When one listens to Mayor Dors Rivilla’s early local radio program, which is every Monday at six in the morning, one is privileged to gain insight into how the Mayor thinks or how he works out solutions to the town’s problems. The program is creatively entitled Paniqui… Lipad Nang Umunlad. As such, one may readily surmise that the program brings up the current problems of the municipality in its desire to be one of the more progressive towns of the Province of Tarlac. One need not be a resident of Paniqui to listen to the weekly radio program. You may listen to it from anywhere in the universe just by logging on to the official website of the municipality and presto you get updated on the current events in the town of Paniqui! Thanks to the genius of the gentleman from Gerona, Dave Asuncion.

As I was listening to Mayor Dors discussing current issues that are fed to him by his able co-host, Franklin “Joy” Gonzales, it was as if I was having a privileged conversation with the Mayor, me with my bottle of beer and he with his can of soda. I wish this is too how the Mayor connects with all those who listen to him. I can’t readily recall the details of the issues. As a starter, the Mayor’s co-host opened the discussion with a text message sent to the station by one listener who wanted to know what is being done on a road in a certain barangay, which road needs to be made concrete. Apparently the road has been a gravel road even during the past administrations and needs to be made concrete. And since it connects to the highways of two other provinces, it is a significant farm-to-market road. The Mayor elaborated on the need for a deed of donation before any work on the road may be started. Then the co-host threw at the Mayor the issue of subsidy for various livelihood projects. The Mayor responded by citing the need for a feasibility study before any subsidy from the municipality may be processed.  And so on and so forth.

Is the Mayor at a dilatory tactic? Far from it. He could start concreting work on the gravel road minus the deed of donation if he wishes to. He could release the money for the various livelihood projects even without the required feasibility studies, since the funds had been set aside. But the Mayor is not into quick solutions that are likely to result in future problems. He would rather offer a comprehensive solution to a given problem. A comprehensive solution is well thought out. It anticipates potential problems. And because it is more enduring, it becomes more beneficial.

May the Mayor offer more of the comprehensive solutions to the problems of Paniqui. Only then can he command the town to lipad nang umunlad. For comments / reactions, please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it