Interview with Congressman Rufus Rodriguez
I had the good fortune to meet and interview Congressman Rufus Rodriguez of the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro City on April 17, 2008.
Michael Turner: Good afternoon, Congressman, I appreciate you allowing me to interview you. So far, your projects are doing well, particularly the concreting of Velez Street, which I believe is one of the most costly projects under your office. Tell me more about this. How were you able to push this project through, Congressman?
Rufus Rodriguez: Most road repairs in the city were done with asphalt. As we all know, filling holes with asphalt is only a temporary solution. What we need to do if we want to benefit from our roads is to fully cement our streets and roads, with the proper drainage system to channel water from the streets and prevent flooding.
Michael Turner: How much does the project cost?
Rufus Rodriguez: The project has already cost us 30 million pesos and that will cover the concreting of two-thirds of Velez Street.
Michael Turner: Two-thirds?
Rufus Rodriguez: Two-thirds of Velez. That runs from Dolores to Licuan. The remaining one-third will start from VIP Hotel up to Divisoria. The Secretary of the DPWH promised to send 20 million to finish the remaining portion. North and South Divisoria will also have its program by next year, another 20-million project, that is.
Michael Turner: So it goes around Divisoria?
Rufus Rodriguez: Correct. North and South will be cemented.
Michael Turner: So, could we finish it? Was there much opposition?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes. We have opposition but we have constructive opposition for that matter. That is the way Congress works. We oppose policies but we do not attack nationalities. As you noticed we didn’t attack any nationality in our government. We work. If the program is not good, we oppose. For example, we opposed amending the constitution because we cannot agree with the changes that were suggested. But if there is a need to congregate with the administration regarding the problems we face, then we will.
Michael Turner: Okay. You also have road-concreting projects in Nazareth, right Congressman? How about other projects you have funded?
Rufus Rodriguez: At the Nazareth, the roads we are working are the ones surrounding the South City Central School. We have cemented them up to the inner areas. That has cost 2.5 million. Here also near 10-11 Streets, we will also be cementing them within this year, this month.
Michael Turner: Is there anything that is finished already?
Rufus Rodriguez: Not yet, the work is still going on. Presently, the biggest and the costliest so far is the Velez Street Project, which could go up to 50 million. And then in Nazareth, we could safely say the program will amount to 3 million. We are also bent on constructing foot pathways for pedestrians, especially in our depressed areas like Pungtod and Macabalan. These places become muddy areas when it rains, which is hard on our constituents there. We plan to build pathways that are 2.5 meters by 1 meter thick. Good thing the government has provided the materials: sand, gravel, and cement. But the people, our constituents, will work on it. Another important aspect is that we do not entirely channel our resources in the developing the center of the city like the Velez Street Project, but we have taken into account other areas of high concern. Blighted areas, like Lapasan and Bugo.
Michael Turner: This is also the first time the pork barrel has been released. So you get your finances from the pork barrel for the Velez Street Project?
Rufus Rodriguez: No. The funding came from the Department of Public works and Highways. My thanks to Secretary Ebdane for the support.
Michael Turner: But it was you who followed this up.
Rufus Rodriguez: They told me that they have the budget for public works. So I told them that I want to fully cement the A. Velez Street. I also added that Velez Street is our own version of Ayala Avenue. That’s how important Velez Street is to us.
Michael Turner: So, is the budget enough?
Rufus Rodriguez: We’ll allocate the funds first.
Michael Turner: Aside from these roads let’s talk about the schools. I have heard a lot of news about your completed projects and ongoing projects. There have been turnovers even.
Rufus Rodriguez: We already turned over two new classrooms to the Macasandig Elementary School. In fact, we already have it blessed. Aside from Macasandig, we have turned over classrooms in Nazareth and have finished the classroom projects at Tablon and Bugo. We are almost done in Puerto. Right now, we have plans for classroom construction at Pungtod Elementary School, Macabalan Elementary School, and Dinanguhan in Tablon.
Michael Turner: You get the funds from the pork barrel?
Rufus Rodriguez: For this one? Yes. As you can see, the money for our district was placed in education. Education is just one aspect of my program, which is HEED. That stands for Health, Education, and Employment for the total Development of Cagayan de Oro.
Michael Turner: So with all these, how do you get your resources within the city? Previous congressmen had problems of securing resources.
Rufus Rodriguez: I visit places and see what my office can do to help. Like with the Police Force in the city, I went to see the city’s Chief PNP and discussed matters with him. In fact, we are now waiting for one new police car, a Toyota Altis, which will be stationed in Cugman.
Michael Turner: Who will be the one receiving that - the Captain?
Rufus Rodriguez: To the Captain directly. I also gave 1 million to Bugo. They constructed the 2nd floor of their barangay health center with that money.
Michael Turner: Your target is like 1 million per project?
Rufus Rodriguez: Almost. At Lapasan, I also gave one million to finance the construction of their covered court. I give 1 million to every barangay, regardless of their political association. I ask the barangays what they need. If I can’t give them the fund this year, I will give it next year, since the pork barrel is annual. The barangays get the fund through bidding.
Michael Turner: Does this revolve around all the barangays? Every week you go visit them together?
Rufus Rodriguez: Oh yes, I did. I went to the barangay officials. I go to the officials of the schools.
Michael Turner: So this is a consultation that is unbroken - continuous?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yeah. That’s correct. I also have plans of constructing roads that would give Indahag easy access using the 6 million the Department of Agrarian Reform has given me. The road from Indahag to Gusa will be improved and another road will run from Indahag to Cugman. By improving and constructing the mountain roads, we are bringing development to the upper areas of the city.
Michael Turner: So there will be 3 exits already?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes, there will be 3 already. Also, we have plans of extending J.R. Borja all the way to Baloy. The project might cost up to 800 million to 1 billion.
Michael Turner: So it will finish up to Baloy?
Rufus Rodriguez: It will finish up to Baloy.
Michael Turner: There is a plan before about this coastal road?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yeah, we have already allotted from my pork barrel 20 million to open up the access road from highway in Bugo to the sea. From there the road will run directly to Macabalan and all the way to the 3rd bridge. The 3rd bridge will be finished by the 6th month. The money is already in the bag 400 million. Bidding will start soon. I hope President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will include this in her super projects.
Michael Turner: There’s this 20 million that you were talking about. When will be the expected date that the construction of the road will be started?
Rufus Rodriguez: I want that the road entry, entry road access road to the sea will be inaugurated some time in July so that we can invite President Arroyo to come so that she will see that the Congressman is willing to give 20 million of our pork. And I hope that it will be included in the State of the Nation Address.
Michael Turner: Is it possible that during you first term the reclamation will be finished?
Rufus Rodriguez: I think it will not be finished. It will be started though.
Michael Turner: For as long as the roads could be passed through already, the sides will have gutters, there is only little work to be done already.
Rufus Rodriguez: We have 20-million peso allotment this year to widen the Pungtod-Macabalan Road to 4 lanes. It will be easier for the trucks from the Pier to go directly to the hi-way. And that road there at Pungtod will go up to the 3rd bridge up to Kauswagan.
Michael Turner: The traffic then, Congressman, will no longer pass through the main city streets?
Rufus Rodriguez: Not anymore. So when the 3rd bridge is finished, westbound vehicles will not pass by the Marcos Bridge. They will not pass by our areas that has heavy traffic. We also have plans of putting up a 2-lane flyover from Lapasan and ends up at Marcos Bridge to eliminate the areas of bottleneck traffic: Licuan, Corrales, and Velez.
Michael Turner: This will be a 2-lane?
Rufus Rodriguez: It will be 2-lane only. A 4-lane over pass will be very expensive.
Michael Turner: Now Congressman, let’s go to one of your major concerns health, the medicines for the poor.
Rufus Rodriguez: We have already allotted 1 million from our pork barrel for the Provincial Hospital. We also placed 300 thousand for J.R. Borja Hospital.
Michael Turner: For medicine also?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes. The Department of Health has also given us 30 million that will enable us to create 3 primary hospitals. The Varangay Health Center at Nazareth will become a primary hospital.
Michael Turner: How many beds will that have?
Rufus Rodriguez: We can start with 50 beds for the primary hospital. It’s also a lying-in hospital so our pregnant constituents can give birth there once it is finished. Phil Health members can also go there.
Michael Turner: And that hospital will be with a complete medical staff?
Rufus Rodriguez: Complete medical staff. Yes.
Michael Turner: Who will pay for their salaries?
Rufus Rodriguez: The barangay. The hospital will have this program of ‘return fee’ in which Phil Health will give back to the barangay 4,500 pesos for every birth given by a Phil Health member.
Michael Turner: Ah, it will be returned.
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes, it will be returned.
Michael Turner: How about those who have only the typical income?
Rufus Rodriguez: Depends on the income. Nazareth, once it becomes a primary hospital will serve Camaman-an, Indahag, and Macasandig. The other two barangay health centers slated for conversion to primary hospitals will be Lapasan and Tablon. Lapasan will serve Macabalan, Gusa, and up to Cugman. Tablon will service other barangays including Bugo.
Michael Turner: This is a very great project. Aside from making the hospitals accessible to the people, they could also decongest the already very crowded old hospitals.
Rufus Rodriguez: Correct.
Michael Turner: What are the initial measures you have planned on doing regarding this project?
Rufus Rodriguez: We are now having seminars for the officials of Nazareth, Lapasan, and Tablon - the barangay officials - because right now we are able to get 300 thousand pesos for each barangay from the Department of Health.
Michael Turner: So the training for this is ongoing? How about the infrastructure? Isn’t it small?
Rufus Rodriguez: At Nazareth we will extend a little. At Lapasan, they have a 2-storey building. Lapasan is bigger. For Tablon, I’m giving them 1 million for their barangay health center.
Michael Turner: So while the personnel’s training is ongoing, is the expansion of the building along with acquiring beds and facilities also ongoing?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes. The facilities and equipment will be bought by the Department of Health and they will be the one to give them to us. Then Nazareth, Tablon and Lapasan will become 24-hour hospitals. Giving birth is possible there already.
Michael Turner: We’re talking here of 50 beds right? How about the wages and salary? Will Nazareth be able to pay for all the medical staff that will be hired?
Rufus Rodriguez: Because Phil Health will be giving a rebate to the barangay, like 300 pesos per head, 4500 maternity fee, and so on, the barangay will be able to give out salaries.
Michael Turner: How about the non Phil Health members, because they do not have jobs?
Rufus Rodriguez: That will fall to the assistance of the barangays, which will be taken from the barangays’ funds because they are not Phil Health members. But they will still be accepted.
Michael Turner: Congressman, is the distribution of the Phil Health cards still continuing?
Rufus Rodriguez: I have already distributed 866. There is another 866 so 1600 already and I want to increase that to 5000 within this year. I have already allocated 1 million for that and I’ll still be adding 3 million more.
Michael Turner: Now Congressman, let’s change the topic to your plan of building a city college.
Michael Turner: Any progress?
Rufus Rodriguez: We have already signed a MOA yesterday there at the Mindanao Polytechnic State College Don Mariano.
Michael Turner: The venue for this is Don Mariano?
Rufus Rodriguez: Don Mariano is the campus that will be used.
Michael Turner: You call that the City Public College?
Rufus Rodriguez: Cagayan de Oro City Public College in the campuses of Mindanao Polytechnic and STI College. Those are the consortium members. So the concept of that is that as for me, I will be giving out 20 million from my pork barrel so that I could construct a building for the college.
Michael Turner: Has construction started yet?
Rufus Rodriguez: We are still waiting for the budget under the DBF. In the meantime we’ll start getting scholars this June because we have extra classrooms at Don Mariano as well as STI.
Michael Turner: What you mean here is that this June 2008, there will already be students
Rufus Rodriguez: 1400 will now be accommodated.
Michael Turner: College students?
Rufus Rodriguez: College students. We already held examinations for graduates from public high schools.
Michael Turner: Public high schools only?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes, public high schools only because they are the ones who could not afford to go to private colleges and universities.
Michael Turner: So these private high schools like Pilgrim they do not qualify?
Rufus Rodriguez: No more because this is for the graduates of the high schools of the government or the national government high schools.
Michael Turner: So the examinations are done already?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes. We have 18 high schools in the 2nd district. The 18 high schools have a total of 2100 graduates. And out of these 2100, there are 1600 who took the exams and the remaining 500 were absent, not informed. That is why I would like to announce it now to the parents who have children who have not yet taken the examination, which we call the City Public College Scholarship Fund of Rufus Rodriguez and TESDA, will now have the chance to take it. Your children who have just graduated this March, you go to the Don Mariano Marcos Gym this Tuesday, April 22. The 1st batch is in the morning scheduled at 8 AM-12 Noon and to those who would want to take it in the afternoon can take it from 1 PM-5 PM. So, there are 500 graduates who have not yet taken the examination. Now, those 1600 that have already taken the examination that was given at Don Mariano, we have already ranked them. I have a copy of the ranking from number 1 to 1600. The first 600 of these will be the ones to be offered with the degree courses the top 600. Why? Because we cannot afford to accommodate everyone to college so we have to get the top students. Second, they could manage to finish. What are these 3 courses? We offer Bachelor in Nursing, for one.
Michael Turner: Nursing 4 years?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes, 4 years.
Michael Turner: This is a baccalaureate degree?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes, baccalaureate degree. Next we have the BS in Information Technology and BS in Electronic Technology. Why these 3? That’s because these degrees allow us to send our children abroad. The salary rate is higher abroad.
Michael Turner: Are the graduates obliged to pay back the college after they graduate?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes. They will sign an agreement that after 4 years these graduates should be able to return to the school the amount of their tuition. If the scholar chooses to take Nursing, he or she will be sent to STI. At STI, the basic tuition fee for a nursing student is 16,000 pesos. We will pay for 5000 per semester for the nursing courses, since STI is also willing to help our poor but deserving constituents. We pay STI and Don Mariano through my pork barrel and TESDA. Through TESDA, those who do not want to pursue schooling will receiver certificates. For example, the first two semesters in nursing is equivalent to Cartificate in Care Giving. It is ladderized. Our Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Bachelor of Science in Electrical Technology are also ladderized. TESDA will give out the assessment tests if they decide not to pursue a 4-year degree course.
Michael Turner: TESDA?
Rufus Rodriguez: Completely TESDA. They can go into welding. Welding is 10 thousand pesos for 4 months training. Now after 4 months you get a certificate. With Hanjin. And about 2 years time, these holders of the certificate will now be taken by Hanjin and these welding graduates of ours will be retrained by Hanjin and that will be extra training for more skills because they already have basic skills. And Hanjin will pay around 15 thousand per employee.
Michael Turner: Do you have an existing Memorandum of Agreement with Hanjin?
Rufus Rodriguez: I have talked to the people of Hanjin and they told me they need 20 thousand welders in Tagoloan and Villanueva. The Hanjin shipyard here in Cagayan de Oro is the biggest in the world, excluding the one in Seoul, South Korea. The remaining graduates, who will not be able to avail the degree courses because of limited slots, will be trained in Automotive Mechanic, Welding, and commercial cooking. They will become chefs in cruises at Caribbean, household services like Housekeeping. They will be in hotels abroad for housekeeping. We will all give all the graduates the opportunity to have a degree or a a certificate in technical vocational because they need it the most. Under the present situation only 15 percent of the graduates of the public high school can study after high school.
Michael Turner: Who will be choosing the 600 scholars? Isn’t there a committee, a board of trustees?
Rufus Rodriguez: There will be a board of trustees, and there is a President Dr. Ric Rotoras of Don Mariano, Mindanao Polytechnic State College. We have also Mr. Paul Makabaya as the Chief Executive or the CEO. But it is really based on the results. It’s more on academic qualification.
Michael Turner: Are there biases there?
Rufus Rodriguez: No. The 600 scholars are already listed.
Michael Turner: How about if someone from the 600 declines?
Rufus Rodriguez: The list will then go up.
Michael Turner: Presuming that there will be half that will remain, the 300 will be pulled up and you’re putting another 600 next year, that means you will support 900 students by next year?
Rufus Rodriguez: 900, yes. We will add more money from the pork barrel.
Michael Turner: So every year this will add up and add up.
Rufus Rodriguez: Until they graduate, yes.
Michael Turner: So talking about the building they are going to make inside the campus of Don Mariano, when will it be finished?
Rufus Rodriguez: The 20-million building should be finished in 6 months.
Michael Turner: How many projects are inside Don Mariano?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes, inside Don Mariano. In fact, the plan of Don Mariano is that they’re putting up a 100-million building right there at the empty space that is just beside the hway. The lower area will be for commercial purposes and Don Mariano will use the second level. So, my 20 million will be integrated with the 100-million building that is fronting the road.
Michael Turner: I’m curious. How about the graduates from public high schools in the 1st district? Are they qualified in your program, since you name the school the City Public College?
Rufus Rodriguez: You know what, Michael I really would want it to be opened also to the graduates of the 1st district. However its funds come from what we call the Priority Development Fund. Basically, the City Public College is limited only to the inhabitants of the 2nd district because it will create conflict in the auditing processes. We have already agreed upon that. They have already PDAF rules regarding that.
Michael Turner: So it could safely be said that while you are willing to have the City Public College also serve the students of the 1st Distric would like to make it clear that even with the willingness of our Congressman to, there are legal limitations that hinder this from happening?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes. For example, we cannot cement the road in the 1st district because our PDAF will only be for our district.
Michael Turner: Does your Memorandum of Agreement with STI and Don Mariano have a life span?
Rufus Rodriguez: No. This will be continuous because it means that if it is BSN that is 4 years.
Michael Turner: So continuing.
Rufus Rodriguez: That is continuing. Our agreement is continuing until they will like to withdraw. But so far it has no limitations.
Michael Turner: This STI Congressman, their tutition is 16 thousand and they will just let you pay 5 thousand.
Rufus Rodriguez: STI. Correct. Yes.
<Michael Turner: So two thirds is being shouldered by STI so this is really a great consortium. We should thank STI.
Rufus Rodriguez: We would like to thank STI College. Mr. Colbert Rabaya our
Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Dick Jacob who is our Chairman of STI, which is one of the biggest, IT and Nursing school all over the world.
Michael Turner: The question here Congressman is that if STI can only accommodate 200 scholars using the same funds, what will you do?
Rufus Rodriguez: So out of 600, 200 will be given the chance to take nursing. They already lowered down their tuition just to help. That’s what we call Social Corporate Responsibility.
Michael Turner: I have a question for you Congressman. This is a consortium. Bu what happens if you are no longer congressman?
Rufus Rodriguez: I will request the one that will replace me to continue the project if I’m no longer the congressman of our district. I’m planning for a second term, and should I win, I will continue the project.
Michael Turner: What if the person after you decides to terminate the project?
Rufus Rodriguez: If the new congressman will not give a portion of his pork barrel then…
Michael Turner: The new congressman should be ashamed of himself!
Rufus Rodriguez: He should be.
Michael Turner: And there will be complaints. The scholars are most probably in their 3rd year and the new congressman will cut their chances to finish.
Rufus Rodriguez: That is very difficult.
Michael Turner: Can the city government take over?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes. In fact, if the city government will be able to give another 5 million for example, we will make our scholars 1200 and then…
Michael Turner: Only those in the 2nd district can avail because they will be audited.
Rufus Rodriguez: Once the city government will put in 5 million, public high school graduates from the 1st district will then be qualified. This is a necessity for our people especially the youth of Cagayan de Oro.
Michael Turner: Isn’t it possible that the people would say that you give it to the poor family yet the books used for Nursing are expensive?
Rufus Rodriguez: We will find ways. Ask help from various civic groups.
Michael Turner: The others will be included?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes. Like the Rotary Club. We have the Lions Club, the associations, and the Oro Chamber. We will ask them to assist for the starting fund for the books. I will speak before the Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Club, and the Lions Club to help the young people finish their dreams, achieve their dreams.
Michael Turner: Let’s go back to the J.R. Borja Memorial Hospital because you had a plan before to upgrade the facilities there?
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes. We have already received 60 million for improving the facilities of the hospital.
Michael Turner: What is the status of the implementation?
Rufus Rodriguez: The funding will be released sometime in June.
Michael Turner: The people will be questioning the move since it is on the other side of the bridge.
Rufus Rodriguez: That’s why we are going to repair hospitals that badly need repairs because the primary hospitals in the 2nd district are not the main hospitals.
Michael Turner: Primary health and maternal care will be the ones in Nazareth.
Rufus Rodriguez: If it is surgical, then it goes to J.R. Borja or Provincial.
Michael Turner: This shoud really prosper because there are no politics involved.
Rufus Rodriguez: You will know that we, together with Mayor Jaraula, Vice Mayor Emano, as far as I am concerned, will see that we don’t put politics between us, only cooperation. Even, the President is part of this. Political affiliation is only applicable when the election is nearby. So you declare already your party and we see each other there. But now we should not think of that.
Michael Turner: You have just been in position for 10 months!
Rufus Rodriguez: Yes, instead of fighting over things, what we should do is to strive to get money from the National budget and bring it here and get started with the projects.
Michael Turner: I understand you have another appointment to get to now?
Rufus Rodriguez: Thank you very much Michael. Thank you.
Michael Turner: Thank you also. We have some announcements from the Congressman which will be for April 22nd to our 500 graduates of public schools in the 2nd district who have not yet taken the entrance exam, you could go to Don Mariano for the exam scheduled 8 AM to 12 Noon and 1 PM to 5 PM, you choose. Now, any parting words from our Congressman Rufus Rodriguez?
Rufus Rodriguez: Well, first of all I would like to thank you. And it is good that I am able to report also to our brothers and sisters in Cagayan de Oro on what we have done for the past 10 months. HEED. H-E-E-D, HEED because what Pope John Paul II said, which was reiterate by Pope Benedict XVI, it is encyclical Deus Caritas Est : God is Love. The main vision of the church is to heed the call of the poor and the marginalized. Let us help those who are in need. The ones who will benefit will not necessarily be the government but the poor and the marginalized. That is why HEED program stands for H Health, E Education, E Employment and livelihood, and D Development, the total development of Cagayan de Oro so that everyone will benefit. Thank you very much Michael
Michael Turner: Thank you very much Congressman Rufus Rodriguez. A one-hour interview is not enough to report all that you have accomplished in your first 10 months in office. From this partial report alone Cagayanons of the 2nd District of the Cagayan de Oro City should already be able to say that they made a wise choice in choosing you, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez, to represent them.
May 20th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Have just read the interview!!! WOW!!! I definitely made a great choice by voting and supporting the candidacy of Congressman Rodriguez.
May we all leap forward to Cagayan de Oro’s development