GOLD LEGACIES By BOARD MEMBER CLARE B. LUCERO GOLD is defined as a soft yellow metal that is very valuable and that is used especially in jewelry. Other definitions are provided depending on its use. Some defined it as something valued as the best of its kind. On the other hand, LEGACY is defined as something (money, property, thing, idea, etc.) that happened in the past or comes from someone in the past. This work is intended to underscore the administration of Former-mayor Gold L. Calibo when he was the local chief executive (LCE) of the municipality of Larena. This is aptly entitled GOLD LEGACIES to emphasize the significance of his achievements. Additionally, the former-Mayor’s first name “Gold” signifies value and preciousness; henceforth, dubbing this work “Gold Legacies” makes it more fitting. The nine year tenure (three successive terms) of Mayor Gold Calibo as the local chief executive of the municipality of Larena deserves to be revisited, reviewed , re-evaluated and reconsidered in view of the recent change of the leadership. The change naturally projects the inherent difference of the leadership traits and qualities, styles of governance, and more importantly the priority programs and policies. Having been part for a good six years of Mayor Golds administration in the capacity as an elected councilor, I feel compelled to share my views and opinions to his administration. To make it thorough, particular focus is mandatory to some of his milestone programs and policies. As a form of tribute I fondly coined this work as GOLD LEGACIES, not only because these were achieved during his tenure, but because of the tremendous value, importance and significance of these achievements to the municipality of Larena and to its people. For a good reason, Mayor Golds administration imbues a distinct leadership styles and qualities. He gives premium to maintaining a tranquil and harmonious working environment. He sets a tone essentially relaxed and calm; but, equally serious in the performance of his sworn duties and responsibilities. The backdraft naturally encourages progressive collaboration in the workplace. The atmosphere cultivates freedom of expression. Anybody can express his thought without fear of harsh reaction or insolent interaction. Autocracy is wisely managed and discouraged. Mutual respect and accommodation among peers and colleagues are glorified. It promotes free-exchange of ideas. In the longer perspective, through his initiative, the strategy marks important contributions to the overall welfare of the municipality and constituents. The leadership ethic acts as a harbinger of significant and important outputs. Within this framework, important programs and policies are formulated and realized. Programs and policies which evolved into and appropriately validated here as gold legacies. The first gold legacy of the administration of Former-mayor Gold Calibo is the Larena Municipal Scholarship Ordinance. This ordinance was enacted by sheer consequence and necessity. The 2004 disastrous political campaign to wage battle against the might of an established political clan initiated by known leaders in Larena caused the surge of the number of students disenfranchised under the Congressional scholarship program then controlled by this political clan. The 2004 election survivors and the new set of officials inherited the problems and concerns of the disenfranchised students whose only fault was to support the failed attempt to wrest the governance of this province. Being the chairman of the Committee on Rules of the Sangguniang Bayan at that time, I was tasked to draft and ultimately write the scholarship ordinance. Important collaborators were SB members Leonardo Lingcay, Jucito Gom-os, the late Carlito Tomimbang, Li Duhaylongsod and the chairman of the Committee on Education, the late Dominador Nono Enrera. The ordinance evolved into a very important piece of social legislation. From the time it was conceptualized and realized, countless families have been benefited and countless lives have been changed. The enactment was consistent with the ideals of former President Ramon Magsaysay when he said; those who have less in life should have more in law. The law simply looks in favor those deprived of material wealth to compensate for the social inequity and to equalize the opportunities. Beneficiaries availed of the opportunity for a college education until graduation. Ultimately, their families slowly inched their social stature in the community. I am very proud that I was instrumental in the realization of this social legislation during the tenure of Mayor Gold Calibo. Truly, a gold legacy brought forth through progressive collaboration and consultation among peers and colleagues. Mayor Gold Calibo’s broad perspectives played a crucial role in realizing the necessity and urgency of the policy. A manifestation of a desirable leadership style and quality. The second gold legacy of the administration of Former-mayor Gold Calibo is the Improvement of the Water System of the municipality of Larena. The water problem in Larena had been hounding its constituents for decades yet previous administrations had yet to propose a solution much more an action. The municipality was a picture of queue of people fetching water at the scattered but strategic sources within the municipality. Owning a wooden cart to transport water containers was not only fashionable that time; it was a necessity. At the start of the term of the leadership of Mayor Gold Calibo, his administration wanted to make an exception. It was motivated by the prevailing practical joke during policy meetings and discussions that; “if the perennial water problem in Larena could be provided with adequate solution, the proponents legacy shall forever be etched in the hearts and minds of the people though their mortal remains would continue to rot in the cemetery.” Solving it became the primordial policy at that time. The conceptualized water project commenced with an almost three-year (3) year feasibility study conducted by the San Carlos Water Resource Center. The study took a long time because it was thorough and comprehensive. It was also quite expensive. To exemplify progressive collaboration, the project as an important policy had regular allocation in the Sangguniang Bayan. The primary collaborator of the project was SB member Leonardo Lincgcay. He had to personally sacrifice by walking miles of unpaved pathways just to accompany the technical workers for surveys and data gathering. Since, he was also involved in the technical and general aspect of the project, aside from joining surveys and data gathering, he had to attend long seminars conducted in the different regions to satisfy some of the requisites for the soft loan offering facilitated by the Department of Finance. The other Sangguniang Bayan members participation were on the legislation aspect needed to support the projected loan amortizations. Indeed, legislations adjusting the water rates were required. Legislations which often accepted grudgingly if not abhorred and despised totally. I played a considerable part on that aspect. Moreover, oftentimes, I would juggle as guide or errand boy of the LCE, when by chance, we would process related documentations at the Central Office of the Department of Finance in Manila. Through persistence, hard work and dedication, the labor yielded fruit. The Larena Waterworks System was fully realized. The project was a milestone achievement not without setbacks, delays and adverse criticisms. The project had its ups and downs which tested not only the mettle of the character of the LCE but also of his peers and colleagues. Now, Larena is lauded in the entire province for its revenue generating economic enterprise through the Larena Water Works System. Similarly, another important gold legacy achieved and realized under the administration of former-mayor Gold Calibo. A legacy hoped by the constituents and the people involved in its realization to last and to thrive. Unfortunately, the threat of weather inclement threatened the water system’s capacity to deliver as expected. A few months ago, the municipality momentarily witnessed again the water rationing and scheduling. This recurrence could have been light to bear if the new leadership exercised prudence and harken counsel not to utilize water revenues for fat thirty thousand bonuses for municipal employees. Maybe the recurrence of such scenarios could be lessened if not prevented. The total amount easily breached millions of pesos for the number of LGU employees. A water reservoir for dry seasons which could easily unburden the plight of the paying constituents rather than pleasing a few employees is a far more responsible policy thrust. Unworthiness and irresponsibleness of decision is made more obtrusive in view of the initial resistance of the Sangguniang Bayan headed by the former-mayor and now vice-mayor Gold Calibo not to give the extravagant amount. Unfortunately, it fell on despotic deaf-ears; so, Larena must make do without a water reservoir and bear the inconveniences of water rationing and scheduling aside from the wishful thinking of planning how to spend thirty thousand pesos if by stroke of luck made a beneficiary. The third gold legacy of former-mayor Gold Calibo is the docking wharf of the NAPOCOR power barge 113 situated near the vicinity between the shore boundaries of barangays Canlambo and Taculing. As can be recalled, the province of Siquijor was hounded by severe power interruptions caused by inadequate power supply compounded by aging and malfunctioning diesel generator sets. To grant temporal relief, power barges were deployed by NAPOCOR in the strategic locations in the province. A power barge was deployed in the municipality of Lazi and in the municipality of Larena. The power barge in Larena was docked in the isolated portion of the Larena port, a facility owned by the government and managed by the Philippine Ports Authority. It stayed there for quite sometime to augment the power requirements of this dynamic municipality. Unfortunately, an unforseen act of God caused great damage not only to the power barge but also to the port facility. A damage which easily translated to millions of government expense. It prompted the PPA management to discontinue the arrangement with the NAPOCOR Power Barge in the Larena port to prevent exacerbation of the damage and to arrest the mounting expense. A timetable was set for its relocation to the idle port of Lazi if no alternative site could be provided in Larena. The strong typhoon did not only caused expensive damage but it threatened the status quo and could cause great inconvenience to the people and possible horrific economic fallout to the municipality. PROSIELCO General Manager Laureen Malolot wasted no time in making representations to the Sangguniang Bayan and to the former LCE of Larena for help in the relocation site. GM Malolot was aware that if there will be no measures to prevent the transfer of the power barge to the port of Lazi, the municipality of Larena will suffer severely if the looming power crisis should occur. Burdened with budgetary limitations, in the policy consultation with the former LCE, the policy decision was to immediately accommodate NAPOCOR Power Barge 113 in the above- mentioned location. Without surprise when the power crisis occurred, the municipality of Larena escaped slightly scathed. Unburdened by forced circumstance, when the recent power crisis hit our province for the second time, Larena suffered the most and the worst; meanwhile, the other municipalities severely affected before were taking it lightly. Reason is attributed to the new leadership’s refusal to patronize the policy drive of former mayor Gold Calibo in maintaining the location of the power barge. The present LCE allowed the transfer of the power barge to the municipality of Lazi, a prime target for political support. The new LCE did not allocate a manageable amount for the upkeep of the area demanded by NAPOCOR for reason of budgetary constraints. A questionable policy in light of the extravagant thirty thousand bonus. Anyway the municipality of Larena would just bear the brunt of the worst power shortage ever, which we actually did. (Now, the power barge is back in Larena. Why was it transferred in the first place? A clear admission of a flawed policy.) The fourth gold legacy of former-mayor Gold Calibo is the leadership anchored on the principles of the conduct of public servants embodied in the Code of Professional responsibility. Mayor Gold Calibo has been a dedicated observer in the mandates of the code. I have been operating for almost eight years now a restaurant/bar business situated in North Poblacion of the municipality of Larena. A thriving business which started really small until it evolved into something formal and presentable. At a time when there were only a few of its kind in the municipality, I, and similar others, took pride in its being. For years, I have not experienced difficulties in transacting with the local government. I have complete trust in Mayor Gold Calibos sense of fairness and objectiveness. In fact at a time when my establishment was hounded by a drainage problem attributed to the failure of the municipal government to provide an adequate drainage system, we have pooled resources to provide a solution. I contributed meager personal funds to augment whatever he could scrape from the municipal treasury. The collaboration provided an adequate solution. Now, it’s entirely different. It has been almost 11 months since the expected release of my establishments business permit, but it still is pending. This is so despite the ministerial duty to sign and release the permits once all the requirements have been complied with. The alleged reasons were diverse and contradictory. Initially, the present leadership whined and objected about my establishments alleged small declared gross sales per annum. Despite our initial objection, we acceded just to satisfy a person’s whims and caprices. This prompted a former colleague to jokingly suggest that if a gross declaration of one million is not enough, increase it again and again by another million until it will yield satisfaction. There is really no problem with that except that this person proved dishonest and untrustworthy in his own dealings. A cement supply and loading business (cellphone load) may have declared only eighty five thousand (P85000.00) gross sales in one year. A pharmacy business may have a declaration of only one hundred eighty five thousand pesos (P185000.00) gross sales in one year. Even small sari-sari stores in the hinterlands could easily surpass these obnoxious amounts. This persons actuations clearly deviates from the principles of the Code of Professional Responsibility, yet he is projecting himself in public as beyond reproach. Among the reasons, nuisance is added considering that there are nights where professional bands provide entertainment. If that be the case, why is it that my business appears to be the only establishment noticed? A similar establishment providing similar entertainment at the same day and time also situated in an equally crowded neighborhood hasn’t been called or sanctioned. Is there selective operational effect of the powers and prerogatives in this municipality? The other reasons alleged dont deserve mention, since it will only establish the petty nature and the primary motivation for this clear harassment. I could only recall those days when an honest effort is justly rewarded in this municipality. At any rate, closing my establishment is a viable option in a municipality desperately craving for a gold legacy. Gold legacies, as it emphatically imply above, magnify the contrast of the leadership styles and qualities; mark the character traits and behavior of the personalities; and above all, elucidate the programs and policies truly worthy of emulation and acknowledgement. It underscores the material and immaterial points, the appropriate and inappropriate measures, and the reasonableness and unreasonableness of a deed in a particular circumstance. Perhaps the people of Larena should rise beyond personal consideration and be objective and circumspect in their appreciation of the events and circumstances happening in their midst. Rising in this challenge will only fortify their responsibility for the welfare of the municipality of Larena and emblazon their worthy contribution to the progress of the province of Siquijor for eons to come.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 13:10:06 +0000
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