Payback for ex-PBA chairman

There’s something in ex-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) chairman Casiano (Jun) Cabalan’s heart that makes him a special candidate in the coming May elections.

Cabalan, 47, is running for Congressman in the first district of Agusan del Norte, consisting of 152,000 voters in Butuan City and Las Nieves. He’s immersed in a three-way battle where the other contenders are veterans — the incumbent who’s shooting for a third term and a former three-termer who lost in a bid for the Senate in 1998 and in an aborted comeback three years ago.

Cabalan brings honor and respectability to the campaign. He speaks from the heart because that’s what he’s offering the electorate — his heart for hard work, honesty, good governance, transparency and a revolutionary vision of economic development.

If the common notion is politicians use their positions to get rich, Cabalan intends to prove that politics and ethics can work together.

"I’m giving up a professional career to try to make a difference," says Cabalan. "It’s the reverse of what people expect from a politician. I’m sacrificing my job and security. I owe so much to my home province. For me, it’s payback time."

To Cabalan, entering politics is not about making money. He abhors corruption and promises to wage war against it in government if he’s elected.

When he was PBA chairman last year, Cabalan survived turbulent waters and steered the league through a stormy period to lay the foundations of a bright future. Cabalan was confronted by daunting circumstances but managed to keep the PBA afloat. Today, the PBA is on the way to reliving its glory era and Cabalan’s contributions can’t be denied.

Cabalan will never take credit for his part in guiding the PBA back on track. It’s not his style. That kind of humility is what sets him apart from traditional politicians.

"There is so much to be done,"says Cabalan. "Our district has been left behind by our neighbors. I hope to improve our health care system and bring about a spirit of volunteerism. I hope to make people care. I hope to be a catalyst, as someone who will initiate change for the better."

Cabalan says his decision to throw his hat in the political derby was inspired by support from the business sector, the church, the youth, farmer groups and party list organizations. The support appears to be widespread and threatens to trigger a bandwagon effect.

Cabalan notes that his district primarily relies on agriculture and fishing. But because of its depressed state, he says investors are hesitant to plunk in significant resources.

"To combat unemployment, the government talks of investors coming in but who will come to invest?" he says. "My solution is the reverse. I will mobilize the unemployed sector and work out a backdoor approach to bring development into our district. My plan is to make it easy for qualified applicants to work abroad. It will mean opening up a POEA extension office in our district and setting aside a portion of the CDF to fund a cooperative where qualified applicants can borrow for their placement fees. If we create a P10 Million fund for the first year, assuming an average placement fee of P50,000, 200 will be able to avail of the loan. After six months, the first installment can be paid and will fund another 33 applicants. The revolving process will add up to a total of 4,300 applicants after three years. Assuming each applicant is able to reach out to three siblings on the average, we could hit a level of 13,000 beneficiaries. If each beneficiary is able to remit about P35,000 a month, we could bring in about P6 Billion to our district within three years. That will mean increasing the purchasing power of our people. Then you will see real development. Realty companies will come in. Commercial establishments will rise. Jobs will be created."

Cabalan says his innovative approach to the unemployment problem could be the "final"solution.

To churn out quality applicants for the program, Cabalan says he will push for a five-year curriculum where four years of high school are compressed into two and three years will be dedicated to technological training. The resources of the Iligan Institute of Technology and Mindanao State University will be harnessed to design the curriculum.

It’s a quantum leap from the PBA to Congress but Cabalan is ready for the jump. As a former seminarian and La Salle Bacolod graduate, he has the moral background from his Christian education and credibility from an unblemished track record of professionalism to declare integrity as a cornerstone of his campaign.

Cabalan’s entry into politics is proof that there are still good men who are willing to sacrifice for the country.

Postscript. The second part of the story of International Olympic Committee marketing director Michael Payne’s recent Manila visit will be the subject of this Tuesday’s column.