BY GLENDA TAYONA, IME SORNITO & RM CALANTAS
ILOILO City – How did President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. perform in his first year in office? Ilonggos weigh in.
Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said he is happy that the province is a recipient of many flagship infrastructure projects of the Marcos administration
The governor cited the Iloilo-Capiz Aklan Expressway (ICAEx), Panay Railway System and Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Inter-Island Link Bridges.
Defensor also commended the eight-point economic agenda of the administration which is aligned with his development mantra “MoRProGRes Iloilo” or Movement for a Robust, Progressive and Globally competitive and Resilient Province of Iloilo which sets the direction of the province in achieving progress.
“All in all it’s positive, okay man,” said Vice Gov. Christine Garin.
She, however, said there is more room for improvement in peace and order and the campaign against illegal drugs.
“Improve more pa gid kay ti bal-an ko iban man ang priority sang aton bag-o nga presidente. Improve pa gid ang peace and order kay indi man lang ini para sa turista, kundi para sa mga Pilipino. Kampante man kita maglagaw or senarayo diri sa aton nga lugar,” said Garin.
Meanwhile, like Defensor, Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas also gave Marcos a high rating of 8.5, with 10 as the highest.
For the city mayor, the President is doing well. He noted that except for a few, he appointed the right officials in office.
He is also thankful that the city is one of the recipients of the administration’s housing program.
“Kita, we are very much bent to join the pabahay program kay kadamo gid sang informal settlers naton diri sa syudad… Daku nga bulig ini para sa ila,” he added.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional director Livino Duran, on the other hand, is looking forward to have more priority programs on the environment. Initially, he expressed elation that the President already made mention about water security.
He is also hopeful that as the president of Society of Filipino Foresters in Western Visayas, the National Land Use Act will be finally put in place.
On the other hand, Kabataan party-list’s Cong. Raoul Manuel is giving the President an incomplete grade as he failed to give attention to some sectors.
He cited the insufficient budget or assistance for state universities and colleges (SUCs). He noted that the Marcos administration prioritized more the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) instead of programs on education.
“Sige ang taas sang balaklon pero ang sweldo sang mamumugon indi gid kalagas. Ti, daw wala pa kita sang nabatian about sa wage hike sa aton president,” he added.
Moreover, Iloilo’s 1st District Provincial Board member Jo Ann Germinanda lauded the good direction of the current administration.
She said the people have felt the improvement of services of the three sectors – health, infrastructure and agriculture.
“Swerte kita nga Ilonggos nga may leaders kita pareho sa ila,” said Germinanda.
She added that what she likes is that the President does not hold grudges. He looks on the potentials of a person that even he is not a partymate, he is given position as Cabinet secretary.
Iloilo’s 3rd District Provincial Board member Matt Palabrica, for his part, gave five out of 10 rating to the performance of the President. He noted that Marcos’ performance was tested during the pandemic and under his watch, the flow of the economy has been back to normal.
But, he opined that the current administration needs to exert more effort and focus on agriculture.
Second District Provincial Board member June Mondejar, meantime, said it is still premature to give assessment since the President was just one year in the office.
Nevertheless, he wants his administration to improve the campaign against illegal drugs.
“Ang parte sa drugs daw na-obserbahan ko kay daw naligwahan, amo na daw nag-proliferate or spread naman ang droga,” he noted.
Furthermore, jeepney driver Rizalino Antonano Jr. expressed disappointment because the President failed to keep his promises such as to reduce the price of rice.
“Siling niya ang mga bugas panubuon (price) niya. Ti, isa na ka tuig wala man. Sa gatong wala man ni ang mga pangako niya, may manubo, masaka, indi lang bal-an… Kaluluoy kami ya nga drivers,” said Antonano.
He also noted the frequent increase of oil prices which impact them in the transport sector.
“Ang mahambal ko lang ni sa iya, ang pangako ya tani sa pumuluyo nga panubuon ang mga balaklon tani amo gid na kag dugang-dugangan man ang sweldo sang mga tawo, sang mga pumuluyo kay mahal na gid ang balaklon,” he added.
For retail vendor Abby Himar at the Pavia Public Market, nothing has changed since Marcos’ first day in office.
“Amo man gyapon, wala man pagbag-o, mahal man gyapon tanan. Tapos hambal niya manubo ang bugas nga wala man gali. Syempre ang mga tawo sa uma nagapenetensiya man sa gihapon. Tapos sa subong mahal na gid ang pamalaklon pero barato ang sweldo,” said Himar.
Another Ilongga, Rose Catolico, shared that crimes increased during the current administration and corruption in other government agencies were visible.
“Sa droga, abaw, nagbinalik eh. Ang sa akon lang pabaya tana klase presidente, waay na gina-address kung ano ang mga problema sang mga tawo. Bisan ja lang kanaton sa local waay na gina-address. Lain kauna sa mga presidente nga magkuon ka nga amo ja ang problema, bisan paano may aksyon dayon. Ang tawo may kahadlok to nga maghimu ka krimen,” Catolico added./PN
