Overreacting?

Ben Contreras

TRANSPARENCY and accountability–this is the most important of them all, at least to me. While this was not the case during Dongkoy Emano’s time and still has not been under the Moreno administration, I hope that Rufus Rodriguez will keep his promise to us.

RR promised that all transaction of the city government would be transparent, and can be scrutinize by any citizen of the city. All biddings will be witnessed by NGOs. No public information will be denied of anyone. This is one of the things those pushing for the FOI bill are asking for.

Environment, tourism, and disaster risk management–a law has already been passed declaring Cagayan de Oro as mining free. While Moreno has been sincere in its drive against illegal mining, it has kept and continues to keep a blind eye to illegal quarrying committed allegedly by a political ally.

RR promised none of these will happen during his watch.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council would be strengthened.

Dwelling–allot funds for City Urban Development and Housing Program. The new concept for housing is vertical, say, four-story buildings.

The plan is for the city government to provide 10 percent equity so a qualified family can buy the lot from NHA and Social Housing Finance Corp..

This caps the 10-point agenda of Rep. Rodriguez or The Epic Ted–if elected.

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Are the local media practitioners overreacting to the supposed limitations imposed on them during the presidential debate scheduled tomorrow? I don’t think so. But if they decide to boycott the event, it will be not without reason/s. One claimed that this is not the first time. There are precedents when local media practitioners were given the cold shoulder by Manila-based groups or organizers.

Frankly, I am not that sensitive. I may even opt to watch the debate elsewhere than with the crowd.

Concerns have been raised about the kind of questions that would be asked. Would the questions be truly reflective of the real situation at ground zero?

People expect questions that concern not only one part of the country but encompassing every island of the Republic.

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Duterte fans await this debate with bated breath because they want to see their idol in flesh. A rally would be held at the Kiosk in Divisoria, to be graced by Duterte himself.

Expect people from all camps–yellow, orange, and lavander. While their leaders are at each other, their followers are one for Duterte. Thus, it makes it hard to imagine why Duterte will not win here.

Personally, I don’t believe surveys if my day-to-day encounter with people is a gauge to go by.

The success of the free T-shirts campaign is another strong gauge to go by.