Ladaga-Javier’s Tall Order Ahead

There is a very high expectation in the forthcoming administration of Mayor-elect Atty. Rey Ladaga of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. He has to deliver swiftly on various immediate concerns confronting the most progressive municipality in the province. He banked on his anti-corruption narrative and this time it worked out. Ladaga, former vice-mayor, and board member won the position finally after 2 successive failures, in 2016, and 2019. Ladaga finished his Law Degree at San Beda College in 1974.

In the recent election, Ladaga reaped a total of 33,533 votes winning against his closest rival Board Member Michelle de Mesa Festin, daughter of incumbent mayor Romulo “Muloy” Festin, who garnered 18,024 votes. It is very telling that if you combine the votes of Festin-Rivera and the rest mayoralty wannabes specifically Councilor Bobot Chua (9,728), Vice-Mayor Rod Agas (6,961), and the unknown Senen Erandio (267) the total would be 34,980. If Cong. Josephine R. Sato as their political leader was able to unite her group and come up with just one candidate for mayor, the outcome would be different, at least mathematically speaking.

Though Sonny Javier (40,327) won the vice-mayoralty slot via landslide, the majority of the elected Sanggunian members came from the Sato-Festin camp, namely Jiji Aguilar (29,218), Myrna Zapanta (28,556), Erning Jaravata (25,291), Robert Mangahas (22,477), and Jimmy Holgado (18,650). Only Arnel Argame (26,595) and Barok Balmes (21,524) belong to Ladaga-Javier tandem. (I do not know where Councilor Mercy Alvaran (19,539) is affiliated at present.) Balmes and Mangahas are barangay officials while Holgado came straight from the private sector. He manages a security agency, has roots in Iling island, and known for his charitable works. 

By the way, Sonny Javier got 40,327 votes winning the position of vice-mayor and presiding officer of the municipal council over Jun-Jun Malilay’s 21,949 shades.

What are the pressing concerns of San Jose at this very moment? Numerous. But the first two things that come to my mind are the public market and the public cemetery. These are the biggest eyesores as of this moment. While the Aroma Beach Pathwalk project has already been started by Mayor Muloy, for some reason, it has not been completed as scheduled, the public cemetery and the public market are still for the inauguration. The people in my town of birth expect that before Ladaga’s term ends in 2025, these two grand projects must be completed or at least commenced.

Ladaga will be inheriting a 290M loan of the municipality from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). The municipal council authorized Mayor Muloy in entering into a loan agreement with the aforementioned financing institution just recently. Ladaga got prominence as lawyer of the masses but this predicament will test again his prowess in financial management. Let as not forget that he was once branch attorney and branch manager of DBP-San Jose, the same bank where the local government has a borrowing.

The Festin administration has 70M budget for the construction of the San Jose Public Market. Meantime while the construction is ongoing, a temporary building is being constructed in the former Motor Pool in Labangan is in progress with the water and electrical systems are still underway. The Ladaga watch will be met with resistance coming from the stall owners and vendors. On the other hand, the Festin administration is yet to start the transfer of the San Jose Public Cemetery which is now very congested and requires fast and smart solution. The new set of officials has to purchase a lot for the purpose and start immediate construction of facilities therein. 

Quick delivery of basic social services is another area that the in-coming new administration has to resolve including efficient and effective activities, projects, and programs concerning pandemic recovery toward the so-called “new normal”. In line with the Mandanas Ruling, human resource services must be streamlined and professionalized and hire only a justifiable number of employees, specifically casuals and job orders. It has been said that the LGU's delivery of basic services is red tape-ridden and the customer satisfaction rating is very low. Relevant social services for all especially persons with disability, senior citizens, the Mangyans, children, the youth, and the women that assure effective and inclusive delivery and social inclusion must be implemented in toto. The clients if its different offices must be at ease doing business with them following the letter and intent of the ARTA and of course, the bible of local governance, the RA 7160.

Effective and inclusive governance through the close coordination between the barangays and the local government through genuine accountability and transparency is also a must for the new administration.

Like the biblical temple, the Office of the Mayor necessitates a thorough cleansing. The constituency needs an immediate solution to these major problems that the incoming administration has to instantaneously solve within its first 100 days in office.

On the part of the legislative department, even though they are a minority, incoming Vice-Mayor Sonny Javier, the people expect efficient and effective measures by directing the smooth flow of legislation within the bounds and true essence of the legislature through warranting and governing a free and inclusive lawmaking-body which the ordinary San Joseño like this writer can depend on at all times.

VM Sonny, as a man of faith and being involved in religious organizations, will nurture adept leadership and doing by example, bringing the legislative body closer to higher standards and moral values. Hopefully.

May God help them both and so are we.

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(Photo: San Jose PR Team)