A fig tree without fruit: Officials sans accomplishments

In today's gospel this third Sunday of Lent, Luke 13:1-9, tells us about the parable of a fig tree, which for three years, didn’t bear fruit, and therefore deserved to be cut down. Since I am not a religious preacher but a political columnist, I won’t venture into the territorial domain of priests. I would rather use this analogy and compare the incumbent public officials, especially those from and in Cebu. What have they accomplished in the last three years? Do they deserve another term or should we, the Filipino voters, cut them down, like the useless fig tree?

In the Senate, what have senators Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Nancy Binay, and Bam Aquino accomplished to deserve another term? They have not reduced poverty, homelessness, unemployment, corruption, or contributed to social justice, economic development, and foreign relations. They have not pushed the federalization advocacy, or helped in combating drugs, or helped the president address poverty and food insecurity amidst drought and natural calamities. We spend billions for each of them yearly. They have not accomplished enough except for Pimentel, Angara, and Ejercito. The non-performers, especially Villar, whose businesses conflict with her post, should be cut down like the fig tree.

In the House, what have the congressmen from Cebu done to help the province and Cebuanos? They have done nothing --I repeat, nothing-- except play politics. All of them should be cut down like the useless fig tree, with the exception of congressmen Samsam Gullas, Willy Caminero, Peter John Calderon, Benhur Salimbangon, and Raul del Mar. All the rest are plain and simple trapos. Now they are asking for another term? They should be cut down for bearing no fruits. We spend no less than P700,000 up to a P1 billion a month for every congressman. What is the peoples' return on investments? Nothing.

I would say the governor and vice governor have done many things, albeit they aren’t good in advertising their accomplishments. Thus, their political rivals have a heyday attacking them as non-performers and lazy. But those who know the real score can’t be misled. If one goes around the towns there’s a lot of evidence of their performance. I can’t say the same thing for the city because I still see garbage, traffic, half-naked street urchins, and beggars all over. The drug problem remains unabated, cyberpornography has proliferated, and all around are grave and imminent fire hazards, and the water supply is reaching a crisis point. We need a really caring steward to redeem a decaying metropolis.

President Duterte is about to fire MWSS officials. He should also fire energy, agriculture, BIR, customs, LTFRB, SSS, GSIS, Landbank, DBP, and other GOCC officials as well. They are like fig trees. They get too much salaries, allowances, and perks, but are still without fruits. They are big burdens to the people. They have to be cut down. [email protected]