Ahaja brothers take tandem leadership in Tawi-tawi town

Vice Mayor Hadj. Tiblan C. Ahaja

SITANGKAI, Tawi-tawi --- The municipality of Sitangkai, founded and created on August 26, 1959, is the farthest town among the 11 municipalities of Tawi-tawi province in the so-called Sulu archipelago.

The other municipalities in Tawi-tawi are Sibuto, Simunol, Bongao, Languyan, Panglima Sugala, Sapa-Sapa, Tandubas, South Ubian, Mapun, and Turtle Island. These localities are only an hour travel via speedboat to Sabah in Malaysia.

Sitangkai is a first class municipality with a total population of some 50,000 with 23,323 registered voters residing in nine barangays: Poblacion Sitangkai, Emamsapie, Panglima Alari, Datu Baguinda Putih, Tumahing,Tanggusong, North Larap, South Larap, and Sipangkot.

This locality is also known as the Venice of the South because of its two-way channels similar to the shape of Italy, the very reason why a certain Italian tourist guy described this island-town as such, a trade name derived from that foreign country, Mayor Serbin C. Ahaja told this community paper in an exclusive interfacing.

This locality, accordoing to   accounts, became a first class municipality because of the efforts of the Ahaja brothers ---  Serbin “Silent” C. Ahaja and Tiblan C. Ahaja ---  who took turns in leading local governance as mayor and the vice mayor since 2005. Serbin served as mayor in 2005 to 2010 and then elected again in the same post in 2013 and 2016. Tiblan, on the other hand, seated as mayor from 2010 to 2013.

The Ahaja brothers are known in their town as development-oriented, workaholic, humble, soft spoken, and men of action. Many residents vouch on them as good leaders, peace loving, and God-fearing persons.

These two brothers once again are running under the National Unity Party [NUP}, the incumbent Vice Mayor Tiblan C. Ahaja is aiming once more on the mayoralty while his older brother, incumbent Mayor Serbin  Ahaja, is the running mate.

Under their incumbencies since 2005 to the present, the Ahaja brothers have imprinted phases of development projects, to mention: installation of electric power;  constructions of 12 public school buildings from Grade I to Grade 6, including the secondary level;  construction  of foot-bridges on island-barangays and in Poblacion; and construction of mosques, barangay rural health units, and community hospital , among others.

In recognition to his exemplary performance and leadership, Mayor Serbin Ahaja was among the awardees in the 2009 Ten Outstanding Public Servants (TOPS) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao given by the Civil Service Commission-ARMM.

Vice Mayor Tiblan Ahaja, in a separate interview, bared his top priorities once the people in his locality would carry him to the mayoralty post: to uplift the living conditions of his fellow- Sitangkaiwenians  through economic advocacies; better educational opportunities for the youth sector and the push for the hiring of additional teachers; sustenance of peace and security to further enhance investments; promotion of eco-tourism; and progressive and aggressive stance in the advancement of development programs and projects. (Anne Acosta)

Editorial

Ethics in suffrage

Near countdown for the May 13 midterm polls. And how ready are members of the electorate in their pick for those to be seated in the House of Representatives and the Senate and local government posts?

On the side of the Commission on Elections, the poll body pronounced the readiness in terms of police deployments to secure the precincts, the assignment of teachers as election inspectors, enough supply of electricity, assurance of batteries of vote counting machines that would last for 16 hours even in cases of brownouts, protection against hacking, and security assurance by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. But will there be no more cases of disenfranchisement? 

As reasserted by Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Ligayen-Dagupan, the right to vote is the “backbone of democracy,” though not absolute, it comes with a responsibility. It is putting ethics to suffrage and public service to keep democracy alive.

Quoting St. John Paul II, the archbishop said: “Democracy without values can easily turn into a thinly disguised totalitarianism,” as he upended that “the right to vote must be based on the right understanding of human dignity.”

Putting one’s faith in the exercise of suffrage, he said: “God will judge us for the way we vote. Our children will judge us for the way we vote. The election is important for them. Think of them.” It means that suffrage is associated with leadership or governance at work and delivery of what are needed for change. “Be Godly voters. Be careful. Be critical. Be courageous…,” the archbishop further stated as a reminder to voters in whose hands the fate of governance would lie.

So voting is a big deal because people put into place their representatives to steer the wheel of government and public service. The elective positions are never an economic enterprise but aptly managing the affairs of government, the machinery that sustains the functioning and maintenance of a society for its existence… for within a society are the living organisms that breathe.

So dear voters, you have the responsibility and moral duty to place the rightful representatives to our national and local governments. Be always sure that the people you vote are the most deserving and not those who will spirit way the resources that are to be bestowed upon whom they serve. Good choice of genuine leaders is good for us but we suffer if we choose the untrustworthy ones.

Your choice… your fate. Put ethics in the election process. And those who enter public service through election, may they be most ethical in performance or run the risk of recall if ever there will be. So be it.

Be ready for election day!

HNP, NUP parties team up in Tawi-tawi

SEAL OF ALLIANCE --- Congressional candidate Rashidin Matba (right), Davao City Mayor and Presidential daughter Inday Sara Duterte Carpio, and gubernatorial candidate Ysmhael “Mhang” Sali (seated left), sign the Seal of Alliance of the HNP and NUP as one party as the political adviser of the party,  Atty Jet Lim, looks on. A huge crowd (below photo) witnessed the signing and listened to the candidates’ speeches. (Anne B. Acosta) 

 B0NGAO, Tawi-Tawi --- The founder of Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party, Davao City Mayor and Presidential daughter “Inday” Sara Duterte Carpio, and the National Unity Party {NUP} team led by gubernatorial candidate Ysmhael “Mhang” Sali of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi province, conducted its grand political rally last April 25 at the Amilbahar gymnasium here amid a huge turn-out of supporters.

        With Mayor Duterte Carpio were three HNP and administration senatorial candidates Ronald Bato dela Rosa, Frances Tolentino, and JV Ejercito.

        The HNP team expressed their thanks and gratitude to the people of Bongao for their warm welcome, that in spite of high temperature or heat index, the people have come solidly as they felt the excitement of their presence and listened attentively to the senatorial candidates while presenting their platforms of government.

        The estimated number of stakeholders and supporters who attended the political rally of two alliance parties reached to some 7,000.

        Gubernatorial candidate Ysmhael “Mhang” Sali and his running mate vice gubernatorial candidate Michael “Tati’ Ahaja and congressional candidate Rashidin “Rash” Matba of the National Unity Party each expounded  their platforms of government, affirming their  commitment to public service once voted or indorsed by the people.

        Among Mhang Sali’s development thrusts include the construction of more infrastructure projects such as farm-to-market and provincial roads as well as bridges in   certain municipalities for social and economic connectivities.

        As part of his development advocacy, Sali said the construction of more school buildings with provision of school supplies is a vital educational investments to further increase the literacy rate of the students and enhance more the manpower resources in the island-province. “Because I believe that education is one durable solution to lessen poverty and criminality in our area of responsibility.”

        Also in the party’s projected development framework is upgrading the facilities of the hospitals in the 11 municipalities composing Tawi-tawi province, including those Rural Health Units in the barangay level. Corollary to improved health care and services is the enrolment of the poorest sector and senior citizens with the PhilHealth program through distribution of cards.

        Other inclusions in the NUP’s  platform of government are the development and protection of tourist destinations which Tawi-tawi province is much endowed with natural richness and whose potentials could aptly entice local and foreign enthusiasts to come and pour in their investments, thus, affording the locale population with employment and business-related activities.

        Mhang Sali said social and economic investments and upliftment could only be achievable and doable “in the backdrop of unity and harmony among the tri-people living in the province and a much sustainable environment of peace and security.”

        “If we come to endure our quest for unity, harmony, and peace... surely more investments will come our way,” Mhang Sali stressed, further enundating that people should cherish these as core values for development and sustainable growth.

        Ysmhael “Mhang” Sali is a three-termer mayor of Languyan municipality having been elected to the post since May of 2010.

        Following steadfast in local governance, Sali said his decision to run in the gubernatorial race is one anchored on public demand, saying the “people’s choice is preferential in the advocacy for responsive governance because there is trust and support from the public and such should be endeared so development thrusts are attainable.” 

        A number of folks fondly call Mhang Sali as “a man of action, a good leader, and a supportive one with soft-spoken, humble, and down to earth attitude, seeing no discrimination among people.” (Anne Acosta)

Editorial

Moving on economic challenges, trends

What’s up on 2019 Labor Day (May 1)? Expecting a special wage hike gift to be legislated? Labor groups through the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines are pleading for additional P750 wage (but is this for Metro Manila only?). A national legislation on this is rather far-fetched. Forcing this issue would only result to personnel lay-off and shutdown or close-shop of some businesses. Daily wage earners could only get consolation, with dissatisfaction, when the Regional Tripartite Wage Productivity Board announces another salary hike adjustment, but not crawling near the additive P700 figure for sure.

The Philippine Statistics Authority assessed that a household monthly income of some P10,000 is a way out of poverty for a family of five, but the TUCP countered that this is not “enough” considering the high cost of living and other intervening factors. To the IBON Foundation, it is P23,660 for a decent living for the same family size. The figures are debatable for “enough-ability.” 

Dreaming of a high pay of P80,000 a month, which some (professional) workers could earn overseas or abroad?  Better become an industrious, aggressive, and energetic entrepreneur to earn more than this much. When abroad anyway, you spend in foreign currency and not the peso.

Gone where the days when gasoline price per liter was 35 centavos and a can of sardines at 45 cents, when rice was sold per ganta and not by the kilo, when a double- movie program entrance fee at the orchestra was 35 or 45 centavos, when an 8-ounce softdrink was 15 centavos and a bottle of beer at 35 cents… all these low prices when the minimum wage was at P4 to P6 and then P8 a day at that time. Our elders say that the cost of living the years past were not harsh… perhaps when demand for living was not high unlike today’s sophistication. Well, the cost of living can be treated as relative, which is dependent on economic trending.

The question arises: Did the past generation incur savings from their wage earnings as what our present generation, say the millennials, could muster this current? We can perhaps gauge this as what they had in the early years and what they have today in terms of holdings such as property  as well as comparative coping with the cost of living. Non-economic advancement could only mean non-upward vertical social mobility and life could be rendered harsher considering the high cost of living nowadays in the backdrop of large family size.

How can we cope with the economic battle when logistics or minimum wage are at stale? To dream is merely a gamble with unsure results but striding forward with determination of gain would be a head on because of positive character. Striving to win is a lot better gesture than mere contentment. What opportunities are being offered, such as free tertiary education in public schools and business forum or training, should now be grasped so to be equipped with the inputs for economic productivity.

In today’s life saga, one must be attentive to opportunities to push one’s social and economic position or holding for the better and be secured in life. It’s moving to life’s challenges and developing a philosophy of hard strive for successful or fuller living. When constructing a family in today’s world, one has to develop a framework on what the unit should become as ideal and act according to such premise. Remember, idealism is different from realism… the former could only be a dream but the latter requires dynamism so to be a realist borne out of ideals.

So what do you think could add up to your daily wage? Self-initiative for worthwhile economic profit or gain could be your own gift on Labor Day. So how do you manage your budgeting this far? Well, be practicable or a realist in consumption behavior lest you suffer in debts and fall to poverty because of losses.