EDITORIAL - Good for one term?

We subscribe to opinions of many that the poor attendance of Cebu City south district Representative Tomas Osmeña in congressional sessions does not mean he is not working well as a congressman.

According to his wife, Councilor Margot Osmeña, there are two reasons for his low House attendance ratings – his state of health and his duty to his constituents. And these are valid reasons, more especially the latter, considering the fact that as district representative, he is bound to primarily look after the wellbeing of his constituents.

Yes, a congressman’s primary task is of crafting laws and participating in House deliberations. But the law also says congressmen have the crucial responsibility of attending to the needs of the people in their respective district. That is why they are annually given millions in Priority Development Assistance Fund.

In the case of Osmeña, his poor attendance in House sessions unfortunately triggered the thought that he is not really interested in his House duties. It can be recalled that before the May elections, there had been reports that he was not really interested in running for Congress.

But he was forced to run knowing the fact that no one from among his political allies could beat the opposition’s formidable force in businessman Jonathan Guardo.

Only Osmeña can tell whether he already lost interest in the Congressional sessions. But what counts is the fact that he has been busy attending to the needs of his constituents in the south, as his wife stated.

Osmeña cannot also deny mounting speculations that this new development signals the start of his return to the City Hall. That is because, based on the present state of his relationship with Mayor Michael Rama, he leaves room for the public to think he is only good for one congressional term.