Editorial: Serbisyong Gomez

LAWMAKERS in Congress carry the title Rep. on their names because they represent their constituencies in their respective districts. Their representation is not limited to their legislative functions but extends to other responsibilities outside the Session Hall.

This means that in any of their actions, congressmen should consider the interest of their constituents first and foremost, and ensure this would redound to their benefit. Lately however, there has been a noted pattern on the actions taken by Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez on controversial issues in her district.

First is the near shutdown of LIDE Management Corp.’s (LMC) pumping station in Brgy. Salvacion because of its failure to pay regulatory fees to the Ormoc City government. By preventing Mayor Eric C. Codilla from enforcing the closure order, Rep. Gomez overstepped on the LGU’s mandate to look after the public interest

Rep. Gomez convinced Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to order Mayor Codilla to stand down by presenting a water crisis scenario in Merida and Isabel towns that are being supplied by LMC with water. She relayed this information to the Secretary based on LMC’s say-so.

But this information isn’t accurate because LMC maintains other pumping stations in Matlang and Tabunok, both in Isabel, that could amply supply the barangay water districts (BWD) even without the Salvacion substation. What worried LMC was the prospect of not being able to supply the water needs of the locators at Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LMC) in the event of a shutdown in Salvacion.

Whatever money the BWDs bring to LMC is peanuts compared to the profits it rakes from the industrial plants in LIDE. By influencing Robredo to hold off the closure order, Rep. Gomez worked for the interest of a private corporation over her constituents’.

She was all ears to LMC but she didn’t take time out to go to Salvacion and ask the barangay folk’s take on the issue. She would have learned that LMC isn’t really welcome there. She would have seen a drying creek which they believe is caused by over-extraction of water.

What Rep. Gomez solved is LMC’s problem, not that of the people who voted for her. LMC’s water consumers could only wish she would also do something about the overly expensive rate they’re paying which is P16 per cu.m., 300% more than what Ormocanons pay to Orwasa.

But Rep. Gomez didn’t learn anything from the LMC brouhaha. This month, the simmering conflict between Camp Downes residents and 802nd IB reached a boiling point. Guess whose side she took. She should stop relying on her celebrity status and reach out to her constituency.

The local folk are worried because the army has imposed measures to limit their movements. They can think of only one reason for such, and that is to drive them away from the reservation which the military doesn’t deny. One of the measures the army imposed is the tagging of homes.

To the residents’ surprise, the number tags bear the name of Rep. Gomez. She may not mean harm by that epal gesture, but it suggested to the residents that they have lost an ally on her. Those people are not used to being turned down, much less betrayed by their officials.

Ex-Rep. Dodong Codilla supported the residents’ cause by writing the Undersecretary for Lands to urgently act on  their petition to reserve a portion of the camp for socialized housing. Mayor Codilla, for his part, was heard on radio ordering the 802nd IB to leave the residents alone. What has Rep. Gomez done for the people of Camp Downes? Until she categorically declares her opposition to the residents’ eviction, she will always be portrayed as an adversary to their cause.