomplishments

The State of the City Address (Soca) of the “former political has-been” last Tuesday was empty bag. It was a mere reiteration of his campaign promises. And to cover up his failure to address the various problems in the city, he blamed his predecessor, “has-been” mayor Michael Rama.

After one year in office, he could have accomplished some of his campaign promises. But there is nothing significant that he can be proud of. What he has is arrogance and vindictiveness against people and corporations that crossed his path and ignored him when he was out of power. He has nothing in mind except his personal agenda on the South Road Properties (SRP).

He blamed the opposition for the city’s failure in garbage collection and disposal. Why do so when it is now his administration? He said that without the opposition’s lobbying for the closure of the Inayawan sanitary landfill, the city would not have experienced problem in garbage collection. He said Rama bought substandard hauler trucks and he is contemplating filing graft charges against him and his cohorts for the allegedly anomalous transactions.

When will the “blame game” end? If Rama failed to address some of the city’s problems like garbage collection, then he should have corrected and improved these under his watch. But nothing happened, not only in garbage disposal. Look at our city’s roads and its other basic services. These are practically being neglected.

Maybe because he is preoccupied with SRP matters. He prioritized it in his agenda because there is a gold mine there. As if the city government will be crippled without the proceeds of the SRP. Is he going to address these problems only when the SRP produces billions of pesos? Where are our other taxes?

He reiterated again his anti-corruption policy, which is running after those who committed shenanigans in the previous administration. Well and good. He is anti-corruption yet questionable conduct is being committed right under his very nose. Do you know who cornered almost all the transactions at city hall, like those for office supplies, fuel, asphalt, drug kits and others? Those who contributed to his campaign funds.

The first one is a barangay official and owner of a company. The others have a former city councilor as the “go between” even if he does not have any official designation and appointment. Meaning, he has no public accountability.

And did you hear this news circulated around that the present city hall occupant is planning to sell the area adjacent to the Inayawan landfill, or the landfill itself? You see, he is business-minded.”

After one year in office, he could have accomplished some of his campaign promises. But there is nothing significant that he can be proud of