Visionless LGU chiefs

Local government executives are the frontline or field operatives of the state.

They are supposed to know the situation on the ground. But local chief executives should also have the foresight, the vision for what is good for their communities not only in the short term or throughout their incumbency but beyond. They should not only be scoring pogi points for the next election.

Once seated in office, these officials become the protector of the interest of all stake holders in his or her community.

Thus, his job is to achieve and maintain a healthy balance among all sectors in his area of jurisdiction – local residents, business, the religious community, and the local government which he runs.

Once this equilibrium is upset, tension grips the community as conflict arises, pitting one sector against the other.

Harmony is disrupted, and the whole system collapses.

This is, we are afraid, what could happen if insensitive, overbearing, and visionless local leaders are allowed to have thier way.

Take this townmayor who ranted and reaged against a mining company whom he accused of illegal operations and harming the environment.

Benguet Corp. Has said Sta. Cruz, Zambales Mayor Luisito Marty was “barking up the wrong tree” when he accused the mining firm of illegal operation and for causing environmental hazards.

Lawyer Reynaldo P. Mendoza, Benguet executive vice president for legal services, has categorically denied Marty’s allegations, saying “we have not caused any damage to the environment in the area.”

Mendoza said his company has faithfully been adhering to mining laws which encourage sustainable mining operations and is always ready to employ mechanisms to ensure environmental protection.

It turned out the Benguet, which was granted the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement by the government in 2005, was not even fully operating yet.

“We are still in the process of exploration while waiting for the tree-cutting permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,” Mendoza pointed out.

Guess, where did the local official based his outrageous and baseless outrage? On a complaint filed by a village leader.

Apparently, the Mayor was referring to the February 25 complaint filed by a barangay chairman to the DENR, claiming that Benguet has been conducting illegal excavation which had damaged the forest in the locality.

But because media picked up his cause, he became some sort of a local hero although the firm was unduly maligned by this media stunt.

Still, the legal officers and the corporate top honchos are confident that the case against the company would be dismissed.

“We are confident that DENR would find the allegation as baseless and without merit,” Mendoza said.

The firm’s operation is expected to bring tremendous benefits to the town and nearby communities in terms of local employment, taxes and royalties to the local government, infrastructure development, and the overall development of the local economy.