Towns and Cities where the Mayor and his Vice assess things differently are doomed from the start, if each believes he is always right. It’s almost a year since the Yap-Veloso Executive-Legislative agenda are subjected to a scrutiny by a public waiting for a bickering to explode. So far, a violent confrontation has not circumvented their moves. Except for slight ripples that are subdued momentarily, nobody is rocking the boat. Although both came from warring camps in the previous election, they have not shown signs of being war-freaks. Could be because they are from the same generation, are adequately educated for the roles they play, and are willing to compromise when the need arises.

An interview with Vice Mayor Toto Veloso, excerpts of which find print in this column, took place last Monday, May 12, in DYRD-ZD’s “Nangutana Lang.” Obviously development-oriented, the VM is careful with his words... and moves. The success of “Saulog,” which was a team-effort according to both, proved once more that having a common goal and synchronizing the moves always produce good results. Is there a possibility that Baba and Toto will tandem in the next political derby? If so, the team is unbeatable. But such is easier said than done. With backers who have diversified motives, making the two sing the same tune is next to impossible, according to a City Hall know-it-all. Read on.

LMP: Unahon nato paghisgot Vice Mayor, kining usa ka dako kaayong panagtigum nga mahitabo dinhi sa Bohol, ang National Convention sa Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines. Ikaw ang napili nga Convention Director, sa ato pa, if this will succeed, which I know nga mahimong successful, ikaw gyod ang mahatagan ug congratulatory remarks, kay ikaw man ang magpasi-ugda niini. Matod pa nila, nga for any undertaking kinahanglan gyod kono nga duna’y teamwork. Sa atong mga kaigsoonang Bol-anon, kinsa’y mitabang sa maong kalihokan?

JSV: Kon magmalamposan kining atong hosting sa National Convention, I would not claim the monopoly of the credit, but much will be attributed to all the people around, nga misuporta sa atong kalihokan, especially the Vice Mayors’ League-Bohol Chapter, headed by our Chapter President, the Vice Mayor of Batuan, Bohol, Atty. Dodong Jumawid. The convention is this coming July 10-12, 2014. The venue will be at the Verdant Pavilion of Panglao Island Nature Resort. Naka-booked napod ‘ta sa atong mga resort hotels diha sa Panglao, including also some hotels dinhi sa Dakbayan sa Tagbilaran, in case dili nato ma-accommodate tanan. Kay duna’y mga Vice Mayors nga ni-manifest, nga they will be bringing along their families.

LMP: Sa akong namatikdan Vice Mayor, kon duna’y mga national conventions dinhi sa Bohol, dili kay ang tagtungod lang mismo maoy mo-attend. Ang bana magdala ug asawa, unya ang asawa magdala ug mga anak, ang tibuok pamilya moabot sa Bohol. So, expected nga daghan ang moabot diri, kay dili lang ang convention ang ilang arion; ang ilang tan-awon ang Bohol.

JSV: We hope nga mahitabo na. Sa akong mga gipang-atenderang meeting sa lain-laing dapit, kasagaran sa mga Vice Mayors nga akong nahinabi, they were really excited to visit Bohol, because they wanted to see our Province after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Although a lot of Vice Mayors throughout the Philippines, nakabisita na diri sa Bohol. Nagpasalamat pod kita sa atong mga resort operators, nga mihatag sa maong accommodation nga atong gi-schedule for the upcoming convention.

LMP: Sa ato pa, when it comes to accommodation, wa’y problema?

JSV: As far as accommodation is concerned, ato nang gi-block ang mga rooms diha sa Dauis ug Panglao Island. We wanted nga ang makaanhi nga members sa Vice Mayors’ League, they will look forward of coming back to Bohol, nga ma-impress gyod sila sa ilang pagbisita dinhi.

LMP: How strong is the organization sa mga Vice Mayors diri sa Pilipinas?

JSV: We are about 1,600 throughout the Philippines. Sa dihang na-final na nga kita ang mo-host, kay ato pa man kining gi-bid during the National Executive Board Meeting. Gi-uyonan kini sa mga kadagkoan sa Vice Mayors’ League nga ari diri. So from then on, every week na ‘ta nga ga-sigi ug meeting. Nag-create kita ug mga committees nga motrabaho in preparation for the convention, ug every week usab kita nga ga-follow-up sa mga updates. Tomorrow we will going to have a meeting sa tanang Vice Mayors dinhi sa Bohol, together with some of the officers of the National Executive Board.

LMP: Duna na ba’y mga assignments ang atong mga Vice Mayors dinhi sa Bohol?

JSV: Yes, they have individual assignments. Duna chairman, vice chairman, ug members sa ilang mga respective committees.

LMP: Unsa’y gibati nimo Vice Mayor, nga misanong ang imong mga kauban sa kapunongan, nga anhi himoon sa Bohol ang maong convention?

JSV: Nagpasalamat kita nga misanong ang atong mga kadagkoan sa Vice Mayors’ League nga anhi himoon ang national convention. This is a significant event, although this is the 22nd National Convention, tungod kay natunong kini sa ika-25th anniversary sa Vice Mayors’ League. Sa atong meeting ugma anaa ang atong Regional Chairman, si Vice Mayor Bengjay (Balamban, Cebu), our Secretary-General, Vice Mayor Villegas (Davao del Norte), and Vice Mayor Macalanlay, our National Treasurer. In our meeting next month, our President of the Vice Mayor’s League, Isko Moreno, will be coming also to attend to our final preparation.

LMP: When it comes to the convention proper, posibli ba nga moanhi si Presidente Aquino?

JSV: Well, ato na kanang gi-consider. That would be part of our discussion sa meeting tomorrow, kon kinsa ang atong i-invite nga mga personalities during the opening plenary program. In fact, Secretary Mar Roxas, manifested to come over, and there are a lot of personalities nga gusto pod nga mo-attend.

LMP: Akong natan-awan niini Vice Mayor... it is during the Sandugo month. Would this be a part in the calendar of the Sandugo activities?

JSV: I think, the major activities of the Sandugo will start third week of July. The convention is on July 10-12, perhaps, this will form part of the activities of the Sandugo celebration.

LMP: Posibli gyod. Kay niadtong unang mga panahon, sa dihang usa pa ko sa nagdala sa Sandugo, it really started July 1, which is the Charter Day of Tagbilaran. Officially, maundang pod na sa July 22, which is the Charter Day of the Province of Bohol. Pero duna’y mga tuig nga tungod sa kadaghan sa mga aktibidadis, moabot na tibuok bulan sa Hulyo. Sa ato pa, kon maghisgot kita ug July 10, that is a part of the Sandugo month. Wala lang ko kahibalo kon unsa ang mga plano karon. Kay kon atong basihan ang sa unang mga tuig, diin aktibo pa ‘ta sa Sandugo, mao gyod na ang ato nga gihimo.

JSV: The way I look at it, most probably, maapil gyod siguro na, considering nga involved pod ang Provincial Government niini. Sa akong nasayran, they will spearhead the Sandugo this year. During the opening program, wala pa man ni ma-final, but more or less mao na gyod ni, si Governor Edgar Chatto will talk about the Bohol experience.

LMP: Kon duna ta’y dako nga kalihokan sama niini, there is always a question of funding. Well funded ba ang ato nga organization?

JSV: Well, duna ma’y registration per Vice Mayor nga mo-attend. This will cover all the expenses sa accommodation, food. Everytime nga mo-hold ‘ta ug mga activities like this, kinahanglan nga ang atong official communication that will be sent to the different Local Government Units, should come from a memorandum circular of the Department of Interior and Local Government. We also welcome sponsors.

LMP: I hope, nga this will be very successful. Kay sa atong pagsaulog sa Saulog sa miaging Mayo, it was very successful. Akong nahibaw-an mismo sa ba-ba sa atong Mayor, sa akong pag-interview niya niining atong programa, siya mismo nagkanayon nga it was a team effort. It’s not nga ang credit is for him alone as the Mayor, although he is at the helm, but also sa Sangguniang Panlungsod, sa mga tawo nga mi-abag aron mahimo ‘to nga successful. Sa imong tan-aw Vice Mayor, kining inyong relasyon ni Mayor Baba Yap, magpadayon na ba gyod kini? Kay sa akong tan-aw it is very smooth.

JSV: Sama sa akong mga naingon in the previous interviews, nga wala ko’y problema at my end, as long as it is for the good of the people, and of the City. Lahi-lahi man ang among gigikanan nga political affiliation, pero we don’t know in the coming days.

LMP: Is there a possibility nga kamo magka-uban sa usa ka partido?

JSV: Well, dili nato na ika-discount nga possibility, but as of now, kon maghisgot ‘ta ug trabaho, we are always in support sa mga plano sa atong administrasyon. In fact, during the session last Friday, we passed a resolution in mass, congratulating our Mayor, for the successful celebration of the Saulog sa Tagbilaran.

LMP: Saulog was a very good example, nga kon magkahiusa ang mga tawo, maayo gyod ang resulta. We would not say that it was perfect, pero kon maghisgot kita ug pista sa Tagbilaran, usa kadto nga makita nato nga hilabihang kamabulokon. There were a lot of activities, participation sa mga tawo, aligre gyod kaayo. Ato ‘to nga padayonon, ug hinaot pa unta, nga ang atong pagdala sa Sangguniang Panlungsod wa’y matawag nga bikil, kay duha pa ka tuig ang umaabot. Lain nga pangutana Vice Mayor, kanus-a mobalhin ang session sa Sangguniang Panlungsod. Is there a possibility nga makabalhin na mo karong tuiga?

JSV: Depende kana sa time-frame kon masugdan na ug repair ang atong City Hall. Actually, until now wala pa masugdi. Sa akong nahibaw-an, next month mo-start ang bidding. With regards to the funding, gihuwat pa nga ma-release ang budget gikan sa National Government.

LMP: Does it follow nga we cannot afford, sa ato lang nga budgeting gikan sa atong local coffers?

JSV: Maka-afford man ‘ta, kay right after the earthquake, diha man ta’y calamity fund nga niabot ug mga 23 million pesos. I guess that would be enough unta nga i-repair sa atong City Hall, but then, wala pa ‘ta kabalo kon unsa ang plano sa atong Mayor. The last time nga nagkahinabi mi, in one of the activities nga nag-abot mi, I asked him kon unsa ang plano regarding sa City Hall. Iya kong gipakita sa perspective sa pag-repair niini. It is just a matter of anus-a mo-commence ang pagtrabaho. Ni-mention pod siya sa amount sa pag-repair, which I believe, kaya kaayo sa atong Syudad.

LMP: Naghisgot man ‘ta Vice Mayor ug budget, usa sa kanunay nga gipangutana pagkakaron mao kining bahin sa City Square. Unsa’y update?

JSV: After sa investigation nga gihimo sa Committee ni Councilor Aleckoy Lim, apil sa iyang findings nga ang management sa City Square, committed nga mobayad. I don’t know this time kon nibayad na ba sila. So, maybe we could ask our Treasury Department kon unsa ang status karon. And also, we need to update our revenue code, kay mora’g taod-taod na pod. In fact, duna kita’y invitation this coming June 2-6, a 5-day workshop on updating the revenue code. This will be conducted by the Bureau of Local Government Finance in Cebu City.

LMP: Will you be directly involved ‘ning maong kalihokan?

JSV: Well, we are all invited, the Mayor, Vice Mayor, Department Heads, and the Committee Chairmen on the Committee on Ways and Means, and Appropriations.

“Once a Vice always a Vice” does not rhyme palatably, especially for the Vice. Human as he is, and subject to his perceptual field, which usually inspires a man worth his salt to aspire a notch higher, the Vice (even in his shoes) would play Walter Mitty creating bigger-than-life dreams. And one such aspiration is to be at the helm of City Hall one day.

If there are countless who entertain illusion of one day becoming the Mayor of Tagbilaran City, how much more the man who has only one stride to make? But of course this needs a fool-proof and formidable plan. And Vice Mayor Toto Veloso should have already envisioned the movie he has to make. This makes the run to the top of the totem pole an exhilarating game. The question is still: “Will Baba and Toto do a tandem in the next political derby?”

(Website:www.loypalapos.com; Email: loy.pal@gmail.com; Cellphone: 09981701129)