It was a stroke of ignorance on my part when I asked Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Salera Veloso (JSV) why the Number Two Citizen of Tagbilaran does not make his annual State of the City Address (SOCA) nor recounts publicly his first 100 days in office, which the Mayor regularly does. Amused by my query, he informed me that he does, but to the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, bi-annually sans funfare. This interview was made in “Nangutana Lang,” (DYRD-ZD, 6:30-7:00 PM daily) last Monday; and he greeted on air his friends and partymates who were having a meeting in Mansasa that evening, and were listening to us. It was then that I noticed his spontaneity – his casual ease in rushing to the radio station for a 30-minute repartee, while there were his constituents waiting for him in another venue.

Right a minute prior to the casual banter, we were already seated to commence the program, when a radio commentator came in, approximately 4 minutes at the end of his slot, seated himself and spit-fired a verbal attack to a guy in City Hall whom he described as bold and domineering, but without mentioning his name. A minute after his allotted time he stood up and verbally accosted the Vice Mayor in a manner that did not exude the necessary respect to a high ranking City Official. The target did not even decipher what the self-appointed cataliser was at. It was then that I realized that, despite negative innuendos from a surprise attacker (who should be in AA) Vice Mayor Toto Veloso kept his cool. A good sign of maturity the other misguided missile obviously did not have.

Of course, we know that after that brief episode, one friend, who must have had a drink or two, won’t remember the anomaly he had committed.

LMP:Malipayon kining atong pagsugod karon, Vice Mayor, kay akong nahibaw-an nga napili kono kang Regional Vice Chairman, sa Vice Mayors League of the Philippines. Congratulations, diin himoa ang maong pagpili?

JSV:Didto sa Quest Hotel sa Cebu City. Niadtong Lunes, October 1, gipahigayon ang maong assembly aron pagpili ug mga Regional Officers, nga mo- represent sa Liga.

LMP: Sa mga hungihong nga akong nahibaw-an, ikaw kono ang ilang ituboy unta nga Chairman sa Vice Mayors League of the Philippines. Pero gihangyo kono ka niining usa sa mga interesado, kay paryente kono mo?

JSV: Actually, Sir, that was the first time I met Rose Bengjay. Iyang family name is Veloso. Akong kaila ang iyang anak nga Mayor sa Balamban, Cebu.

When I arrived at the Registration area, siya ang nag-asikaso nako. Sa mga members sa Liga from Cebu, Siquijor, and Negros, natunog ang akong ngalan nga mao ang ilang ituboy isip Regional Chairman. Sa pag-abot nako sa hotel, siya ang ni-approach na ko, ingon siya, “Oh, Toto, I’m your Tita.”

LMP: So, ang nahitabo, imong nakita nga interesado gyod siya, and you gave way?

JSV: Mora’g, ingon ana ang nahitabo. In fact, I told our President sa Vice Mayors League diri sa Bohol, si Atty. Dodong Jumawid, nga kamo na lang ang pagsabot-sabot ana isip mga Chapter Presidents kon kinsa gyod ang inyong ituboy. Kay on my part, dili mahimo nga ako ang mo-presentar kay maikog ko. Pero dili gyod ta kalikay, kay we have to file our certificate of candidacy. Otherwise, okey ra to kon majority ang mo-nominate nimo. Pero, she was teary-eyed when we talked. Ang Cebu group decided nga ako ang ilang ituboy, but later on, ang uban especially ang President sa Cebu, Chapter, called up Governor Davide, kon unsa pod ang iyang decision. Ang iyang reply was, “Kamo na lang ang bahala ana,” kay mora man ug nihangyo pod.

LMP: Sa akong diksyonaryo, sa imong gihimo nga there was an appeal to your emotion, I think, that was magnanimity on your part. I would like to say, that was a good show of what kind of a person you are. Again, congratulations.

JSV:Thank you, Sir Loy. We were also given the time to speak before the members of the League. In fact, ang Vice Mayor sa Cebu City, is very close to us kay ang iyang roots is from Tubigon. Tulo ang napili gikan sa Bohol, si Vice Mayor Gonzales of Trinidad, nahimong Treasurer. Si Vice Mayor Relampagos of Loon and Atty. Cabahug of Baclayon are Members of the Board.

LMP:Unsa’y mga bag-ong panghitabo karon, Vice Mayor, sa atongSangguniang Panlungsod, ilabi na bahin niining Agora o City Square. Mahimo ba nga atong pahinumduman ang atong mga tigpaminaw, kon unsa gyod katong kontrata nga gipirmahan sa miaging administrasyon. Pila ang gisaad ug gibutang sa kontrata nga ihatag sa Syudad matagtuig?

JSV:The ROT (Rehabilitate, Operate, and Transfer) agreement of City Square was signed in the year 2007. Ang nakalatid sa maong kontrata is for the project proponent nga mohatag sila sa Syudad, 5 milyon annually or 20% of the gross, whichever is higher. Sa pagkakaron, ang operation sa City Square is under investigation. According sa Committee ni Councilor Aleckoy Lim, ang Public Accountability and Investigation, duna’y mga remittances nga lahi-lahi ang figure.

LMP:Asa nga record man na, diri sa City Hall?

JSV:Actually, diha to’y initial report nga gihatag ni Councilor Beben Inting, last Wednesday session. Duna gani to’y gamay’ng debate between Councilor Beben Inting and Aleckoy Lim. Councilor Lim, wrote a letter to the Mayor last September 20, asking for authority sa iyang committee nga makapangayo ug record didto sa City Square. Nag-follow-up siya, apan wala siya matubag. Until such time nga moadto na unta siya, giingnan si Councilor Lim sa atong Mayor, nga okey na kay didto na si Councilor Beben Inting, nagkuha sa report. It so happened nga during our last session, when I was about to end my Presiding Officer’s time before going to the next item, ni-raise si Councilor Beben Inting, nga mohimo sa iyang initial report, sa nakuha niyang data kang Mr. Kho Beng Sum. After Councilor Inting, rendered his report, there were a few questions nga gipangutana si Councilor Lim, nganong wala siya pahibaw-a, considering nga he is the Chairman of the committee. He felt slighted about it, kay diha siya’y formal nga communication, apan wala matubag. Ni-reason out pod si Councilor Beben Inting, nga nagdali pod siya aron maapil ni Mayor Baba sa iyang first 100 days report.

LMP: Pagkakaron duna pa’y gamay’ng bikil, but that is a question of miscommunication.

JSV: Within the Sangguniang Panglungsod, although naa’y mga debate, at the end of the session o meeting, makalimtan ra.

LMP: Natural man na. During the session, in order to express yourself, duna gyo’y panahon nga ipataas ang tingog, without considering nga somebody could be hurt. Anyway, bahin aning kontrata, pwede ba ning usabon?

JSV: Ang kontra last 2008, which is more or less 5 years, kinahanglan nga i- review.

LMP: Until what time nga pwede nang mag-inusabay ug kontrata? Is there a stipulation?

JSV: Wala gi-stipulate nga usbon ang kontrata. Pero, sa atong practice even ang mga ordinansa sa Syudad, subject for review gyod na every five years. Naa’y mga nakalatid ana nga dili na appropriate karon, ug kinahanglanon nang i-revise, i-ammend, o wad-on na. Ang ROT agreement, ang project proponent ani, mao’y mo-manage sa proyekto in the next 25 years.

LMP: So, there is a possibility nga aduna’y mga kausaban every five years. Kon duna may mga changes, could this be incorporated before the 25 years span?

JSV: Duna may mga query ana mahitungod sa klaro nga operation sa City Square. Naa man ta’y mga Lawyer members sa Council, so whatever outcome anang maong investigation, especially kining hatagon nila sa City Government, based on the contract, kon duna’y mga kwestyonabli ana, maybe, mangita na pod ta ug other step to evaluate the contract.

LMP: Pero, if there is any such decision, kinahanglang it has to be approved by both parties.

JSV: Yes, kay dili pwede nga usa lang ang magbuot, kinahanglan nga magkasinabot gyod.

LMP: As of the now, the Sangguniang Panlungsod is questioning, kon duna man galing dili angay nga ipadayon.

JSV: Not necessarily questioning, but the SP is trying to find out kon unsa ang klarong operation sa City Square. I am really not in favor of the ROT agreement, considering that for me, it is disadvantageous on the part of the City Government, because they will only give 5 million for the next 25 years without any escalation. Sa wala pa na mahimong City Square, ang mga manindahay diha namaligya lang ug tabako, etc., mo-income nato ug almost 5 milyon annually.

LMP: In the same program dinhi sa “Nangutana Lang,” sometime last week, akong gipangutana si Mr. Kho about the contract. Ang iyang sulti, pwede man nga dili na sila mo-manage, kay matod pa niya, that is the will of the City, pero bayran sila sa ilang nagasto. Unsa imong reaksyon?

JSV: Depende gihapon na sa atong Sanggunian ug ang panlantaw sa atong halangdong Mayor. We also have to consider kon unsa ang plano sa atong Mayor, regarding sa City Square. We have to coordinate with the Executive Department. Whatever programs and policies nga ipagawas sa atong halangdong Mayor, sa ako lang giingon, I always go for good governance, kon unsa’y maayo para sa Syudad ug sa katawhan sa Tagbilaran, all out ang atong support.

LMP: Unsa pa’y laing nahitabo sa miaging session, gawas aning gihisgutan nato ron?

JSV: Diha’y mga messages and communications, ug mga referrals nga ma- agenda next session. Naa’y gipasa nga supplemental budget nga worth 39 million, ato pa kanang gi-refer sa committee.

LMP: Is the budget for 2014?

JSV: No, for 2013.

LMP: Dili ba magsugod na ta ug hunahuna, what the budget is for the next year?

JSV: Yes, each department would submit their budget to the Local Finance Committee. I-consolidate nila tanan, ibalik sa Sanggunian for discussion, deliberation, and approval. In the other session pa gyod, we agreed to invite the representative from PRA (Philippine Reclamation Authority). We also invited our former City Planning Officer, Pat Ruiz, atong mga Lawyer- Consultants nga nikuyog sa atong City Legal Officer, City Building Officials, and the Department Manager of PRA on Implementation and Regulations, Engr. Diomedes Tan. He explained everything, and their mandate on land ownership and titling. Last 2005, diha’y gihimo nga Nationwide Amnesty Program. The PRA Administrative Order, specifies the rules and regulations, nga maghatag ug amnesty sa mga nag-reclaim illegally. Since 2005, ang illegal reclamation nga ilang nalista was 35, until nahimo na lang 13. Ang buot pasabot ana nga ang 13, mao lang ang naggunok sa ilang application, ang uban wala. Sa 13, ang unom duna’y substantial compliance sa ilang application. Three of them with minimum compliance, ug ang 4 with no compliance at all. Gi-call-up na pod ang ilang attention sa PRA, otherwise ilang i-forfeit kining ilang reclamation.

LMP: But any way, it is already there. Ang mahitabo niini, expected nato nga duna man kaha’y amnesty, so magsugod ta sa sinugdan.They will have to go through with the requirements, aron mopasar. That is the bigger scenario nga atong makita. Ako personally I like it, kay mo nindot ang Tagbilaran.

JSV: Ila gyod nang gisubay, and there will be a joint survey between the PRA and the DENR. Ang ilang mandate is for the ownership of the land, kining gipang-reclaim aron maklaro, and for titling. One thing nga gipangayo sa PRA is the favorable endorsement sa Sangguniang Panlungsod. It doesn’t follow nga kon aduna na’y endorsement from the SP, pwede na. This is just the first towards getting the other clearances. Inig survey nila, if mahibaw- an nga ang reclaim area endangers life and property, ila gyod nga ipa- restore to the original structure.

LMP: Unsa ang imong panapos, Vice Mayor Toto Veloso?

JSV: Daghang salamat gihapon, Sir Loy, sa kanunay. Every Monday, basta wala’y laing kabilinggan, nia dinhi si Vice Mayor Toto Veloso, aron paghisgot sa mga panghitabo as atong Dakbayan, ilabi na sa atong gipanghimo diha sa hawanan sa atong Sangguniang Panlungsod. This is the second term for Toto Veloso to be catapulted to the rule of Presiding Officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, which follows that he is not a greenhorn anymore dealing with the nuances of his job. Would this mean he is now a seasonal politician?

If by this we mean the “trapo” or “traditional politician,” definitely Vice Mayor Veloso is not. He still has several years ahead of him as a public servant. And everybody believes he will not be playing second fiddle anymore in the near future.

(Website: www.loypalapos.com; email: loy.pal@gmail.com; cellphone: 09498345957)