The Capiz Times

Dumarao retains title as cleanest town

Barangay polls: win some, lose some

Roxas City has 21 new brgy heads

Dumarao retains title as cleanest town

ROXAS CITY — The Department of Interior and Local Government in Capiz headed by Jenny D. Destua, who also chairs the Provincial Search Committee of Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran (GPK) for 2002, recently announced the official list of winners for Capiz.

For category A (1st to 3rd class municipalities) Dumarao town topped with 99.14 points; Pontevedra, second, with 95.82; and Tapaz, third, with 94.87 points.

For Category B (4th to 6th class municipalities), the town of Dao outranked Sapian for the first time with 98.62 and 98.44 points, respectively. President Roxas, third with 95.50 points; Jamindan, 4th, 94.93; Mambusao, 5th, 94.84; Panitan, 6th, 93.72; Ivisan, 7th, 91.94; Pilar, 8th, 91.94; Dumalag, 9th, 90.50; Maayon, 10th, 89.40; Cuartero, 11th, 89.40; Panay, 12th, 88.30; and Sigma, 13th, 87.0 points.

Among the areas evaluated are the physical condition of built-up areas which include general cleanliness, absence of eye-sores, well-maintained facilities, presence of healthful and environment-friendly practices like waste segregation, efficient garbage collection and disposal system; clean and properly maintained covered drainage systems, sufficient water supply and functional segregated with cover with public place and trash receptacles in public utilities.

Also, urban space greening which includes well-maintained "green" areas, reforested public and private upland areas, watershed rehabilitated or coastal areas plant with mangrove; greenbelt areas, tree-lined thoroughfares, among others.

Important, too, are support system as evidenced by applicable local ordinances and resolutions, officials records, equipment list, annual reports of accomplishments, etc.

Most of all, community mobilization and civil society's participation in environmental protection and management that include inter-barangay contests on cleanliness, greening, beautification, adopt-a-tree/park/mountain programs, weighed a lot during the evaluation.

Members of the provincial search committee are Destua and Fernando Arlos, assistant provincial director (DILG); lawyer Romeo S. Fernandez and Benny Cortes (Rotary Club of Roxas-Hillside); Alma Pajarillo (IPHO), Joel Navarra (DENR), Dioscoro Andrada and Zaldy Caalam (DepEd), Teddy Buenvenida and Virgie Hago (PIO, Office of the Governor), Stephen Bediones (Provincial Planning and Development Office), Miss Josefa Argos and Mia A. Barza (GRF), Marcelo Barruela Jr. (REACT), James Cabag and Alex Lumaque (PIA).

As a result, Dumarao and Dao towns will be evaluated by the Regional GPK Evaluation Team on Aug. 2 this year.

Barangay polls: win some, lose some

The just-concluded election for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials was more exciting than the previous ones. It looked like a political fiesta in the magnitude of national and local elections. In Roxas City, posters and streamers were seen in many barangays. Handbills and leaflets were distributed in abundance. The usual vote-buying during election has increased from fifty hundred pesos per voter. Boy, unbelievable! Money talks, but not always. There is the usual threats and scattering of goons in some barangays. But generally the election was peaceful in Roxas City and in the towns of Capiz.

Surprisingly, though the barangay election is supposed to be non-partisan, political groups and political leaders' tactics still realed their ugly heads. This could have been the result of the latest COMELEC resolution that political leaders can campaign openly for their barangay candidates provided that they do not carry a political party.

This is the case of Capiz. The Liberal Party and the Lakas party leaders in their personal capacity secretly financed several candidates. They, of course, have denied this. Former governor Ting Borda, who is known to be planning to run for congressman in the first district of Capiz and is the present Lakas chairman, is reported to have financed ten barangays per town and city. Of course, in public, he denied it. But the result of the barangay election somewhat favors the group of Borda.

In Roxas City alone, 11 incumbent barangay chairmen were defeated. A certain re-elected barangay chairman was known to have been supported by Ting Borda. The Liberal party has failed to win by landslide in barangay election. Alarming but bot so much. More that the majority of elected barangay officials are still pro-Liberal party though they do not admit this because of the alleged non-partisan character of the barangay election which is really a "farce." Some local politicians have wised up. Governor Vic Bermejo, per reliable source, did not actively participate or take side in the barangay election. May late uncle, the former speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Sr., to my recollection, also never took side.

But reports reaching me reveal that Liberal Party Mayor, Tony del Rosario of Roxas City, in his personal capacity, took sides in some barangays. In some barangays with two or more candidates for chairmanship who are his allies, he resorted to "libre zona" or free-for-all fight." Fortunately, in certain big barangays, like Punta Tabuc, incumbent barangay chairmen lost or were defeated. But who is the politician who will admit defeat? Anyway, the winning opposition barangay officials will have to make friend with the good mayor for the good of their barangay or the mayor would woo them to avoid a crack in his leadership.

But clearly some barangay chairmen who won were his (Mayor Tony's) opponent or supported by ex-governor Ting Borda. Yet Ting Borda has grabbed about 10 to 15 percent of Roxas City barangays. Tony is still the top dog but no longer the absolute kingpin.

In the second district, former Congressman Vic Andaya had no choice but to participate in the barangay election. His son, Chris Andaya, ran for barangay captain in Poblacion Sigma, Capiz against the brother of Mayor Sualog of Sigma. From an informant today, it appeared that Andaya's son won. Many of the barangay chairmen supported by Congressman Andaya in Sigma also won by majority. This means that Vic Andaya is testing the waters, so to speak, to determine if his political clout is intact. This means he is on a comeback trail.

In Pontevedra town, former Mayor Jose Avelino grabbed 12 barangays with the support of ex-Governor Ting Borda. Mayor Tumlos' sister lost in his home barangay, Hipona. This is inspiring to Ting. But he must be disappointed for the defeat of his brother in law, Edwin Gamboa, in Barangay Tanque. Well, you win some, lose some.

Well, it seems that the barangay election had the usual trappings of traditional politics. But some Roxas City voters have become smart. They received money from both sides. Some incumbent barangay chairman candidates lost because of their bad performance and personal abuse of power. Some were found to have enriched themselves. There you are. The Capiz and Roxas City circus election. Till the next 2004 election. If it ever comes. We like political fiestas you know. Sadly, rich dogs still win over quali-fied cats.

Roxas City has 21 new brgy heads

ROXAS CITY — There are 21 new barangay captains elected in the recently concluded barangay and SK elections of July 15 out of the 47 barangays in this city.

The new punong barangays (barangay captains) elected are Ricardo A. Andrada III of Brgy. II; Manuel E. Alamodin (Brgy. V); Ronaldo Camacho (Brgy. 7); Lomavin T. Acolola (Brgy. IX); Alfredo Cartujano (Balijuagan), Percival Gonzales (Bato); Sonny B. Llamas (Baybay); Montano A. Ibanez (Bolo); Arturo Aragon (Cagay); Doujie B. Cantiller (Gabuan); Arthur A. Arrojado (Inzo Arnaldo Village); Solomon Alisasis (Libas).

Celestino Corros (Liong); Jaime Potato (Loctugan); Rufo M. Baltero (Lonoy); Wilson A. Acervo (Mongpong); Jeffrey A. Aninang (Olotayan); Olivia B. Esculin (Punta Cogon); Reynaldo B. Barrios (Punta Tabuc); Maria C. Capapas (San Jose); and Manolito Tecson (Tanque);

Those reelected are Vicente B. Antonino (Brgy. I); Alfredo Villanueva Jr. (Brgy. III); Cynthia B. Guevara (Brgy. IV); Noel F. Agapito (Brgy. VI); Sotico Palomar Jr. (Brgy. VIII); Agustin Jimenez Jr. (Brgy. 10); Alicia Alvarez (Brgy. XI); Ignacio Bodegas (Adlawan); Nenita Calinao (Bago); Zaldy A. Beluso Sr. (Banica); Enriqueto Martesano (Barra); Ruben Aponesto (Cabugao); Reynaldo Alparaque Sr. (Cogon); Ruben R. Villagracia (Culajao); Eleazar J. Almalbis (Culasi); Saturnino Apruebo (Dayao); Iluminado Corros (Dinginan); Pedro Agana (Dumolog); Alfredo B. Caalam (Jumaguicjic); Roger A. Delfin (Lanot); Rudolfo Alfon (Lawa-an);

Adolfo Azarcon (Milibili); Recto Arabia (Sibaguan); Virgilio Santos Jr. (Talon); Rolando V. Ignacio (Tanza) and Teddy Albaladejo (Tiza).

The city Comelec office said that there were 95 candidates who filed their certificates of candidacy for punong barangay and 899 for barangay kagawads.

The conduct of the recent elections here were generally peaceful and orderly although some disgruntled voters decried the alleged rampant vote-buying.