Knowing I’m young and on my first term, I’ve done my best to keep my tact, and to draw the least attention to self. Resisted making statements or taking questions — at least in the league where there are a majority of more senior, learned and experienced mayors than myself.
But I had to break it in the past few days. As a Mayor and as one of the youth, I have to make our voice heard.
In the national papers, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) has been accused of being selfish, greedy, and a bully in objecting to the cityhood of 16 municipalities.
With all due respect, please allow this eight-months new, and yes, young Mayor to set things straight and clear. This not a bully, and is not even in any position to bully such high-positioned officials as the honorable judges of the Supreme Court. To start with, what do mere mayors or the League have over the SC to bully them with? Probably wrong league or wrong branch of the government. Let’s admit facts and realities here; it’s far and beyond our powers and capabilities.
As public servants who directly answer and deal with their constituency on a daily basis, it is incumbent upon every mayor to search and exhort every means possible to find additional funding for projects and programs to better serve our people. As a Mayor myself, we basically feel the same desire, have the same dream, and work with the same dedication to achieve such dreams.
With that, it is with full understanding that we recognize the efforts, and feel the desire of the 16 municipalities applying to become cities. And with that, we want to make it clear that the League of Cities is not hoarding, holding back, or saving for themselves allotments for cities; we are not being selfish. We are very willing to share, provided that the criteria as provided for in the Local Government Code are met.
It is vastly erroneous and wrong to try to pin words as “bully” and “greedy” on a League that merely wants the laws to be upheld. The Local Government Code is the bible of every LGU, and as stated in the constitution, is the source of all mandates and powers. It defines how local governments can work to ensure that lives of every single individual is protected and enhanced.
Is respect for such law that defines and empowers local governments qualifying enough for one to be labelled a bully and greedy? If changes to certain provisions of the LGC are desired, why can’t the amendment of such be done first? Do things right. That’s what we were elected and appointed to do!
It is disappointing to realize that institutions, or portions of them, entrusted to craft laws are themselves bullies who twist things, and assign words that do not even fit the essence. It is disappointing that institutions entrusted to interpret laws with finality seem to have a problem understanding the law and the word ‘final’.
It is especially disappointing for a Mayor as myself, who not only represents her City, but her generation as well to witness this inability to protect and respect the law. This is not a fight against cities or municipalities. This is not an issue about IRA. This is a gnawing concern about the rule of law, and the certainty and the adherence to the law.
Mayor or not, elected official or not, employed or not, male or female, married or not, young or old — we all wake up each day with hope that today we can pave for a more sustainable future for ourselves, our families, our children, our city, our municipality, province and country.
We all hope for the same things, dream the same dream, that we can live and let live. To do so, certain things must be adhered to with utmost respect to capacitate oneself, and to enable others to simultaneously achieve the same dream. Without which, individual ability to reach the dream becomes a literal cut throat race. Understanding such, why can’t we respect the same laws that provide and ensure such?
Being one of the “hope of the motherland”, to quote our national hero, it is horrifying to realize there may be no assurance of a future. We live in a very uncertain world, with all the mounting challenges. What future will we have if we don’t have the certainty of the law? What hope will we have that we have justice if there is no finality on the relied supreme interpretation of the law? What hope is there if the last recourse is not quite the last after all? This is a gripping fear of a very uncertain and unsecured future.
As Mayor and as a young hopeful person, it is not my fondest desire to leave a legacy of indecisiveness. It is not my desire to muddle things even more, and leave the next generation to fight off on their own. If there is anything I have learned or understood in my not-so-long 30-year existence, it is that by conscience and fear of the Lord, we must make better what we can during our watch.
It is with every hope that this young Mayor prays in behalf of every single individual, male or female, young or old, in municipalities and cities that the esteemed and honored individuals entrusted to craft and interpret laws do so with utmost reverence, for every child born in this time, and in the yet to come. Not for any other interest or desire, but for what we are elected and appointed for. I pray.
Karen Villanueva
Mayor, Bais City
