Tarzan, as usual

TWO WEEKS after the polls, 1^st District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin is up and about his usual rounds serving his constituency.

Five police stations in Mabalacat City and Magalang on Monday received 10 mobile patrols funded through the congressman’s priority development assistance fund (PDAF).

It goes without saying how those vehicles will go a long way in the preservation of order and the maintenance of peace in the communities where they will be deployed. Also in responding to emergencies, not necessarily police in nature.

A morale boost too to the cops are the patrol cars, given the problem of mobility endemic in police stations around the country.

As Magalang cop chief Supt.Ryan David enthused: “Nais naming ipaabot kay Congressman Lazatin ang pasasalamat dahil sa pagbibigay niya ng dagdag na patrol vehicle sa Magalang Police Station. Mahirap po talagang labanan ang krimen kung kulang tayo sa resources. Pero ngayon po na nadagdagan na ang aming mga sasakyan, makakaasa po kayo na mas lalo pa naming pag-iibayuhin ang aming pagpapatrolya para masiguro ang peace and order sa Magalang.” No need for any translation, the full meaning of the statement imparted in the English words there.

As ardent is Mabalacat City top cop Supt. Ferdinand Perez: “We appreciate Congressman Lazatin’s effort in trying to help us improve our peace and order system, especially in Mabalacat. Alam naman po natin na ang Mabalacat ay lumalaki na at ito’y isang siyudad na kaya mas lalong kailangan nating paigtingin ang ating seguridad.” Yeah, as in a drug-free, rather than free-drug, Roxas District in Barangay Dau. And the resurgence of meth-dealing at Jopilan Street in Agusu too. The people of Mabalacat are keeping their fingers crossed, Sir.

After all, high police morale breeds higher expectations among the people that they do their job well, and really done. That’s the message delivered in Cong Tarzan’s handing out of those mobile patrols. Gets nyo?

On Monday too, 20 public elementary schools in Mabalacat City and Magalang received from Cong Tarzan computer sets.      

Nothing new here really. As a matter of course, giving computers to public schools has been part and parcel of the Lazatin service delivery packages. The last distribution made only last March.

Still, the significance, aye, the impact of this program, is as telling as ever, education being up there in our people’s hierarchy of values. And the Department of Education ever short in funds and resources to fully meet not merely the expectations but the very needs of the public.    

This, articulated aptly by Leonardo David, principal of San Miguel Elementary School in Magalang: “Matagal na po kaming naghahanap ng mag-dodonate ng mga computers lalo na dito sa mga eskwelahan sa Magalang, dahil alam naman po natin na kokonti ang budget ng DepEd. Kaya malaki po ang pasalamat naming mga principal ng Magalang kay Congressman Lazatin sa pagbibigay niya ng mga computer sets sa amin.”

That, resounding in Rogelio Yumul, president of the Association of Barangay Councils of Mabalacat City: “Napakalaki po ng maitutulong ng mga computer sets na ito sa ating mga guro at ibang school officials and employees dahil mas magiging magaan na ang kanilang trabaho. Kahit po ang ibang eskwelahan dito ay may mga computer sets nang ginagamit, hindi pa rin po ito sapat.”

In just one day, Cong Tarzan did for peace and order and education what other so-called solons have not even thought of in one full term.

In just one day. Two weeks after he lost his city mayoralty bid, no musings and lamentations of might-have-beens. No protestations over what could have gone wrong. It’s plain and simple service, as usual for Cong Tarzan.

No wonder, he’s already being missed in the first district.