No dull moment

Ruffy Magbanua

THE final debate at the Atrium yielded what Cagayan de Oro is known for–golden friendship where people are forever friends like no other.

The city’s three mayoral contenders, sans the mudslinging and  exchange of foul language,  had proved to all and sundry that truly Cagay-anons are certified friendly people.

Amid the cool mall ambience, the three politicians who were in their best persona, manifested the Best of Friends Forever (BFF) gestures they could muster, at least in that final debate dubbed “Listen and Decide.”

Never mind the loud guffaws, pompous yells, jeers, and cheers from the three opposing camps.  At least, their political colors of yellow, purple and orange had practically turned the air-conditioned Atrium into a fiesta-like atmosphere complete with party banners conspicuously hanged all over the place. With free food and drinks, who would want to leave early? It was a debate cum party rolled into one.

Indeed, it was raucous yet engaging debate laced with political wits and occasional humors from the three mayoral aspirants who took turns in outlining their platform of governance to the delight and boos of the crowd.

The deafening sound of supporters  that echoed from all corners of the iconic Atrium was a manifestation of the  democratic space we now enjoy as a free nation.

After all, the debate was, in the eyes of the critical mass,  even more lively  albeit meaty than the three presidential debates combined. Now the bottom line: Who won the debate?

Foremost of the issues raised during the four-hour debate was the problem on waste disposal, Cagayan de Oro being one of the emerging cities in the country that has been constantly violating Republic Act No. 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act, for not closing its dump and establishing a new sanitary landfill.

Incumbent Mayor Moreno defended his stand by saying the present dumpsite could not be closed due to non-approval of the solid waste management budget by the city council’s majority bloc.

He further explained that he organized the City Solid Waste Management Board to assist the city government in addressing the garbage disposal issue.

Congressman Rufus, on the other hand, reiterated his plan of action: there will be no  political color in addressing the city’s garbage problem under his ward.

Instead, he called on for a unified effort to solve the solid waste  problem by closing the present dump site  and transfering it to  a safer sanitary landfill somewhere else.

Former Mayor Emano took his turn in blaming Moreno on why the problem on waste disposal persisted up to this day.

Emano even boasted that during his term, a lot for a sanitary landfill was bought by the city government but the administration of Mayor Moreno failed to utilize it for obvious reasons: dirty politics at play in city hall.

Likewise, discussions on drugs and petty crimes were not taken lightly with  Oca taking the brunt from both Rufus and Dongkoy who bombarded the incumbent mayor with pellets of condemnation over his failure to address the city’s social ills that sent jitters to all of us Cagay-anons.

Dongkoy, his body language a complete replica of Vice President Binay, touted throughout the two-hour debate his accomplishments in his 15-year reign as city mayor.

He was an epitome of a grand old man trying to get back the glory and the crown he once held like a king of fantasy land.  His concluding sound bite to drop Oca and Rufus was not convincing enough for a sway vote to come in his favor.

In fact, Dongkoy appeared pathetic about his candidacy, and his plan to return to the city hall was too good to be true.

To the many, Dongkoy’s  wish list was more of personal  pride and the thirst for the return of the Jedi at city hall.  And this could only be realized if by fate he will be given the chance to rule this city of 600,000 people.

Incumbent Mayor Moreno was in a defensive mode, relating how the Emano boys at the city council treated him like a nobody in city hall.

Oca did his best but his best was not good enough to soften the Emano-controlled city council. It was indeed one hell of a ride for the Moreno administration.

The city hall feud may be recorded as the longest running in the history of Cagayan de Oro–three years of infighting at the expense of the  taxpaying Cagay-anons.

The flamboyant Rufus Rodriguez, on the other hand, was  in formal Barong and confidently prepared for the final showdown.

He outlined his 10-point agenda with problems on drugs, peace and order and traffic coming in as his top concerns.

Rufus was in his best fighting mood, a good replica of the Congress days where he outstandingly made a name for Cagayan de Oro.

The only pure-bred Cagay-anon among the mayoral candidates, he  vowed to bring to city hall a dynamic brand of governance with a heart for all Cagay-anons.

E-mail: ruffy44_ph2000@yahoo.com