If I had to choose one word to describe Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, it would be “DEVOTED”.
He’s devoted to his family, he’s devoted to the principles he lives by. He’s devoted to truth, justice and public service.
What does that mean? It means he fights.
A human rights lawyer he was, he fought for the victims and he fought for their families.
As congressman he fought for the cityhood of San Fernando; he fought for the protection and resettlement of displaced families affected by the onslaught of the Pinatubo volcano.
As city mayor he fought for good governance and world class leadership; for the education of poor yet deserving students; jobs for the jobless, decent homes for the homeless; accessible healthcare from womb to tomb; and poverty alleviation to every Fernandino.
To do all that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic you need someone with values, with crisis management skills, with proven leadership and experience, strategic alliance with the private sector and multi sectoral participative governance, with great judgement and most of all with integrity.
Anyone who knows Mayor Oca, knows he has all these things.
“I’m serious in governing, I’m serious in servicing the people, I think I’m incorruptible, I think I’m very competent and qualified and I know where I will focus my attention as city mayor. I know my priorities and I’m sensitive to the needs of the Fernandinos,” said Mayor Oca in a candidates forum conducted by GNN Pampanga.
I believe so because no less than economist Dr. Jesus “Jess” Estanislao, former Finance Secretary and Chair of the Institute of Corporate Directors endorsed Mayor Oca’s candidacy. He said explicitly, “I had the privilege to meet Mayor Oca and I found him a “Man of Great Dreams and Ambitions” for the City of San Fernando. But he also got things done, he therefore put the City on the map not only in the Philippines but all throughout the world. He made sure the poverty levels in the City be dramatically cut, he cleared up the riverbanks as a result the City was listed as around the 8 dream cities of the Philippines and actually became the second Philippine city after Iloilo to earn the “Global Hall of Fame from Harvard University’s Collaborative Palladium Balanced Scorecard.” When I learned that Oca was going to run for Mayor again I wanted to publicly endorse him to the citizens of the City of San Fernando… You Cannot Go Wrong With Mayor Oca. You Will Only Do Right For Your Own Benefit and For Your Own Good Governance and Development If You Vote for Mayor Oca Rodriguez.”
His eloquence, energy and enthusiasm foster an innovative “can do” spirit in those he mentors. He is the best choice to shepered the Fernandinos impacted by the crippling effects of the COVID19 crisis towards the road to recovery.
I know it won’t be easy given the limited campaign machinery relative to the other wannabees, but I also know Mayor Oca is up to the challenge and always prepared to take up the responsibilities once reelected to the post he has served from 2004 to 2013.