City needs a decisive mayor

Churchill Aguilar

THE next mayor in Oro has to be decisive because being friendly and charismatic doesn’t cut it anymore. To do the right thing is not enough but rather seeing things through making it sure that the desired outcome gets materialized.  The gridlock that was successfully orchestrated by the city council puts us way behind in all aspects of development. We don’t want such horror to repeat ever.

In a very partisan city, decisiveness is a necessary trait for any leader if we are serious in bringing about change. By this, he should not accept any excuse for a failed project or program, be it due to the gridlock or due to lack of budget because again of the gridlock. If something failed, the mayor should have the attitude of taking all the blame to himself because at the end of it all he is the chief executive officer–that is what we call accountability, and that is the only way for him to be on his toes until targets are reached. To blame the situation or other people only shows he does not have what it takes to lead a growing city and we surely don’t need such.

The next question is, who among the three leading mayoral candidates is decisive?

The “Sendong” experience made us doubt the decisiveness of Dongkoy while the successful gridlock in the city council makes us also question Oca’s caliber. We are yet to see how Rufus makes decisions crucial enough to change a crisis situation. So who really among the three has the balls enough to move heavens and earth?

Cagayanons are tired of political squabbles. We are tired of excuses, too. We want results, and the best results we want are those that can change food in our table. Those who can provide us sustainable jobs and not just temporary ones that expires in a month or two. Those who can make enemies their allies in a unified effort of establishing a leading city in Mindanao. So far, we have not seen anyone from our politicians who has done that.

Decisiveness should have to be a balance of taking matters into one’s hands and/or delegating it to the right expert who can deliver and not just those who promise they can. Because leaders who only delegate are only as good as their weakest links. Yes, hire the right people but if they cannot see things through and if they fall short for whatever reason, the head should jump in to analyze the problem and save the day.

Decisiveness is a necessary trait for the next mayor to be successful. But, of course, he has to have the right information to make all his decisions very informed. And his decisiveness has to be oriented towards improving the living condition of every Cagayanon, because it can also be possible that such trait can be directed at all the wrong vested interests, and in that case it would be the right weapon aimed at the wrong target.