Hard issues

Ben Contreras

EVERYONE loves a winner. But that’s Philippine politics. We cannot accuse any politician of backstabbing, treachery or double dealing. In Philippine politics, everything goes. The bottom line is survival.

As we reach the homestretch, many more things are to happen, from the bizarre to the unexpected, and to the “I told you so.”

It’s time to lie low. My choice for the national leadership is clearly ahead and my local choice has exuded confidence. It’s time to go to hard issues.

Our city is growing. We need more roads, bridges and maybe, more skyways. We do not just need more drainage plans but effective ones. When giant businesses come in, we must not allow them to congest our streets even more but plan more contingences to avoid traffic congestion.

Malls and big hotels, condo or condo-tels are sprouting like mushroom. They would need more water. Our water provider may have to provide and answer to their needs, but its expansion and rehabilitation that are ongoing should benefit all, the small ones (residential) and those who have none at all included.

Cleanliness and order: the last two administrations have not considered cleaning up our surroundings. They focus on a few spots and showcase them. The rest, it’s the same old scenes of garbage and messy sidewalks.

By the way, a businessman just commented: “We have more than 700 policemen in the city but hardly see any in our streets.” Whether it’s accurate or not, his point is, policemen should be visible in our streets or in some corners.

Our social problems are hardly addressed seriously. Drug, informal settlers, job, criminality, these are problems that challenge every administration from the past to the present.

Once, we were promised a new dawn. Today, many challenges remain to be faced and done.

• •

If the surname “Jarales” does not ring a bell to you, then he must be just a boy next door. But wait, I happened to see his curriculum vitae and it speaks a lot about Fermin “Mick” V. Larales. His CV speaks of his qualifications, from educational attainments to his active involvement in college activities and youth leadership, his rich experiences in private institutions  and government service, notwithstanding his deep participation as a consultant and resource person in many fields, the training programs he undergone. All these rolled into one makes him truly formidable, learned and experienced person.

At 36, he aims his gun at the second highest position of Misamis Oriental against a prominent family name, moneyed and season politician. What has he got to snatch it from the incumbent? His youth, his looks? Nah… I think it’s more than that. I think it’s his dynamism.

Perhaps, this is his greatest challenge in life, but certainly, not a journey into the unknown. Politics has been a part of his life. If the people of Misamis Oriental are gasping for fresh air, then Jarales could be it. If his platform of government is anything to go by, I see him as an innovator.