From NFA, to business, to politics. This is the route he has taken and, so far, he has been doing great. It started with a beat in the Sangguniang Panlungsod, to become the Number One Councilor three years after, and then Vice Mayor. He missed the plum prize in a mayoralty race; but now he is back as Vice Mayor. Legislating the second time around, Honorable Jose Antonio Salera Veloso (JSV) is a potent exponent for reforms. When he took his oath of office last Monday, July 1 (47th Charter Day of Tagbilaran as a City), he was the pride of the members of his family who witnessed the significant installation, most particularly his mother, Mrs. Primitiva Salera Veloso, who was once a City Councilor and a pillar in the field of education. These are excerpts of an interview in “Nangutana Lang,” (DYRD-ZD, 6:30-7:00 PM daily), on June 26, 2013, barely five days before his re-assumption at the helm of the Legislative Body of the City Government.

LMP: Unsa’y gibati ni Toto Veloso, nga nahimong Numero Unong Konsehal ug sa ikaduhang higayon nahimong Bise Mayor?

JSV: Well, during that time, wala ko mag-expect nga mahimong Number One Councilor, considering nga there were also other candidates nga maayo pod sa katawhan sa Dakbayan sa Tagbilaran. Ang akong gituohan nga rason sa maong kalampusan was my visibility to the barangays sa tanan nilang mga kalihokan. It feels great being given another mandate to serve the people of Tagbilaran.

LMP: Dinhi sa ato sa Pilipinas, matag karon ug unya, kon duna’y bag-ong administrasyon, mausab pod ang dagway sa opisina. Dako ba ang kausaban sa opisina sa Vice Mayor sa Tagbilaran City, as far as, personnel is concerned sugod sa Hulyo 1?

JSV: With regards to the Office of the Vice Mayor, ang staffing pattern karon is different compared before, kay nadugangan ang mga empleyado sa maong opisina. As of now, we are on the organizing process because majority of my former staff, when I was Vice Mayor in 2007-2010, mobalik sa opisina, effective July 1.

LMP: I understand that, and everybody knows that, labi na sa pwesto sa Bise Mayor or even Mayor. The topmost position sa probinsya, syudad, ug lungsod, kinahanglan gyod nga ang mga tawo nga iyang ibutang kadtong masaligan. Unya, kon sila kasaligan, nagpasabot nga mosubay sa imong kawsa. You have the trust and confidence, you cannot just give these positions to anybody nga mokalit lang ug tunga, especially sa imong kaaway sa pamolitika.

JSV: That is why ang mga personnel sa Office of the Mayor and Vice Mayor, are mostly co-terminus.

LMP: Pagkakaron, Vice Mayor Toto Veloso, unsa ang preparation nga imong gihimo, so that you will be more effective as the second highest ranking man of Tagbilaran City?

JSV: Just last night, I invited all the members of the City Council for a dinner meeting, to discuss the creation of the different standing committees of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

LMP: Does it follow nga magsabot namo ana, unya pag-session ninyo mora ug ministerial na lang?

JSV: No, it would be approved in the plenary session. If we don’t have that standing position, or wala pa makahimo ug chairman, vice chairman, and members of a certain committee, we cannot transact business. Mostly karon daghan ug mga referrals nga atong ma-recommend, like for example sa Committee on Engineering, tungod kay usa sa problema sa atong Dakbayan, ang atong mga kadalanan. We need to have that chairmanship sa atong mga Konsehal, so that, whatever concerns shall be addressed immediately.

LMP: What would you consider as the number one qualification sa usa ka gihatagan nimo’g pwesto, especially as chairman of a committee?

JSV: At least, they know the functions of the committee, but not necessarily, nga right there and then, makahibalo dayon sila. We have the administrative code, and all the functions of the different standing committees are there. By that, they will be guided properly in the event nga naa’y mga concerns regarding their committee.

LMP: Akong namatikdan nga there are times, ilabi na sa pagpangita ug chairman sa committee, duna’y uban nga interesado sa usa ka komitiba pero dili ihatag niya, unya pagkahuman nahiubos. Unsa’y imong ikasulti sa usa ka Konsehal nga medyo kapayason?

JSV: Kining mopapili ta aron moserbisyo sa katawhan, needs a lot of patience. Mag-unsa man ta kon mangluod ta, nga ang atong gisaad sa katawhan mao man ang pag-address sa mga problema sa Dakbayan. What we did was, atong gi-present ang 23 standing committees and, then, gipapili nako sila ug tolo nga ilang preference.

LMP: Who makes the decision?

JSV: That will be deliberated and approved by the whole members of the Council. Gihan-ay nato daan for the calendar of business during the session.

LMP: Akong namatikdan, nga ang Committee for Appropriations adto gyod na sa Vice Mayor. Is it still happening?

JSV: Well, not necessarily. Let’s say, for example, the last time I Chaired the said committee when I was Vice Mayor, kay mao ang gikasabotan. But eventually, gitangtangan pod ta sa atong chairmanship tungod kay aduna’y wa’y pagkasinabtana’y between the Executive and the Legislative body. Importante nga if you are on the Legislative Department, you have to maintain independence, so that there will be check-and-balance.

LMP: Sa atong line-up sa mga Konsehales karon, kadaghanan nakaserbisyo na isip Konsehal sa una. Nagpasabot ba kini Vice Mayor, nga niining puntoha sayon ang pagdumala sa grupo?

JSV: More or less, ingon-ana ang mahitabo because they have already the background on governance and legislation.

LMP: Sa imong nasulti na ganiha, duna ka’y panagtigum nga gihimo aron maghisgot mo ilabi na sa committee assignments. Mitambong ba ang tanan nga mga Kagawad sa meeting nga imong gipatawag?

JSV: Unfortunately, wala makatambong ang tanan tungod kay aduna’y sila’y mga importanting commitments nga tambongan.

LMP: Kinsa ang wa motambong?

JSV: Ang grupo ni Mayor Baba Yap ug ni Attorney Gonzaga diha tanan. Ang lima sa laing grupo wa magpakita.

LMP: Sa miaging semana, ako nga naimbitar si Mayor Baba Yap niining atong tulomanon, unya iyang gihulagway ang iyang gimbuhaton in the first 100 days sa iyang administrasyon. Ikaw, aduna’y ba ka’y plano, especially in legislation, in your first 100 days?

JSV: Well, ang unang importanteng buhaton ni Mayor Baba Yap, mao ang pag- create sa different Councils, ug ang mga pagahimoong concerns and priority programs sa atong Dakbayan sa Tagbilaran. Within 90 days, it is a must nga aduna na’y Executive-Legislative Agenda.

LMP: So, mag-una sa Executive, mudason ang Legislative. Does it follow nga you cannot act ahead?

JSV: Yes, kinahanglang huwaton ang plano sa Executive.

LMP: Kon aduna’y mga punto sa Executive nga dili moangay ang Legislative, unsa ma’y mahitabo?

JSV: That’s the time nga we will act in-between, and expose or advocate whatever is the issue. Pero kon maghisgot sila ug kaayohan ug kalamboan sa Dakbayan, I would support them all the way.

LMP: Would it also be the same thing, kon duna’y mga punto nga inyong i-legislate nga dili moangay ang Executive.

JSV: That’s when the Veto power of the Mayor comes in. But we can override his Veto. We need the two-third votes of the total members of the Council.

LMP: Pagkakaron, what is the prevailing ratio sa mga Konsehales in accordance with party affiliation?

JSV: Para nako, if mo-maintain lang ang Legislative Body ug independence ug i-disregard ang party affiliations, there will be no problem. Let’s have to move forward para sa kaayohan sa tanan. In fact, I am encouraging the different sectors to help support Mayor-elect Baba Yap sa iyang administrasyon. So that we can achieve our goals in making Tagbilaran a more progressive City.

LMP: But of course, as you have mentioned, there should be check-and-balance. It does not mean to say that one person decides on anything that would be the ultimate thing to do. This is a free country, so kinahanglan nga i-discuss. At the end, what is important is the good of the people.

JSV: Ang Sanggunian is a collective body, so we shall have a collective decision. Ang importante mao ang kaayohan sa katawhan ug sa atong Dakbayan.

LMP: Sa imong tan-aw Vice Mayor, in the next three years with you as the Presiding Officer, hayahay ba ang Dakbayan sa Tagbilaran? Smooth ba ang atong pagpadagan sa administrasyon?

JSV: If ang tanang members sa Sanggunian pareho ug hunahuna nato, which is for the good of the City and of the people, I don’t see any reason nga dili ta mahayahay sa atong pagpadagan for the next three years.

LMP: To end this interview, can you say a few words to address the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod?

JSV: I appeal to all the newly elected members of the City Council, as we assume office on July 1, sa atong 12th Sangguniang Panlungsod, ako lang hangyo nga we will set aside politics. So that we can move forward, and achieve our vision for the development of Tagbilaran City.

I remember years ago, when he ran for a Council seat for the first time in the same radio program (Nangutana Lang) and he did not hide his trepidation and reluctance to subject himself to something he had never tried before. The hand I shook was cold, and he readily admitted that his first live interview was an uphill climb. But in this latest interview, Vice Mayor Toto Veloso was so relaxed and confident. He even exchanged comic banter on and off the air. Experience is always the best teacher and, in his case, being with the Sangguniang Panlungsod for nine years made him an expert in the legislative process. Marriage must have also made him more formidable. Vice Mayor Veloso, as a Presiding Officer of SP is expected to be at his best. This augers well for the future of Tagbilaran City.

(Website: www.loypalapos.com; email: loy_pal@yahoo.com; cellphone: 09498345957)