LEX Reports

Ever since I was an elected and/or appointed youth and student leader, I always believed in giving year end reports to the people I serve which during that time were the students or the youth who put me in office. It is my way of telling my “boss” that he, she or they chose well or that they didn’t make a mistake on giving me their trust and support. This practice of mine was strengthened during my work experiences. Good performance was based on merit. Project and periodic accomplishment reports were needed to be submitted for evaluation.

My yearning to excel is a result of how my parents brought me up. My mom was a disciplinarian. She wanted us to always succeed and go beyond expectations. She never wanted us to settle for second best. My dad was the man with the prizes. He gave us rewards for doing a job well done. Thus, I was trained to reach for excellence and I didn’t want to upset or disappoint my parents. In my schooling years, I considered my parents to be my boss since they were the ones who worked hard to put me in good schools. I also wanted them to be proud of me.

Let us fast forward to my career as a public servant. Until this day, I still am very grateful to the people of Iloilo City who gave me a resounding mandate of 73,000 votes to become the youngest elected City wide official at age 27 and a chance to be of service to them. Despite the political issues thrown against me, Iloilo City has warmly welcomed me. I do not owe my victory to political personalities. I owe my victory to the people of Iloilo City. They are my boss. This is the reason why I continuously consult them, talk to them, and mingle with them because without them, I wouldn’t have made it. This is also the reason why I try to go beyond my work as legislator as I organize special projects for the city residents especially for the women, senior citizens and the youth sectors. I am also thankful to my colleagues in the City Council for making me Chairman of the following three Committees: Communication and Public Information; Domestic and International Affairs; and Committee on Labor and Employment. I am also glad to have been asked to become a member of the Committees on Tourism and of the Committee on Youth and Sports Development. Today, since I only started January of this year writing for this column, I will give a report on what we have done not only for the year 2008 but also from June 2007 (the start of my elected term) until Dec 2007.

YEAR 2007:

1. Legislative Measures:

a. 2 Ordinances on first reading: Driver, Passenger and Children Safety Riding Motorcycle Ordinance (Proponent) and the Anti-Internet Pornography Ordinance (Co-Sponsor)

b. 10 Resolutions (first and final reading) on the following topics: Crime Prevention; Preparation of the Comprehensive Drainage Plan of Iloilo City; Conveying sincerest sympathy to the bereaved family of a late barangay captain; entering sister city relationships with Kaoshiung, Taiwan and Mandaue, Cebu and Service Recognition

c. Privilege Speech: “Safety and Security in our own Homes”

NE Article by LEX Tupas on Ending the Year Well

I am very happy that another ordinance that I authored/sponsored was passed on 2nd and final reading during the final plenary session of the Iloilo City Council before the year ended. This was the ordinance amending the amusement tax for pop, rock and other similar concerts as stipulated in the Iloilo City Local Tax Code. From a high of 30%, it has now been reduced to 5% for Filipino artists and 10% for foreign artists. The purpose of such ordinance is to make Iloilo City more attractive to concert organizers and for Iloilo City to be more competitive than other choice city destinations. Concerts do not only make the young and the young at heart enjoy but it also helps in attracting tourists, in adding jobs and in increasing locally generated economic activities. Thus, it makes the local economy more vibrant. This ordinance also is in support of Iloilo City becoming the festival capital of the country. As the youngest elected citywide official, I am thankful that my ordinance was supported by all my colleagues especially by the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Tourism. I hope that by next year we will see and feel a more lively local entertainment and tourism industry here in Iloilo City.

For all the organizers and artists, Iloilo City has become a more tourist and entertainment friendly City.

On another note, I am also very proud of my year ender special project, aside from the Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Showdown 2, the 1st Learners for Educators eXcellence (LEX) Awards for the young public elementary and high school achievers (1-3 years in service) and the senior public elementary and high school achievers (33 years and more). I together with Dep Ed Iloilo City Division awarded the most outstanding educators with emphasis on age and length of tenure. Teachers mold young minds and they help in developing the youth to become productive residents of our community. They are seen as the new heroes. It is but right to acknowledge those teachers who strive for excellence. An educator who works for quality education will produce quality graduates which will then become quality human resource of our city.

I was once a public school teacher of Iloilo National High School from year 2005-2007. I understand the concerns and issues that these so called second parents face and manage that is why I have a huge respect for excellent educators.

I am thankful of the teachers I had when I was a student and I also felt good to have been recognized well by the institution I worked for and the students I had. It inspired me to work harder. As such, the LEX Award aims not only to recognize excellent educators' achievements but would also serve as inspiration to all teachers that regardless of age and length of service, it is incumbent upon educators to give their students excellent education.

The passage of another ordinance and holding another successful project are the things I gave attention to aside from the other special projects, legislative measures, barangay events, school events, organization events, and Christmas events I had to attend to during the last month of year 2008.

Para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.

NE Article by LEX Tupas on Going Beyond Political Affiliations

We as public servants should serve beyond political affiliations.

We as public servants should serve even those who didn't vote for us and even the barangays we lost in.

We should go beyond the here and now and think of tomorrow and what's next.

We should be servants rather than bosses of the people.

Our bosses are the people who gave us a mandate to serve them well and faithfully.

We should reach out to the administration, opposition and independents in finding ways to improve the lives of our constituents.

We should give a voice to the voiceless and recognition as well as importance to those who seem to be neglected.

We should think of the best interest of the place we serve and not our personal interests.

We should stop talking and listen more to others.

Unity is key for progress and prosperity.

Para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.

NE article of LEX Tupas on Practicum on Social Work

I am very blessed to have finished my Doctor of Management major in Public Management academic requirements in less than a year and a half. As of the moment, I am tasked to start with my dissertation and I was assigned to be immersed in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Western Visayas Regional office.

I am thankful of the continuous warm hospitality and accommodation I receive from the DSWD Regional Director and staff. I have so much interest in getting to know more about social work that would benefit the marginalized sectors especially the youth sector, women and elderly.

During the first few weeks of my practicum, I have seen how DSWD works hard to empower the marginalized sectors with the technical capacity building trainings and seminars they organize and give to various stakeholders and beneficiaries. I am also looking forward to the immersion with the various projects like the peer counseling program, the tindahan ng bayan, teenbayan and the like.

I look forward to the more than 70 hours of practicum requirement time left that I have with DSWD.

Given that I am a local policy maker, I hope that getting more in-depth with social work issues, conerns, information and know how will guide me in crafting possible legislation that will be of assistance to the marginalized sectors. That is why even with my hectic and full schedule, I do find time for my practicum. Let's see what's gonna happen after I complete my more than 100 hours practicum with DSWD Regional Office.

Para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.

To become the most responsive and most proactive city coucilor's Office in Iloilo City