The executive and legislative branches of city government have been at loggerheads since a controversial resolution suspending the power of the city mayor to hire contractual workers was passed on Dec. 6 last year. Depending on which side of the fence one is standing, the issue has polarized political observers, benefitting only the cheerleaders of a war that is too premature to erupt. Both protagonists and antagonists have been throwing mud balls at each other in an attempt to justify their course of actions. This early on in the incumbency of City Mayor Baba Yap, City Hall has been seen as an arena of political bickering, an unhealthy atmosphere that does not reflect the general character of the Boholano people. Of course, each party would claim that they are fighting for good principles or good governance, and that their crusade is aimed at sowing seeds of development in the city of Tagbilaran, which was left in ruins by the administration of ex-city mayor Dan Lim.

As the infighting becomes more personal and wayward, we may be seeing our leaders departing from the original purpose why they ran for public office. Before the elections, there was a consensus that Tagbilaran was in dire need of change, and that the city must possess a new breed of leaders who are selfless, humble, fair and just. There was a pervasive clamor for change of leadership at City Hall, which was blamed on the stalled progress of the city. Now the latest brouhaha that engulfs City Hall is that those who vehemently disagree to the admin bloc's act of inserting a provision into the 2014 budget ordinance which has restored the power of the mayor to hire contractual workers are mulling of resorting to legal battle if only to prove that they were right in their objections. It's a dreaded scenario, actually.

In the previous sessions at the City's Sangguniang Panlungsod, we have witnessed raucous debates on many issues ranging from frivolous topics to sensible ones. While open debates are encouraged in a democratic society, such verbal fireworks however are doing more harm than good to the city and eventually to our people. We believe that the issues are not that complicated to resolve – these can be ironed out through diplomatic means, and one way to do this is through an open and honest dialogue between the city mayor and members of the city SP. It has become an exercise of futility to engage in endless debates at City Hall sessions considering that any decision-making undertaken by the lawmaking body is not anchored on meritorious opinions and sound judgments but rather it hinges on which political color one is affiliated with. If a lawmaker wants to pursue a plan, the success or failure of that plan is largely dependent on political affiliations. The so-called tyranny of number can easily kill a good plan.

And at the peak of these circuitous debates, not only the egos of our officials are being bruised, but the future of the city is put in jeopardy as well. Why can't our honorable leaders just sit down and see eye to eye and talk over a cup of coffee or tea and put things in proper perspective? In a time when our country is still recovering from the devastations brought upon by natural calamities, political debates, while these can be viewed as a good sign that democracy is still functioning, can at times turn into gibberish rhetoric that does not in any way contribute to society's progress.