MY…MY, it does seem infectious but channeling out your inner “Digong” does seem to work. First it was “I Am Iloilo City” mayor Geronimo, his tough “take no prisoners” stance with Panay Electric Co. or PECO resulted in them paying the city P134,927,522.63 which covers PECO’s past and present real property tax liability from 2006 until 2019.
Of course, PECO had no choice but to give to “I Am Iloilo City” treasurer Jinny Hermano that amount or else the city will auction all their assets and property.
Before staring down PECO’s Marcelo Ugarte Cacho which prompted him to hand with a smile the check as payment for their unpaid real property taxes, “I Am Iloilo City” Mayor Geronimo also did a no compromise, clearing of all the city streets and sidewalks in compliance to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to take back the roads from illegal vendors and squatters.
The result of that tough stance was the Department of the Interior and Local Government or DILG giving “I Am Iloilo City” an above average rating or medium compliant in road clearing operation. Of course the natives and Mayor Geronimo would have wanted a better than above average or a high compliant rating.
This simply means that there are still areas in “I Am Iloilo City” that need improvement for it to get a high compliant rating from the DILG.
As DILG said time and time again the road clearing operations did not stop with that first evaluation, rather it is a continuing operation which, if you take it in a progressive point of view, an excellent opportunity for “I Am Iloilo City” to improve into a high compliant rating.
For “I Am Iloilo City” to get a high compliant rating from the DILG shows that it is on the road (pun intended) to Mayor Geronimo’s “level up” program.
Well unfortunately there will always be some who will rain on “I Am Iloilo City” Mayor Geronimo’s parade or “throw a spanner” in his “level up” vision of the city.
The spoilers with their inward and selfish attitude are the illegal sidewalk vendors who are now moving heaven and earth to take back the streets and the sidewalks. Take note that when “I Am Iloilo City” Mayor Geronimo cleared the roads and sidewalks these illegal vendors were not left in the cold, they were given a place in the middle of Calle Real to continue their trade free of rent for a year courtesy of the Cacho family.
Then this happened, excerpts from the Dec. 14, 2019 issue of Panay News:
DILG WON’T BUDGE
Vendors still banned from sidewalks this holiday season
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Western Visayas rejected appeals to allow the return of vendors on sidewalks here this holiday season. “We only have one stand: public roads must be cleared of obstructions,” said Director Ariel Iglesia.
The Iloilo Sidewalk Vendors Association had written DILG Region 6 asking to open the city’s sidewalks to them even just for 16 days from Dec. 15 to 31.
“This will help us in our expenses, most especially vendors who are financially unstable,” read part of the letter.
“We answered the vendors. It will be the city mayor who will decide. But as far as the DILG is concerned, public road clearing operation is continuing, and this is the responsibility of local chief executives and village officials,” said Iglesia.
In an interview last week about the vendors’ request, Mayor Jerry Treñas said, “I don’t know how it can be done.”
The city government has been clearing roads and sidewalks of obstructions since July following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order for local chief executives to reclaim public spaces being used for private ends.
Mayors not following the order would be held administratively liable for, among others, negligence, and could be suspended.
“We stand by the policy of the department. All public roads and public spaces are for public use, they are beyond the commerce of man,” said Iglesia, citing DILG Memorandum Circular 121-2019.
The director said his office is continuously monitoring road clearing operations of all local government units and has called the attention of local chief executives of areas where vendors have started returning to sidewalks.
“Hindi pwedeng balikan,” stressed Iglesia, although he acknowledged that sidewalk vending is main livelihood of these people.
It seems that DILG 6 Regional Director Ariel Iglesia, like “I Am Iloilo City” Mayor Geronimo, has also been inflicted to channel out their inner “Digong” and stand tough, taking no prisoners in implementing the law.
And it should be as these illegal sidewalk vendors are used to have their way, particular during the previous administrations using their perceived clout as “block voters” holding politicians and government officials by their “puti itlog” or white balls.
This time these “spoiled” illegal sidewalk vendors have met their match in “I Am Iloilo City” Mayor Geronimo and DILG 6 Director Aris Iglesia, both with “black balls” and political will to match.
But then again Moi might havespoken too soon and the illegal sidewalk vendors have already taken the sidewalks back on Dec. 16. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
