MAYOR’S JOB TOUGHER – Ex-Solon, Mogul Say

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – The mayor’s job is tougher than that of a congressman, a former solon and the new mayor here described it.

Former Pangasinan Second District Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil said he found out that being a mayor is exciting but tougher than that of being a member of the House of Representatives.

“Actually exciting at mas mabigat ito. Sa totoo lang because you are dealing with people directly. Person to person ito, eh. You know my experienced from the day I took charge of the office kasi nandito ang mga papeles na pipirmahan ko nandiyan ang tao punong puno sa office ko at meron pa sa labas na naghihintay”.

CHIEF EXECUTIVES - Former two-star police general and ex congressman Leopoldo Bataoil (left) and mogul Cezar T. Quiambao. Both are present mayors of Lingayen and Bayambang in the province of Pangasinan.

                                  

   When he was a three-term or nine years’ congressman he could focus more time on his proposed and co-sponsored bills and resolutions, and plenary works without any of the factors he just mentioned in a local government unit (LGU).
“Sa Congress you can focus sa mga bills and resolutions and you can even go to the plenary at walang maka istorbo sa iyo”.

Bataoil, a former two – star police general, is known for his strong work ethics.

One of them was his excitement to report at dawn in his first official day last July 1 as the new chief executive of the capital town of the province.

“July 1 mula noon at ngayon I hit the road running. I turned night into day. On that Tuesday sinubukan ko 5:45 Am checked ko kung diligent (municipal workers). Excited ako hindi ako makatulog ng gabi”.

He told this writer that he worked at this office even late at night.

His account at Facebook showed he was even reporting there in Saturday.

Meanwhile, the mayor of the burgeoning town of Bayambang, Pangasinan cited that being a mayor is tougher when he was with the corporate world.

Business tycoon and mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, who just won his second term last May election, said that it is tough to run an LGU than a corporation because of the delay the former entails to the pressing needs that confront it.

“Sa corporate world 10 computers na kailangan, bukas nandiyan na. Sa LGU may Philgephs (Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System ) for bidding minimum 21 days,”  Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao told this writer with his signature chuckle.

The family of Quiambao controls the majority shares of corporate giant Stradcom,  a hospital in the US, and other businesses like a mall. 

The mayor said it is difficult to deal in the local government with the members of the lawmaking body’s Sangguniang Bayan compared to the directors of the corporate board because if a mayor is not allied with the majority of the ten councilors he would have a hard time or helpless getting his programs being implemented.

“Mas complicated iyong Sangguniang Bayan lalung lalo na pag hindi mo kasama ang mga councilors. Sa (corporation) board majority shareholders ka you appoint the board,” he chuckled again.

A part of Section 24 of the Corporation Code of the Philippines (Batas Pambansa Blg. 68) says: “…and said stockholder may vote such number of shares for as many persons as there are directors to be elected or he may cumulate said shares and give one candidate as many votes as the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of his shares shall equal, or he may distribute them on the same principle among as many candidates as he shall see fit …”.

The Local Government Code of 1991 provides its making power that could frustrate a former corporate man like Quiambao with the following rules: Section 48 Local legislative power shall be exercised by… the sangguniang bayan for the municipality…”

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