Let Gov. Pam do her job and support her too

Regardless of your political color—whether you are a DDS, a BBM supporter, or a pinklawan—the lady is just doing her job. I have never voted for Governor Pam Baricuatro, but since she was overwhelmingly elected, she has the mandate. The least that we can do is not to obstruct, impede, or, much less, derail the performance of her official functions. Let her do her job. If you do not love her, at least respect her mandate.

Governor Pam’s major accomplishments include overhauling the public health care system, providing millions in funding for hospitals and new medical staff, leading disaster response efforts, and being appointed chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Region VII. She is responsible not only for Cebu and Bohol but also for the provinces of the Visayas, having been chosen by the governors. By that alone, Pam is giving Cebu much pride.

Unlike her immediate predecessor, who is also our good friend and who focused on Pasigarbo and Suroy-Suroy, Governor Pam ordered the release of ?80 million and later ?180.7 million in emergency operating funds for Cebu’s 16 provincial and district hospitals to address shortages of medicine, fuel, and medical staff. Governor Pam has concentrated on what matters most: health, especially for the poor who cannot afford the high cost of hospitalization and medical services.

We should give credit where credit is due. We should be fair and rise above narrow partisan divides. The lady has been trying hard to make her mark in her administration. In such a short time, she has chosen a niche in public service and governance—medical care—and that is precisely what the people need.

When she won, I offered my services to help, but the underlings surrounding her, acting as a cordon sanitaire, blocked my genuine offer to work for one peso a year.

I look at Governor Pam as a sincere lady who simply wants to serve. She has no business interests to promote and no relatives to put in high positions. She is just trying to do a good job. Why should the DDS begrudge Gov. Pam if she acts graciously toward BBM? Inday Sara never raised her hand when she was running because the vice president was also playing a double game with Gov. Gwen, whose daughter used to be Inday Sara’s spokesperson.

So Gov. Pam was elected not because of the vice president. She stands on her own merit. The DDS should keep that in mind. Governor Pam won because Cebuanos had grown tired of Gwen’s style of politics, her antics, and her outbursts. She was a very good governor at the start—hardworking, decisive, and strict. But she eventually reached her limits, ala Peter Principle. Her massive defeat put a blot on the Garcia brand that she herself had largely built. It is now difficult for her to make a comeback.

Governor Pam is doing well. She, too, may eventually reach the point described by the Peter Principle, but that is still far off. Now, while she is at her prime, the least we Cebuanos can do is support her, pray for her, and do away with our crab mentality.

Let us rid ourselves of excessive fanatical politicking. It is time for us to grow into mature people who love our country and our province.