Talisay where rich, poor eat same food

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes believes that wherever there is poverty, there will always be drugs, crimes and other social problems.

This is why at the heart of his campaign, uplifting the quality of life of his constituents and delivering genuine service figure prominently.

“Kun gusto ta og kausaban, ayaw mo og butar tungod sa kwarta. Butari ninyo katong tawo nga pwede ninyo mahunghungan sa panahon nga nanginahanglan mo, ug mobangon para ninyo bisan gabiing dako,” he urged Talisay voters during yesterday’s Know Your Candidate: Cebu Vote 2016 Roundtable with The FREEMAN and BANAT News.

De los Reyes, who is fondly called “Mayor JVR,” also took the chance to lambast the present City Council for supposedly blocking his projects meant for the welfare of Talisaynons.

The council is led by Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, a former ally who is now running against him in the race to the mayoralty post.

But if given another fresh three years, De los Reyes said he will continue his advocacy to empower the people by giving them jobs, medical assistance and other basic services, as well as to combat drugs and to ease traffic in Tabunok area. 

If people have jobs, he said, they will stay away from illegal acts.

Drugs, Crime, Youth

“Kaning problema sa drugas, kinahanglan ni og long process. Tungod sa economy, pobre kaayo ang mga tawo. Matintal sila sa pagpamaligya. Ang siyudad nga menos ang ekonomiya, ang mga tawo mo-create og krimen just to survive sa ilang daily needs,” he said.

When he won in 2013, therefore, his immediate goal was to entice more investors to Talisay and bring in more job opportunities for the poor.

He said his standing order to his department heads in his first 100 days in office was to ensure that there was ease in doing business in the city.

“Karon, makita nato nga daghan nang malls nga nituybo diha sa Talisay: Robinson, South Agora, South Town Center, Star Mall. Naa na mo’y dako nga casino dinha ug daghan nang mga bangko, tanang klase sa bangko,” he said.

De los Reyes then appealed to these establishments that they prioritize Talisaynons in their workforce. He also created a privilege program for the elderly, allowing those aged 40 years old and above to work in available vacancies in the government as long as they are fit.

“Usa kana ka pamaagi nga ang katong namaligyaay og drugas dili na sila maghuna-huna sa pagpamaligya kay naa na ma’y trabaho,” he said.

He also admitted that Talisay is hounded by the lack of police personnel to better implement peace and order policies.

“Kuwang ang kapulisan sa Talisay kay ang populasyon karon almost 300,000 na. Kinahanglan gyud og dugang pulis,” he said.

De los Reyes is nonetheless satisfied with how the police are performing at present, saying crime rate is much lower now.

On youth and sports development, the mayor said he has been pushing for this to divert youth’s attention from vices and illegal activities. But the council has not been allegedly supportive to his causes.

“Karon ang sports (budget) zero, ang tourism zero. Wala ko kasabot nganong ilang gi-zero. Wala ni-approve ang council sa budget,” he lamented.

Solving traffic

In the area of traffic management, De los Reyes maintained that the construction of a new three-storey public market in Tabunok is key to easing the traffic in the area.

This was one of his campaign promises in 2013. However, the project did not materialize, also allegedly due to politics.

“Pwerti nakong paningkamot. Pirma nalang ang kulang pero gibabagan. Usa ra ang hinungdan: nga kung matukod ang building, dili na daw ko mapildi,” he said.

Another solution to Talisay’s traffic problem, according to the mayor, is the reopening of what he calls as “dead roads.”

“Duna’y mga dalan sa Talisay nga nahimong dead road. Gusto nako na i-open kanang sa Bulacao to Lagtang para ang mga sakyanan nga wa’y tuyo sa Tabunok dili na moagi didto, adto na sa bag-ong dalan nga gihimo,” he said.

He also shared about the possibility of building a flyover through Mananga Bridge and a nearby boulevard that vehicles travelling to Minglanilla and other areas in the south could use as a detour from Tabunok.

Disaster preparedness

De los Reyes claimed that he has implemented a lot of drainage works and road projects using his 20 percent development fund, whose use is not subject to the council’s approval.

He also said those affected by a recent demolition in Barangay San Roque are temporarily housed in Lagtang market as the city government is still preparing a center in Biasong.

If reelected, he said his priorities will include the welfare of informal settlers. He vowed to provide housing to those displaced by demolitions.

To better respond to disasters, he also bought a water tanker with a capacity of 100 drums, which he believes will be useful to those needing water in areas with no access to it.

On the issue that Talisay City’s landfill is not properly manned, De los Reyes passed the buck to the council. “Naa mi landfill pero ang basura dugay makuha kay wala’y mga job order workers kay wala’y budget,” he said.

“Ang Talisay naigo sa kalamidad, dili ang Yolanda o ang bagyong Senyang, kundi ang paglaslas sa budget. Mga 1,200 ngadto sa 1,500 ang job order sa una. Karon nga ako na ang mayor nga daghan kaayo ang atimanon, nahimo nalang 350 karon!” he said.

If not for his drive to help the poor, De los Reyes, 63, admitted he has long quitted on his job.

“Mao na’y huna-hunaon sa mga Talisaynon nga mopili og mayor nga motabang nila, dili kay sa kwarta ipamaagi,” he said, before he went on to narrate what he has provided for the needy.

“Ipadayon nako kutob sa akong mahimo. In my first 100 days, nakapalit na ko og 16 ka garbage trucks, two ka patrol cars nga akong ipanghatag sa mga barangay. Nakapalit ko og pito ka ambulance nga in case naa’y mahitabo naa dayon. Libre na sa mga pobre,” he said.

He also said he purchased a bus using his personal money and let underprivileged residents ride it for free in going to and from Cebu City.

“Kung gusto mo nga malambuon ang Talisay, pangitaan ta na og paagi. Ang ako lang gyud nga sa usa ka pamilya, at least duha ang naa’y trabaho. Aron kung unsa’y makaon sa datu, makaon sab sa pobre,” he concluded.  — with Cynthia Llena Sesaldo (FREEMAN)