Every time there is a comment against an incumbent politicians the response given is always “it is politically motivated.”
It would seem that every comment given against the present city administration is “politically motivated” if you believe these officials. There can never be any negative comment anymore because a constructive criticism can only be one in their favor and not against it.
Is the photo below Politically Motivated? The point I am driving at is that it can go either way. But my comments and that of other journalists and opinion writers can not be considered politically motivated because they are not politicians and do not favor any one.
From the very birth of this paper I have called this column “…as it is!” It is meant to be exactly what it is, my saying things the way I see it and not to favor or criticize anyone.
It is of record that I have never criticized anyone in this column. I will, however, criticize an action or a decision if I do not agree with it.
A very close friend of Mayor Donkoy Emano has voiced an opinion that maybe the media should refrain from criticizing Emano now while the relief operations is still going on and they can do so when it is finished. I cannot speak for my fellow media practitioners but the problem, I voiced is that if this is going to be a long operation the issue will already be dead and forgotten before people can open their mouths.
I cannot also just keep a deaf ear on statements of officials when I know they are half truths or complete lies.
A case in point was the failure of the city to convene the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) as mandated by law. Since the Storm Signal No. 2 was already raised over the area 3 days prior to the typhoons hitting land, there would have been enough time to warn everyone of the impending disaster and for them to vacate their homes and to seek higher grounds if the CDRRMC did its part..
My good friend at the DILG office says there was a meeting but when I asked for a copy of the minutes of the said meeting he said it was only the Executive Committee that met and, again there were no minutes.
When further asked who the members of the Executive Committee is and he said the Mayor and the City Administrator. The two cannot compose the CDRRMC. They could be the best administrators in the world but they cannot be risk and disaster experts
I am sorry my friend, but that too is a lie and you know it!
The city has abandoned the City Planning Board where all plans of the city are presented, discussed and deliberated upon. If there is a planning board existing then how did the Calcala housing project passed the board?
I will no longer argue about the existence of Isla de Oro and Isla Delta and all the other Islas and whether or not it was already there 50 years ago. Let me just focus on Calacala.
Why was it ever built, even without an environmental clearance from DENR? Did the city planning board discuss and approved the plans of this housing project? DENR has issued a warning on this area. Did the city take this into consideration?
This for me is the biggest sin, paid for by more than 1,000 lives that were lost in the area! This I say…as it should be stated…as it is!
Army personnel last January 5, 2011 dig a latrine at the resettlement site in Calaanan, Cagayan de Oro City in front of a tarp that says “Through the Effort of Mayor “Donkoy” Emano”. Is this Politically Motivated"?Photo by Froilan Gallardo
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