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Renato Tibon . 

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”Michael Jordan

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FEW Philippine representative-legislators have distinguished themselves for having accomplished exceedingly much for their districts. Fewer still are those who hailed from, were educated and have served in the same place of their birth. Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez, a native-born Kagayanon, an exemplary student who graduated at the top of his class, a prolific book author and acclaimed debater, never lost any opportunity to fight in the august halls of Congress, for resolutions and enactments that not only advance the interests and aspirations of his local constituents but for the country as well.

“Mr. Performance” as he is fondly called, Congressman Rufus is well-known in District 2 of Cagayan de Oro City for his “HEED-i” platform, having championed initiatives that became laws in Health, Education, Employment, Dwelling (Housing) and infrastructures, all and a lot more attained during his three straight terms in office from 2007-2016. With a perfect attendance throughout his career, he ranked No. 1 among 285 congressmen in the number of bills and resolutions, too numerous to mention, of which 31 had become Republic Acts just in the 15th Congress alone.

In the 16th Congress his bills were enacted into an additional 40 more laws, both local and national concerning education and livelihood programs, benefits and various government assistance for veterans, persons with disabilities, children during emergencies and relief operations, consumer protection and regulating, modernizing and strengthening of various government agencies and private initiatives. It would be noteworthy to discuss these measures in our subsequent articles. Among the many other notable achievements he has carried to completion for the community were the following:

Agriculture

A total of P300 million secured from the Department of Agriculture was spent for the concreting of 30 kilometers farm-to-market roads costing P250 million and another P50 million for tractors, livestock and seeds to assist in farmers’ productivity in District 2.

He was likewise able to access funds from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the amount of P35 million which furnished fish cages, fishing boats and fishing nets to constituents living along the vast coastal areas of the city.

Environment

District 2’s champion for the Environment, aside from the law which prohibits mining and logging activities in the hills and mountains bordering the city, was able to secure a total amount of 80 Million from DENR for the thematic Tree-planting programs which included upland, urban, mangrove and riverside tree planting initiatives.

Tourism

Through his efforts, the Department of Tourism and DPWH were able to release a total of P180 million for the concreting of roads leading to tourist destinations in the city, prominent among which are the concrete roads towards the Mapawa Nature Park and FS Catanico Falls. Just this year, the House Committee on Tourism approved a measure declaring the more than 200-year-old Dao tree, found in Mapawa, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City, as heritage tree and a tourist attraction. The Department of Tourism is mandated “to prepare development plan involving construction, installation and maintenance of appropriate facilities and infrastructure that would ensure the protection of the area and enhance its tourism.” This was originally proposed by Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez and was refiled by Congressman Maxie B. Rodriguez. 

“Mr. Performance” Congressman Rufus wants to continue championing Kagayanons’ cause in the fields of  disaster and risk management, traffic solutions, cleanliness and waste management, peace and order, transparency and accountability and more infrastructures that would greatly hasten movement of traffic and goods around and through the city. Somebody who makes things happen, a real people’s champion. Michael Jordan would have approved no less.

Should we gamble our city’s future?

(Renato Gica Tibon is a fellow of the Fellowship of the 300, an elite organization under Centrist Democracy Political Institute  [CDPI] with focus on political technocracy. He  holds both position as political action officer and program manager of the Institute. He is the former regional chairman for Region 10 and vice president for Mindanao of the Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines [CDP].)

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