Bencyrus Ellorin
ON Saturday, marginal sectors of society marched to the Kiosko Kagawasan at Divisoria to present their governance agenda to Team OKKE and their city council slates for Districts 1 and 2.
The activity was a culmination of month-long process of conscienticizing the local governance agenda on the Indigenour People (Lumad), youth, education, urban poor/ informal settlers, women, health, environment and other governance themes.
It was no surprise the multisectoral gathering dubbed “Kagayanong Kampanya alang sa Kalambuan” ended up endorsing the reelection bids of Mayor Oscar Moreno and 1st District Rep. Klarex Uy, vice mayoral candidate Kikang Uy, 2nd District congressional bet Edgar Cabanlas and the 16-person city council slate for Districts 1 and 2.
The endorsement was borne out of two things: 1) the continuing process of change in the city now directed at the city council dominated by minions of the 15-year mayor who did nothing but cultivated his cult personality; and 2) sustaining the gains of the Moreno administration, pushing it to surpass its own governance targets along the themes of public education, health, environment, especially on waste management, social welfare, public infrastructure, fiscal management, among others.
On April 7, 2016, I wrote the column “Call to action vs forces that kill.” It was a strongly worded piece calling on people to rally behind Mayor Moreno and his team to immediately stop the anti-people character of the city council amid threats of an Emano comeback.
I was aware of this mutlisectoral process because earlier, they have presented their governance agenda, an output of months of consultation to the mayor at Xavier University. Saturday’s gathering was a move further, addressing their governance agenda to a wider public audience.
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Is it true that one political group has stopped doing nightly rallies around the city and in its desperation their principal candidates are literally throwing money – hailing motorelas, trisikads, jeepneys and taxis to give P200 for motorela drivers, P100 to trisikad drivers, P300 to jeepney drivers and P500 to taxi drivers.
Where did their money come from? Are they finally doing the right deed – doing a Robin Hood?
The former mayor cum political cult leader on the other hand is reportedly in a comtemplative mode, telling his alipores the legacy he wanted to live behind, that he realizes politics is not just about winning but knowing to heart that people are voting for you because they share your “kawsa” and “krusada.”
The May 2016 polls is a few sleeps away. May the people be guided by an informed opinion and their conscience in casting their votes.
E-mail: bency.ellorin@gmail.com
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