Association of Barangay Councils and Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines Cebu City chapter represented by their leaders (above photo) sign a manifesto supporting the appointment of Michael Dino (right) as the presidential assistant for the Visayas. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
AS FORMER members of the campaign team in Cebu of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte showed their opposition in the appointment of Michael Dino as the presidential assistant for the Visayas, barangay captains and councilors in Cebu City expressed their support to the Cebuano businessman.
In a press conference at the White Gold Restaurant yesterday morning, officers of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and the Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines (BCLP) said Dino is the “perfect choice” for the role.
“Mr. Dino is a perfect choice considering his proven track record in business and development not to mention his full grasp in voluntarism movement and people’s organization network that is instrumental to the success of Duterte’s campaign in the city,” read the joint manifesto of support by the ABC and BCLP.
The barangay officials also said that Dino, who is the executive vice president of Fifth Avenue Property Development Corp., the provincial government’s partner in the Ciudad project which didn’t push through, has been helping and supporting the barangays in their different programs and activities behind the scenes.
ABC president and Tisa barangay captain Philip Zafra said they believe that Dino just want to serve the people since he’s been doing so in partnership with the barangays for quite some time already even without the publicity of acknowledgement.
“We expect that we will be able to approach him. That’s one of the reasons why we’re expressing our support. With his access, being the alter ego of the incoming president, chances are projects on social development or infrastructure that are needed in Cebu City, we are hopeful that Mike (Dino) can deliver it to us in the barangays,” Zafra said.
ABC vice president and Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera agreed with Zafra, saying Dino is “approachable” and the least person interested in the job.
BCLP president and Camputhaw barangay councilman Raymond Garcia said Dino has already expressed his interest in helping Cebu City solve and address its water crisis and traffic concerns.
But former members of Duterte’s Cebu campaign team organized a group and called themselves “Cebu Alliance for Change” or “#Call4change.”
Lawyer Christopher Ruiz, the group’s spokesman, said that the question on Dino’s appointment surfaced after his post-election meeting with Maribojoc Mayor and Duterte’s national campaign manager Leoncio Evasco at the Wellcome Hotel last May 19.
“Instead of acknowledging all those who were part of the campaign, Dino grabbed the credit to himself. If he can do this while term has yet to start, we cannot expect him to articulate the voice of ordinary Cebuanos,” they said in a press statement.