Uswag Ilonggo’s Jojo Ang

SINCE he became a congressman, Jojo Ang has been upping the ante of partylist representation in Congress as far as Uswag Ilonggo is concerned.

Unlike run-of-the-mill partylist groups borne out of the greed of powerful and wealthy political families, Uswag Ilonggo is proving itself as a rare cut, particularly in the delivery of infrastructure projects.

It puts money where its mouth is. Under Congressman Ang, Uswag Ilonggo has proved to all and sundry that it can deliver tangible projects in places where other more established partylist groups can only think of giving the usual government aid to citizens in crisis situations.

Local chief executives in Western Visayas can attest to the fact how Cong. Ang delivered on Uswag Ilonggo’s campaign pledge to help fund the construction of new hospitals, municipal halls, barangay halls, barangay nutrition centers, even the construction of new roads and bridges. All this can be attributed to the talent and ability of Cong. Ang in penetrating the otherwise restrictive corridors of power in the big city.

Because of his closeness to the dispensers of government largesse, it is no surprise that Cong. Ang has become the subject of envy of not a few colleagues who now describe the young partylist solon as a member of the House clique headed by Speaker Martin Romualdez. This clique is being peddled around as the “syndicate” that enjoys the biggest of slices in congressional funds for infrastructure projects. This corner has heard time and again this yarn which, to me, is slowly gaining a life of its own, chipping at the credibility of the Speaker. This must be one of the reasons why the Speaker – who is rumored as a presidential wannabe in 2028 – does not enjoy favorable public approval.

But back to Jojo Ang.

He had already made his mark in public service even before he became a congressman. His enormous success in the construction industry has afforded Mr. Ang the opportunity to help the needy particularly those in need of college education and medical assistance. All this he did using his own private funds.

But his success also attracted envy and, in some cases, generated undeserved animosity from his peers in the construction business.  Which, to my mind, is natural in a snake-eat-snake society.

Mr. Ang is barely in his first term but he has already shown a mature demeanor in office and in the unique manner he cultivates relationships in Congress and in the executive branch. Other neophyte congressmen would cringe in the first spotlight. Not Mr. Ang. He relishes it. He enjoys it. Most importantly, he shares his success and joy to the Uswag Ilonggo constituents who catapulted him to his exalted position by delivering on his campaign promises.

WHERE IS DIRECTOR LEAH DELFINADO?

THOSE in the know are asking where and what happened to former DPWH director Leah Delfinado. A friend told this corner she opted for optional retirement in the wake of the Ungca Flyover brouhaha that continues to pester like a gangrenous wound.

Our own information tells us that the one-time Bureau of Design director has her fingerprints all over the conceptualization, planning, and implementation of the UFO and the three other flyovers in Iloilo City. Unlucky for the city, only one flyover is operational so far.

A legal mind who is gathering documents about the UFO and the much bigger Aganan Flyover opines that Delfinado might soon find her name in the chargesheet related to these big-ticket projects.

Meanwhile, we can only express our sympathies to those innocent quarters who stand accused because of the anomalous and defective UFO.

Congress, by the way, should continue with its congressional inquiry and hurry up with its report because the Ombudsman is waiting for it. You owe it to the Ilonggos who daily suffer traffic congestion at that crossroads between the city and Pavia let alone the ugly sight of the UFO that cost taxpayers nearly 700 million pesos of their hard-earned taxes.