Letter from Cebu (20) “ “People Friendly Politics” of Borongan City, Eastern Samar Province”
2023/7/19
Letter from Cebu (20)
“ “People Friendly Politics” of Borongan City, Eastern Samar Province”
“ “People Friendly Politics” of Borongan City, Eastern Samar Province”
“People friendly politics” may remind some readers of the catchword of former Japanese Prime Minister, Tomiichi Murayama. This phrase came to my mind after I visited Borongan City, Eastern Samar Province.
Initially, I did not consider Borongan City as a potential destination of my visits because there are no Japanese residents living there. On February 23, 2023, Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda visited my office and asked me to come to Borongan because the city would organize the ground breaking ceremony: Battle off Samar Historical Monument and Landmark in June. I accepted his invitation because I prioritized paying tribute to the war dead during WWII.
（The location of Borongan City, Eastern Samar）
I had limited knowledge about Eastern Samar and Borongan. So, I made a quick research. Eastern Samar is located at the eastern tip of the Visayas, and facing the Pacific Ocean. Income per capita of Samar Island is relatively low compared to other regions in the Philippines. The population of Eastern Samar is around 470,000 and that of Borongan is 70,000. In 2015, the poverty rate of the Province is 32%, slightly higher than the national average. Their main industry is fishery and agriculture, and their language is Waray. Guiuan, the southern tip of the province, is famous for surfing.
On June 19, 2023, I arrived in Borongan at 1200 noon. Following the arrival honors, I took part in the inauguration ceremony for the new departure terminal building and air cargo operations of Borongan airport. Subsequently, I paid a courtesy call on Eastern Samar Governor, Hon. Ben P. Evardone, and attended the city government charter day event, “Pasidungog” in the evening. The next day, I visited the city infirmary, a city hydropower plant site, and city agricultural facilities including a storage freezer. I attended the city’s first ever night parade. On the final day, I went to Barangay Hebacong to see the Sea of Clouds and toured the solid waste management facility. After having breakfast with the Mayor’s family and team, I participated in the ground breaking ceremony: Battle off Samar Historical Monument and Landmark. Overall, my visit to Borongan City was highly immersive.
(Photos when I visited Borongan)
People on the street looked happy and relaxed. I wondered if the poverty rate is really over 30%. Streets are clean and garbage free. I saw a tuna divided into two and place at the front of a shop. It is my first experience to see such a dynamic display.
(Tuna at a strorefront)
On the outskirts of the city, the beauty of beaches, rocky shores and the sea were simply amazing. On the other side of the road, I saw wonderful palm tree forests.
(Beaches and rocky shores)
The Sea of Clouds was also fascinating. I was told that the word “Borong”from Borongan in Waray actually means fog. This city seemed to have been covered with beautiful fog since the ancient period.
(Sea of Clouds)
What I was most impressed, however, was not the scenic beauty, but the local autonomy of Eastern Samar Province and Borongan City. I sensed the spirit of independence both from the Governor and the Mayor, as they effectively address their pressing issues autonomously without relying heavily on the Central Government. Incidentally, I wrote about powerful political families in provinces in my letter from Cebu (19). There are only 7 provinces where the governors are not from powerful local political families. The Governor of Eastern Samar is one of them.
According to Governor Evardone, Eastern Samar has been suffering slow economic development due to bad traffic access and insurgency. However, with the opening of Borongan Airport in 2008 and subsequently, its commercial flights on December 19, 2022, there has been a noteworthy improvement in traffic access, and the level of insurgency by National People’s Army has declined as a result of providing assistance to villages and barangays in the mountainous area which has been the breeding ground for NPA.
Governor Evardone also said that he focused on social programs such as health and medical service, instead of infrastructure development or foreign investment promotion. With his effective approach, he managed to reduce the poverty rate from 67% to 32% since assuming the position of Governor. “Inclusive politics with no one left behind”. This is indeed easier said than done.
(Governor Evardone)
Mayor Agda was even more impressive. He had a plan of developing the sea port of Borongan, enabling their fishing boats to catch tunas off Borongan, (Incidentally, there is ocean tuna highway off the coast of Borongan), and export them fresh or chilled to Japanese markets, He has already introduced freezer storage for that project and other agricultural products.
Mayor Agda extended support to several impoverished mountain barangays that had been severely neglected by the government and disconnected from the outside world. In order for these areas to no longer become breeding grounds for NPA activities, he promised to construct paved road leading to the barangays and he fulfilled the promise. When some people were detained because of their illegal logging, they were hired by the city, instead of being punished, under the guidance of the Mayor, and were given environment preservation works.
In addition, Mayor Agda also established free City Pharmacy at the City Hall and satellite pharmacies in far-flung barangays, ensuring that even individuals with limited financial means could access the necessary medications without cost. He also prioritized on the construction and management of a city infirmary as part of his efforts to improve the overall health and well-being of the people. This is the “people friendly politics”.
(Free Pharmacy at the City Hall)
According to Mayor Agda, about 30% of the City’s budget are spent on Health and Medical area (while mandatory allocation of Local Government budget for heath advised by the Congress is 15%.), and money for such innovative policies came from spending review. “Proper use of politics is most important. With good politics, the Philippines could pursue further development.”
If all politicians in the Philippines are like Mayor Agda - humble, farsighted, a visionary, and keeps promises – a bright future awaits the Philippines.
(Mayor Agda)
Hideki YAMAJI
Consul General of Japan in Cebu