ILIGAN City ― This “major major” term had been brought to public consciousness by Ms. Venus Raj in an international beauty pageant several years ago. She came up as a runner-up in that pageant. In spite of that?
Or because of that! Take your pick. And I too remember another international pageant contestant, a Miriam Quiambao, earlier too. She stumbled during the pageant. But she got up immediately, mumbling “jokening” words on the matter.
And she was noticed. Positively! Which nearly gave her the Miss U crown.
Anyway, this isn't about pageants or crowns. This is about governance. Major major concerns about governance. There I go again and pardon me, please…
In some aspects pageants and governance are kind of similar. For you prepare for it before plunging headlong into it So there are the t-teams for the “smooth” transition to a new one ― the winner.
And in the process, the new administration learns new things about what they are getting into “The winner takes it all, the loser standing small” says some Abba song of yesteryear. And in the process too the winner in this city which is the Frederick Siao team sees two concerns that they deem as, “problematic.”
These are the “world-class” Palao market and the “Colegio de Iligan.” These two which involve millions of dollars are hanging in the balance of doubt. This market costing over half a billion pesos seems now to be in limbo, what with several target completion dates under the outgoing administration of mayor Celso G Regencia not met yet.
And it seems nobody is working there now!
I don’t know if it helps that CGR’s administration says that “no loans” were made for the pursuit of such a project.
And then there’s the “Colegio de Iligan.” Which in spite of the songs of praise of the outgoing admin, is equally problematic! Because there’s no accreditation from the Commission on Higher Education yet.
And if there should be in the future, should it be continued, it “might not be retroactive.” So, what happens to the present 700 students now funded by the city? Will their studies now be for naught?
These are then the two major major concerns. Although there’s more. Like the water problem, the garbage, the drainage, traffic, the collapsed structures, the contractors of “can no longer be located,” and so on and so forth.
Siao though says “we aren’t going to keep on blaming the previous administration.” We try our best to address them. How?
He has other words for all these: “We’ll do a lot of studying!'” He adds though as an afterthought, something like “I’m not vengeful, but neither am I forgetful.”
I don’t know what to make of those words.
(Email: norasorino2@gmail.com)
