Now rise the son

"I LEARNED from the best.”

It could have been a telegraphed eulogy for his father that Angeles City councilor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. remarked at the mayoralty candidates’ forum hosted by the local association of hotels and restaurants last Nov. 21., three weeks to the untimely demise of the elder Lazatin.

“I had the best teacher who taught me very basic principles: Huwag mang-aagrabyado, huwag magnakaw, huwag gumawa ng hindi maganda sa kapwa.” Core values that have become family heirloom bequeathed by the patriarch – Don Rafael Lazatin, governor of Pampanga, mayor of Angeles City, member of Batasang Pambansa – to the son – Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, congressman and city mayor in his turn.

“From my grandfather, to my father, a very important lesson has been passed down – leadership with compassion and love for this city and its people,” averred Pogi.

With the death of Cong Tarzan, the buzz about the city is how Pogi – 1^st District Rep. Carmelo “Jonjon” Lazatin II, too – will fare in the coming elections. (My apologies to the congressman, transfixed as I am with his brother for now.)  

Of greater interest to the electorate, I think, is how close has Pogi hewed to the Lazatin template of service with a heart.  

As the apple falls not too far from the tree, so it appears with Pogi. Well said, I’d say not without conceit, of this August 3, 2016 piece, aptly –

Pogi points.  

TAKING AFTER his accomplished father, Angeles City Councilor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr., better known as “Pogi,” has embraced housing for the urban poor as personal advocacy.

In his time at the mayoralty, the elder Carmelo, famously known as “Tarzan,” succeeded in providing decent housing to 15,000 poor families.

“I would like to continue that,” the son now promises, and has set the stage for its fulfilment by filing the Housing Program Funds Allocation Ordinance which calls for the mandatory allotment of 10 percent of the city government’s total annual budget for housing programs for the city’s urban poor.

Rationalizes Pogi: “Rapid urbanization is a sign of a city’s development, however, it also has its drawbacks. As a city becomes urbanized, more people are drawn to it because of the job opportunities and this tends to lead to the disproportionate growth of the population relative to housing.” With the urban poor ending at the short end of the stick, as usual.

The Fund, Pogi’s ordinance stipulated, “will be solely used to finance land acquisition for socialized housing…as well as the development of community sites such as road networks, pathways, and drainages.”

And strictly, “no expenditures arising from the hiring of personnel and release of salaries and other similar privileges shall be appropriated from the Fund.”

With the further proviso that the Local Urban Poor Affairs and Housing Office and other concerned departments be engaged by the city government in the allocation and usage of the said fund.

TAKING AFTER his illustrious grandfather, Pogi is championing the cause of education for all.

Don Rafael Lazatin achieved the rare feat of having served as provincial governor, city mayor and assemblyman – in the old school of straight and clean governance – but is best enshrined in the hearts of his people as founder of Republic Central Colleges that opened educational opportunities to the poorest sector of the community.

Last July 12, Pogi refiled an ordinance – first presented to the council in September 2013 but unacted – amending the charter of the City College of Angeles City, for the college to cease collection of tuition from its students, and for the city government to grant full subsidy of the same.

The proposed ordinance likewise directs the city government to allocate five percent from its general fund, five percent from its Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), and five percent from its collection of market stall fees to CCA’s annual budget appropriation.

Based on the city’s Local Expenditure Program for 2015, Pogi said the local government can fully subsidize the tuition of CCA students, citing the general fund at P913 million, the IRA at P591 million, and the city collection for market stall fees estimated at P10 million. And from there could be allocated P68.5 million subsidy for the CCA.

Yes, Pogi is doing as well in his math too.

A CHIP off the old block, Pogi makes, indeed.

Like both his Lazatin elders, contentious politics for Pogi starts with the campaign and ends with the election. Where the public good takes precedence over personal rivalries.

The lone opposition in the city council, Pogi is most ardent in his support to Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan – much, much more than hizzoner’s own aldermen – in seeking funding for the city worker’s additional benefits, specifically the salary adjustments and bonuses to government employees covered by Executive Order 201-S2016 signed by President Aquino last February.

Late last month, Pogi, filed a resolution “respectfully requesting the City Mayor thru Local Finance Committee to provide the City Council an update on the status of the implementation of the first tranche compensation adjustment in Local Government Units (LGU’s) as provided under the Executive Order 201, Series 2016”.

That, with the commitment to the city workers to “do my very best to ensure that the benefits that are due (you) will be provided by the city government.”

In fine: Unconditional support where the executive agenda hews with public interest. Principled opposition where it is inimical. Clear-cut role for the council fiscalizer.  

Now, where other political scions as keen as Pogi in living up to the demands of the post they sought and to which they were elected. Rather than engaging in some egoistic epal­-ities, Facebook mediocrities and Instagram inanities to vainly seek pogi points for the next polls…