OPINION: THE FIRST 100 DAYS IN LIPA

The first 100 days of our elected officials is up and I am keen to understand what has changed or what has improved in our city so far since most Filipinos is crying for a change. My opinion is based on what I have observed as an employee and resident of Lipa and from what I am reading and watching from social media. This article has no negative intention to anyone of our local officials but to challenge them and to gather more information from the rest.

First, lets talk about the positive changes and developments:
1. War Against Illegal Drugs - based on the reports by PRC Lipa, the statistics are pretty impressive.It will not be surprising though since this is a national agenda and our President is hands on with this war.
2. Growth in Private Sector - Lipa is not being emptied when it comes to new stores or shops. You don't need to go to Metro Manila for most of our needs since most of the shops, food, clothing, gadgets etc are already in Lipa and more are investing and coming in our city. There's no doubt that Lipa is currently the center of lifestyle, commerce and entertainment in Batangas.
3. Drop in Crime Rate - I personally observed this and I must say that there is really an improvement when it comes to crime rate as compared to past 2 years where news of killings was like almost every week.
4. Solid Increase in Population - some might look at population increase as negative but I would rather take it as advantage for Lipa City. Lipa took the #1 spot as the most populated in Batangas since last year. On a positive note, it means people are looking at Lipa as better option to live.
5. More CCTV Cameras - I am so delighted to see not only a handful but a lot of CCTV cameras built along the streets and public places. I just hope that these cameras have high resolution and someone is monitoring it real time.

Now let's move on to needs improvement.
1. Busted Street Lights - I wish I could go back to the time when I was working in Makati. During that time as I go back home from work, I was so impressed to see how Lipa streets were well lit from Bugtong to Banay Banay. Today, a billionaire city like Lipa doesn't deserve a gloomy night.
2. Traffic - I already wrote an article 2 years ago on the worsening situation of traffic in Lipa during rush hours such as 6:30am until 8am, 11am until 1pm and from 5pm until 7pm. There has been a lot of rerouting scheme, policy on jaywalking and even schedules in using a pedestrian lane (believe it or not only in Lipa). The situation is the same or got even worse. I am not exactly sure why the local government can't invest for a long term solution like traffic lights and countdown timers.
3. Garbage Everywhere - nothing has changed. I could still see a lot of garbage not being collected for days along the major streets of Lipa. Its really an eye sore similar to the spider web like cables and wires if you look up along the streets.
4. Inconsistent Ordinances - Lipa has a lot of ordinances that can be useful for a more urbanized, organized and safer streets that should be given proper and consistent implementation like jaywalking, illegal parking, no smoking, no littering, use of helmet/seatbelt and more.
5. Below Average Resolutions - I am watching sessions uploaded in Youtube and I am surprised to know about some of the resolutions being passed on by some Councilors. Some of the resolutions seem to have not been thought overnight. I am looking for resolutions that will make Lipa world class and competitive.
6. Power Interruptions - as one netizen posted in Lipa City Philippines group, "bata pa ako hanggang magka bata, walang nagbago" (since I was a child until I had a child, nothing change) on frequent power interruptions in Lipa. Just in our company alone, our Lipa branch along with Dumaguete has the most number of power interruptions recorded.
7. Color Branding - the first 100 days of our elected local official had controversy over non attendance in sessions of some Councilors. From day 1 of the newly elected officials, colors blue and yellow should have been turned into white. Everyone should have been united and should be thinking on how they will be an efficient leaders to lift the status of Lipa City and its people.

National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines could have been true with its rating to Lipa in terms of Government Efficiency where Lipa is consistently rated low while enjoying high score in terms of Economic Dynamism because of continues growth of our Private sector. If we could have both the government and private sectors efficient, Lipa will definitely rise above our neighboring cities in CALABARZON. The first 100 days is just 9% of their time as officials and leaders of our city and they still have 91% to improve and make impressive changes in Lipa to satisfy taxpayers. While the residents, students and workers in Lipa should do our part in helping our local government. Lipa should not only be looking at its ever growing commercial opportunities but we have to look in establishing & improving our infrastructure, ecology and tourism.