ANGELES CITY – The constant clamor for change from villagers in Barangay Balibago here has prompted a former city councilor to throw his hat in the political ring this coming October.
During a forum with the Society of Pampanga Columnists (SPC) last Saturday, Alfie Bonifacio, a one-term city councilor who lost his bid for the vice mayoralty post in the last elections, said he has decided to come out once more to heed the call of the people for change by running for barangay captain.
“Maraming dapat baguhin sa Balibago (There’s a need for change in Balibago),” Bonifacio said.
Under the theme “Pagbabago sa Balibago (Change in Balibago),” Bonifacio said the time has come to render quality and genuine service to the villagers in contrast to the present administration.
“Hindi lip service lang (It’s not only lip service),” he said branding the incumbent’s slogan “Serbsiyong Totoo (True Service) 24 Oras (hours)” as mere propaganda.
He said there is a need to change the style of governance to suit the villagers’ needs in terms of better social services in line with the city government’s thrust in making the city as a tourists’ haven.
Bonifacio said the need “to further boost the economic potentials of Balibago by easing the environment for business and investments” should be made rather than “constricting it with too much regulations and unnecessary and excessive restrictions and fees.”
He said Barangay Balibago has established its own social hygiene clinic but because of this, the barangay has incurred a huge loan from the city government compounded by its failure to remit revenues to the latter.
Bonifacio said the incumbent village chief is so desperate to raise barangay revenues that he levies his own barangay amusement tax from various establishments including movie houses within the barangay even without the approval of the city council.
He said at present, the Balibago Barangay Hall remains unpaid which has incurred a loan of about P13 million.
According to a business executive who is also an avid political observer, Bonifacio is the right man to lead Balibago as a medical professional who “heals” instead of the present dispensation’s style of running the village as a military camp from the perspective of a former Philippine Constabulary (PC) officer in the Marcos era.
A village chairman said “there is a need to build and strengthen the relationship and linkage with city hall for the benefit of the barangay rather than usurping the powers and functions of the city council and the mayor.”
