By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
CADIZONS must be jubilant today.
Cadiz City’s Mayor Salvador “Bading” Escalante, Jr. will feted, having been included in the “Magic 13” of the most outstanding local chief executives (LCEs) in the entire Philippines (PH) in this year’s Nation Builders and Most Sustainable and Liveable (MOSLIV) Awards.
They’ll be honored at Okada, Manila in Parañaque City at 4 p.m. today.
Bading is an outstanding LCE in the Blue Category along with Mayor Arturo Robes of
San Jose del Monte City, Mayor Marjorie Perales of Toledo City (Cebu), Mayor Jose Relampagos of Panabo City (Davao del Norte) and Mayor Nielo Tupas of Barotac Viejo (Iloilo).
The others are Mayor Joseph Tan of Santiago City (Isabela), Mayor Pryde Henry Teves of Bayawan (Negros Oriental) and Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig City in the Gold Category.
Composing the Yellow Category awardees are Mayor Rocelle Carolino of Sta. Maria (Laguna), Mayor Carlos Jr. of Asingan (Pangasinan), Mayor Emerson Lachica of Kalibo (Aklan) and Mayor Jose Paolo Teves of Baras (Catanduanes).
Ormoc City’s Mayor Richard Gomez is the lone awardee in the Green Category.
But what is MOSLIV Awards?
It’s a yearly endeavor by MOSLIV Community by Sustainability, Standards, Inc., a group of international interests in the development of individual family, community, local government units, (LGU) national government and non-governmental organization (NGO).
This venture aims to ensure and promote the integration and the principles of smarter, sustainable and greener community, allowing prosperity for now and future generations.
How do they choose outstanding leaders or LCEs?
MOSLIV Standards simply validates the high ratings for the intangible assets of a certain LCE.
But the sheer reputation and image of the mayor is among the highest motivator.
Also, dealing with transparency among suppliers and constituents gets the highest consideration. And such must be reinforced by the mayor’s high morale and employees’ loyalty to his/her administration.
‘WHY-WHY’ ANALYSIS
Question: Does Mayor Bading (really) deserve such an accolade?
Well, I took time sitting with the mayor in a three-hour one-on-one interview.
I dug into the perspective(s) of why he’s included among the “best mayors” in the country?
Candid as he is, Bading, of course, shared some notable facts and figures that, somehow, propelled him to be picked to receive this prestigious award – the very first in his 26 years in public service.
“I never knew about this. We’re just asked to submit certain documents, and my department heads also complied. Well, that’s it. So, this (the award) simply came as a great surprise to me… or to us,” he says (in jest).
I got his point.
Then, slowly, Bading explains to me his simple “why-why” analysis.
For him, their “best efforts” at the height of COVID-19 pandemic probably caught the organizer’s attention.
“I can’t really say we’re the best. Bu the fact is, amid lockdowns, we really did something noteworthy that our people valued much.”
Our fast and effective anti-COVID vaccination drive, inoculating more than 80% of Cadizons was, indeed, commendable, he addsed
He’s thankful to everyone’s efforts and support. “Alone, I can’t do this, thus, I owe everything to all the Cadiznons.”
‘OPEN CITY’
Moreover, Cadiz, Bading says, is now an “OPEN CITY’ for investors (big or small).
In just 11 minutes, one can apply and renew a business permit.
“Tax perks” are also up for grabs.
With this, Cadiz now earns more than P200 million in local revenues on top of its surest income of P1.3 billion Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) annually.
“It’s our way of pump-priming our local economy,” quips Bading, adding, “In return, we’re enjoying now the so-called investors’ trust.”
Too, he’s elated by the current performance of their 11-year-old Cadiz City Port (CCP).
CCP, our economic booster, rakes millions of pesos (now) in monthly income, bares Bading.
Thus, Cadiz is now home to 12 banks, three malls, fast food chains and a car showroom.
So, to let Cadiznons savor the “greatness of progress”, Bading profoundly invested on various meaningful infrastructure projects. For this year, he earmarked a total P1 billion for (concrete) road construction and completion in their 22 villages.
Of the P1-B, P850-M will be devoted to agricultural infrastructures.
Good roads, he stresses, will complement their thrust to upgrade and modernize their agricultural approaches aimed at ensuring food security in Cadiz.
So, he reveals, they’ve also started re-capacitating their 57 farmers’ and fisher folks’ associations.
‘GREEN CITY’
Cadiz also maintains its brand as a “Green City” in Negros.
It hosts the 132.5-megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Hacienda Paz, Barangay Tinampa-an, the largest solar facility, so far, in Southeast Asia.
Cadiz, he says, also strengthens its position against any coal-fired power plant proposal. “We want to protect our city by way of protecting our natural resources and environment wonders.”
Just recently, Bading discloses, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) declared Cadiz as habitat for the migrating and endangered species of birds found in Barangays Daga and Luna.
Too, they keep on promoting now their Aloyan and Alimatoc falls as their new tourism “come-on”.
Dalayapan, their upland tourism haven, is also fast-becoming a byword among nature lovers and tourists alike.
‘INSTANT CHAMPION’ IN EDUCATION
The imposition of Blended Learning Education (BLE) amidst pandemic and new normal also made Bading an “instant champion” in education.
To ensure that modules will be printed on time in quick and easy ways, the city bought printing press machines for each of their 10 educational districts.
For accomplished modules, they reward students with rice and milk.
They also have Project PAT (Pagkaon Aton Tandum), a sustainable city-initiated/ funded feeding program for school kids.
Cadiz also ranked second as best nutrition program(s) implementer in the entire province.
For radio-based educational instructions, the city acquired an FM (radio) station.
Such serves now as the city’s advocacy station – accessible not just for the Department of Education (DepEd), but also for other departments of the city gov’t.
Cadiz has also more than a thousand scholars in college right now.
This, as Bading avers: “In as much as possible, we really want to empower all our people through education.”
Likewise, Cadiz’s also positioning to be the “Art Capital” of Negros soonest.
His passion in arts, especially in painting, fuels Bading’s drive to always give their local artists potent avenue(s) to showcase their crafts and pieces via exhibits and competitions even in the midst of pandemic.
Relatively, Cadiz, in general, is peaceful with super-low crime index, Bading confides. With low crime index, everything “well” follows, he adds. Their relentless efforts against illegal drugs are gaining grounds, too. Pandemic curfew, he points out, helped much in crime reduction.
Above all, Bading has a new promise for Cadiznons: A world-class children’s park sooner.
AIN’T MAGIC
Of course, “all this” ain’t magic, the mayor contends. Rather, twangs Bading, it (really) takes a lot of efforts, patience, and perseverance to steer Cadiz to greater heights.
I do agree!
But, for me, what made Bading excel in public service is his being humble and down-to-earth. He’s not a likeness of a typical haciendero-slash-chief executive that Negros ever had. Physical outlook: Bading’s a common tao, thus, relatable to all. He’s like a “kanto boy” who can blend with anyone. But the way he thinks, he’s “super realistic”.
He loves to address actualities, thus, (always) exemplary in almost all aspects.
He’s both emphatic and strong.
Over all, Bading is an epitome of what former United Stats’ (US) First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was advocating before among world leaders: “To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.”
Kudos to Mayor Bading, and enjoy the moment, hence!
Really, he’s Negros’ pride! Worthy of emulation! /PN
