Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim yesterday accepted the challenge hurled against his administration by critics particularly involving the drainage and pollution problems but pointed out that the challenge is not his alone to face. We can rush things just to satisfy those who are impatient. But if we do that, it is like we have given a curse to generations coming after us, he warned. Lim came under a concerted attack last week for the supposed delay in implementing solutions to the drainage problem particularly involving illegal tappings.

The mayor disputed the charge saying that if there is anybody who is concerned about the city's drainage system, it is him. If you will recall, when I assumed office in 2004, we strongly insisted that the drainage component be included in the CPG road concreting project, the mayor recalled. He said that at the time, he was like a voice in the wilderness in the midst of the majority who were impatient to have the project implemented immediately even if in doing so many problems will surface later on.

The mayor said that due to his insistence, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to include the drainage component even though this was not in the original plan. “Because of that, we are grateful that our people are assured of the correct design needed for the city in the next 20 years,” he added. Addressing criticisms raised against illegal tapping, Lim pointed out that he was the one who brought up this issue to the DPWH but no action was made. “If there is anybody who should address that, it is the said government agency because the project has not yet been turned over,” the mayor noted. Lim said that the matter however is not serious enough since experts consulted by the city revealed that there is applicable technology to address the dirt due to the illegal tappings.

“The important thing is that the establishments involved will be made to pay the cost of the technology to keep the drainage safe,” he added. Lim also disputed criticisms about the delay in putting up the water treatment facility in Graham Ave. saying this will be easy to do once the road concreting project in San Jose street is completed. “What will the city do if it puts up the facility and the project is not completed,” he asked. Lim dared Gov. Erico Aumentado and Cong. Edgar Chatto to finish the road concreting project first considering their claim that the funds for the project are already available. He asked what the de la Serna family would do if the facility is completed but could not be used because the concreting project is not completed. If that happens, Lim said the de la Serna family would damn him for requesting them to donate the land for a project that will be useless. “When I negotiated with the de la Serna family, was the governor or the congressman there? I could not recall,” Lim added.

The mayor said he is also surprised why the issue of the pollution along the coastal areas is now his sole responsibility. “The problem of the proliferation of coastal squatters in the barangays from Bool all the way to Manga was going on long before I became mayor. There was no noise about them then. Why am I being rushed to dismantle them now?” he asked. Lim blamed politics behind the sudden surge of negative publicity against his administration but remained firm he will ride the challenge with the people’s help.

“The people understand the situation. We can solve all these problems at once and suffer the consequences later. That is one thing they will not allow,” he added. The mayor said he is not the least bothered about his political career, saying he can step down any time. “The people who know the difference between my administration and the past, my performance and those of my critics are free to decide which future they prefer,” he added.