CEBU, Philippines – Seven media practitioners in Cebu who ran and won last Monday's barangay elections promised that their work with their respective outlets will not prevent them from serving their constituents.
Two jobs at the same time is only a matter of time management and commitment to public service, most of them said.
These media practitioners who came out trusted by their constituents are Ramil Ayuman of ABS-CBN TV Patrol who was reelected barangay captain of Apas this city, David Tumulak of dyAB re-elected as captain of Basak-Pardo this city, Eliodoro Sanchez of Bantay Radyo also re-elected as captain of Busay this city, Garry Lao of The Freeman as number one councilman of Tejero, Allan Mahait of dySS as councilman of Apas, Jeffrey Tumulak of dySS as councilman of Camputhaw, Bernie Cabusao of dyHP as councilman in Malubog and Gabriel Bonjoc of dySS as councilman of Poblacion, Talisay.
Others who ran but lost were Sem Romarate, Elly Bolonos, John Rey Saavedra, Joy Tumulak, Liv Campo, Gerry Auxillo, Norman Mendoza and Vinci Monterde.
Being a barangay captain requires a lot of time as the one elected for this position becomes the chief executive, who is also tasked to handle fiscal administration, development planning, barangay legislation and basic services in the barangay level.
It has been proven and tested that in the case of Ayuman and Dave Tumulak, being media persons had not in any case compromised their duty to their people because while they come to the barangay during the day, they report to their respective media outlets at night.
Ayuman chose to be in the graveyard shift from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. He comes to the barangay hall at 10 a.m.
Tumulak does his media duties during the night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and report to the barangay hall at 10 a.m.
Both of them however are on call 24 hours and they make sure that their duties to their constituents always come first. Both of them cover the police beat.
"Ang importante gyud is how you manage your time. Wala ra gyud ko'y nakita nga conflict between my two jobs. Public service man gud ni'ng amoa," Ayuman said.
He admitted that being in the media helped his candidacy and is helping him to give more service to his constituents.
"In 2002, when I won as number one councilor, it is probably because I was known by the people through my job. When you are in the media, ang perception man gud sa mga tawo is you are service-oriented and credible," Ayuman added.
Lao, who joined the government in 2007, said that the fact he was elected from number six councilor to number one now, shows that he was able to satisfy his constituents while working as full-time news writer.
"I don't have to choose between my job as a media practitioner and as a councilman because naa ra man gyud na sa time management," Lao said.
The Journalists Code of Ethics of their respective companies allows them to run in the barangay election because as barangay politicians, they are non-partisan, but they have to make sure that their position will not cause a conflict of interest with their work, then they will have to choose which one to keep. - /NLQ (FREEMAN)