FRIDAY, April 21, as I write this column.
In the morning, I had coffee at Vacion’s in the Dumangas Public Market.
I talked to members of the town’s Traffic Enforcement Unit, and some coffee shop regulars who have issues with what’s going on in our town.
People have been complaining about the traffic in the poblacion.
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When people complain, they usually come to me.
They explain to me their complaints, and I tell them, “I am not your mayor.” Haha.
They think that I’m “The Voice” of the town.
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You see, a lot of people complain about so many things in Dumangas.
Some even complain to the Mayor’s office.
And they complain to me even more when there is no action, or no proper resolution of their complaints.
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I understand where they are coming from.
That’s why I’m pretty active on social media, and in my public pronouncements regarding the goings on in Dumangas.
I figured, as a most followed Dumangasanon on social media, I get heard.
If not by the LGU, at least by the people who think about the future of my town.
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All this, for me, boils down to political will.
The will to do things right by the people.
To listen to what they need, and address those concerns.
Less of top-to-bottom leadership that forces things down the throat of the townspeople; and more of consultative leadership where the grassroots is heard for the initiatives and development that they need.
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Then again, such form of effective consultative leadership needs a hands-on leader.
Now, when the leaders of the town are hardly seen by the public (and this is the most common complaint that I hear), it can spell disaster for a town.
When no one is visibly or palpably leading, where are we going?
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As far as I am concerned, I don’t care if our elected officials do not report to their physical office…
…for as long as they do right by the people all the time.
But if their decisions are occasionally faulty because of their long absences, that’s problematic.
That’s a serious concern.
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If I may say so myself, a lot of the traffic management efforts in the poblacion area of Dumangas feels arbitrary.
At whose authority are the traffic enforcers acting?
Are the things that they do legal?
And is the public aware of these ordinances and legal standings that are supposed to be implemented?
Because sadly, common sense is not so common in the Philippines.
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Point One: Can we slow down the vehicles in the poblacion where pedestrian traffic is heavy?
Last year, an accident happened in front of the municipal hall.
How can a vehicle hit someone in front of the municipal hall, and this accident leads to death?
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Around noon, I biked my way to the defunct floating restaurants at the Dumangas Coastal Road.
I had lunch at one of those coastal road restaurants, not floating! Haha.
P325 for 1/4 kilo sweet and spicy shrimp, talaba, cup of rice, and Mountain Dew.
Then, I swam a little bit to cool off.
But there were plenty of jellyfish.
So, after a while, I just read a book at the floating cottages.
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I got into the water again for a little more time.
Then, I drove my bike passing through the new seaside esplanade (called the “sea wal” by the locals).
I went by the Port of Dumangas.
I crossed five barangays to get home, and on the fourth, I stopped for a “Ball” of tuba.
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That made me sleepy so I walked around the plaza to get coffee.
My regular coffee place was closed for the holiday, but there were several other coffee places that have been inviting me.
So I went to LeCafé Snack Corner.
They gave me a large iced caramel macchiato for P85.
They also offered me the WiFi, but I said no.
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By the time you read this, it would be Monday, and I would have been back to Iloilo from Pandan, Antique.
Early tomorrow morning, we will drive to Pandan for the Malumpati Eco-Run.
The run is for Sunday, April 23.
I didn’t register for any of the races because I injured my right foot earlier in the month.
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But I believe in signs.
If on the last hour they’ll register me, I’m likely to run one of the shorter distances.
(I guess you will have to read April 29’s FRONTPAGE for an update of my adventures, and for a journalist’s report from the ground.)
If I don’t get to run, it is God’s will for me to sit this one out.
But I’m still covering the event.
Because if I’m there, it’s proof enough that it happened./PN
