Transparency at its best.
This was how independent senatorial candidate Ping Lacson described the brand of governance practiced by the mayor of Jagna, Bohol who he regards as his “mentor”.
Lacson said he was pleasantly surprised after visiting and getting a briefing on various key projects in Jagna town from Mayor Joseph “JR” Rañola.
“It is transparency at its best.”
“It is transparency at its best. I have not seen a briefing this transparent, and I don’t think the mayor would give such a briefing if he had something to hide,” he said after visiting the projects.
Among the projects Lacson and Rañola visited were the Plaza de Jagna, Jagna Municipal Hall, Jagna Cultural Center, Agri-Fishery Facility, and Jagna Agri Ecopark.
Lacson also received briefings on key programs including the sale of rice at P29/kilo, and on Jagna’s revenue collection.
He noted the municipal government officer who gave the briefing had described the mayor as “saksakan ng higpit (very strict).”
“I hope the successor of Mayor Rañola would maintain his brand of transparency.”
As Rañola is not running for reelection this year, Lacson said he hopes his successor would maintain his brand of transparency.
Lacson, who earned a reputation in the Senate as a watchdog of the national budget, credited Rañola for igniting his advocacy to scrutinize the national budget by pointing out the billions of pesos in appropriations that go unused.
“I made scrutinizing the budget my advocacy, thanks to him,” he concluded.
