By Frizzyl Sumabong
Team OKKA .
LEADERS exist in all aspects of life and society. They are present in humanity’s oldest stories, like Homer’s Iliad, in The Bible and Beowulf, stories that feature leaders who have a keen ability to command others, who are brave and selfless in battle, and who have natural composure under fire, heavy conflict or adversity all while leading other people.
We have come to know Ian Mark Nacaya as a seasoned local legislator, a four-termer councilor, twice elected as the majority floor leader, a position in the council held only by lawyers since 1950s. His resounding popularity traces back as Nazareth’s promising Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson and became then the youngest ever elected punong barangay in the city. His stint as punong barangay of Nazareth gave him different awards and recognitions.
Nacaya’s social astuteness, interpersonal influence and apparent sincerity being then punong barangay was his fuel which propelled and made him a rising local legislator.
Nacaya has been known for championing the rights of civilians. His dedication, sincerity and strong political led him to head the People’s Law Enforcement Board, ferociously deciding cases on complaints filed against police officers. He was the only non-lawyer to head the body for six years (2007-2013), which is held usually by lawyers since 1991.
Majority Floor Leader Ian Mark Nacaya is undeniably one of the most successful legislators in the city. His longevity in the council made him enact landmark legislations. He has a litany of authorships and co-authorships, from scholarship code, child welfare code, traffic code, women’s and senior citizens’ code, pushed for private-public partnership ordinance, sponsored the pro-environment ordinances and strongly lobbied big chunk of budget for health services in the city.
His colorful life being legislator gives him the gift and talent to meticulously observe and see situations and intelligently respond to discussions.
His passion for public service which he prized is his dedication to do things right. Being the most senior city councilor, he makes sure that every legislations of the council will not come into naught.
Nacaya has the gift of gab, the ability to master his language and convey thoughts, ideas and motivation to the people. He is able to influence or engage other people to induce outcomes and or provoke actions.
Majority floor leader Nacaya does not only keeps himself busy on legislative matters. His experience and knowledge extends beyond the corners of the august chamber of the city council.
With the anointment of Mayor Moreno, Councilor Nacaya oversees the affairs of both City Economic Enterprises Department and “east-” “westbound” terminals and public market, he being also the committee chairperson of economic enterprises committee in the city council.
Public enterprises contribute to sustainable development and quality service goals of the local government. Public enterprises are supposed to receive less subsidy from government but generates income.
For 15 miserable years of mismanagement, CEED and vendors suffered. Because of patronage politics, ambulant vendors outside the markets were permitted then to display, which jeopardized the legitimate vendors inside the markets. As a result, legitimate vendors are not profiting, they cannot pay rentals, and CEED does not income too.
It is also very catastrophic to see Puerto Market fall to its knees. It went under fire, survived many flooding, until it succumbed over the years of suffering.
It was only until the entry of Ian Mark Nacaya these seemingly unsurmountable problems cannot be conquered. It takes a passionate, communicative and stern leadership to hurdle this problem. He said that CEED has never faced a test as it does today. People are watching it and with this challenge comes and opportunity. People are thirsty for quality government service in public markets.
Managing public markets is never that easy. It is not as easy as drinking a glass of water nor just a piece of cake. The political will shown by Councilor Nacaya awakens the people not only in Cogon, but also in Carmen and Puerto, to contribute their fair share of development for our markets.
Though we have a lot more jobs to do, but the right footing was set by majority floor leader Ian Mark Nacaya.
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