First District Residents Have Simple Demands

First District: From street crime to lack of water supply, the residents of the first congressional district have problems that they hope their politicians would address. But they’re not holding their breath.

By Marilou M. Aguirre
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY – As a vendor of coconut juice who roams around the city, particularly the First District where he lives, Eusebio Pulgo knows only too well the problems brought about by juvenile delinquency.

A resident of Barangay 23C, more known as Mini-Forest Boulevard, Pulgo, 41, considers these delinquents, who are mostly minors and members of gangs, as a pressing problem that should be addressed by the city.

“There have been many instances that these kids are compelled to rob and commit petty crimes to sustain their addiction to drugs,” Pulgo says, adding that “rugby boys” are aplenty in their area.

Rep. Nograles (right), shown here with son Karlo, has a firm grip on the first district. (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)

For a city that takes pride in a mayor, Rodrigo Duterte, who is supposedly tough on crime, public order seems to have taken the backseat in his district, Pulgo says. And he wishes that whoever City Hall in next week’s elections would try harder.

“It remains to be seen whether the candidates can solve our problems,” Pulgo points out. “Even the mayor who is already tough has not solved the problem of juvenile delinquency.”

A mother of nine, Maria Tundaon, 47, sees the same problem in her area. She recalls one instance when four minors were sniffing rugby at the back of the nearby chapel, in broad daylight. “They won’t mind doing it anywhere. My house was even used when nobody was here,” she says.

But Tundaon says there is a bigger problem. “There is a series of killings against suspected drug addicts or pushers, and even those who are suspected as gang members,” she says.

Her eldest son, Benjie, the second among her nine children, was stabbed to death last January, along Uyanguren Street. “He was doing different kinds of jobs to help our family. His other source of income was driving a pedicab while working in a store in Uyanguren as an errand boy,” Tundaon narrates. “But he was killed for no apparent reason,” she says. “All I know is that he was a good and responsible son.”

Tundaon’s son was the last in their neighborhood who was killed. There were four others, mostly minors, who were killed by the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS). The families of the victims have not filed a case, since they didn’t have money. Moreover, they could only attribute the killings to the DDS, whose identities are not exactly known.

“It is such a horrible law when they kill minors, especially when they are just suspects. If they are really guilty of any crime, they can put them in jail. But why do they have to kill them?” Tundaon asks.

In Davao City, countless minors have become victims of extrajudicial killings. Yet the perpetrators remain scot-free.

Apart from crime and juvenile delinquency, residents in Mini-Forest Boulevard, who live near the sea, need a dike, a real concrete one.

“It is very difficult for us especially when there’s a typhoon,” Pulgo says. “Houses near the sea have been damaged because there is no dike that could stop the sea from flowing toward us.”

Those whose houses were wrecked were forced to stay with their neighbors while the others moved out of the neighborhood. This has been the case every year, especially during the typhoon or rainy season. Pulgo notices that every election, politicians would sponsor putting boulders in the sea to serve as dike.

“They always do that, put boulders into the sea as alternative to a dike,” Pulgo complains.

Tundaon, has another problem in mind.

In 2000, according to her, hundreds of houses were burned down, including hers. “The fire truck could not enter the place because of the narrow alleys. The fire could have damage only a few houses but it swept across the area, destroying many houses and displacing families,” she recalls.

“We have no choice but to stay here. We have nowhere else to go,” says Tundaon. She hope to move to a place away from the sea because, according to her, life is more difficult here.

For Linda Aranco, 66, living near the beach has been beneficial for her and her husband. They are residents of the biggest barangay in the First District, Bucana, in terms of the total number of voters. It has a total of 43, 793 registered voters.

To sustain her family’s needs, she sells boiled sweet potatoes and bananas, mangoes and peanuts, among others, along Times Beach.

“My income is enough to buy rice for the day. On weekends, if many people would go to the beach, it would mean more money for me. My husband helps by collecting fees from those who rent the cottages,” she says.

Aranco’s husband works at a resort. His income depends on the number of customers who will rent the cottages. They have four children who are all married. The first three finished only elementary. They have managed to send their youngest to college.

Aranco says she is not expecting anything from the candidates or politicians. “If we will not work, then we won’t have anything to eat,” she says, pointing out that one must not depend on others.

As Election Day draws near, Aranco says she has heard from her neighbors that some politicians are giving away sardines, rice and noodles. “I did not bother to go with them. I’m tired of that kind of politics,” she says.

And Aranco says she has not yet decided whether she’ll vote this May 14.

Pulgo, meanwhile, says he has received sample ballots. He says some politicians have been giving away goodies but he did not accept these. “It is against our religion,” he says.

Pulgo is a member of Iglesia ni Cristo. His votes, according to him, will depend on the sample ballot that their church will give to the members, right before the elections.

A resident of Isla Suerte in Bucana, Flordeliza Barquin, 46, believes that politicians or candidates cannot solve the problems besetting the people. “They’re only good with promises,” she says.

Living in an area near the posh Ecoland subdivision for more than a decade now, Barquin says they have been battling problems with land, electricity, water and roads. The residents here are contesting the land against the owner of Ecoland Subdivision. The case is still ongoing.

“Just this April, we already have our own connection of electricity. We used to tap from our source nearby. It was illegal but we had no choice,” Barquin says.

Now, they wanted to have their own water connection. They have been requesting for it for years now, according to some residents. “We have to buy our water for 1.50 pesos per pail. Some would sell the water for two pesos per pail,” Barquin complains.

They buy water from their neighbors who were able to pay for the connection. According to some residents, they have to pay 10,000 pesos for the connection. “We don’t have that much money,” one of them complained.

Barquin also complains about the roads. “We wanted our roads to be repaired because it’s difficult to pass when it rains. Many politicians already promised to do it but it never happened,” she says.

The people are at the losing end regardless who they are going to vote for this election, says Barquin. “You can see these groups (the Team Unity and Genuine Opposition) on television, and all they do is fight.” (Marilou M. Aguirre/davaotoday.com)