By DANNY O. SAGUN

DAGUPAN City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim showed up at the groundbreaking ceremony for the P903-million Pantal bridge last Wednesday, a move that some local administration figures quickly saw as a good sign for a possible reconciliation with President Macapagal-Arroyo whom he had asked to step down more than a year ago.

Lim, acting like a seasoned politician, also delighted the crowd when he joined House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. onstage along with Gov. Victor E. Agbayani and Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez, Jr. as they put their hands together to signify unity among them. The hometown crowd that was then waiting for the President to arrive, cheered wildly at the sight.

The mayor waxed diplomatic when he spoke and gave short but fine words for the Chief Executive and the Speaker. He even stressed the initials GMA when he thanked her as well as the Speaker for making the Pantal diversion road and bridge projects possible.

The President returned the compliment in her speech by praising the mayor for his efforts to make Dagupan progressive and popular thru the marketing of the famous and tasty Bonuan bangus.

Many observers including the media had doubted if Lim would ever grace the affair considering the fact that he had not yet set aside his position regarding the legitimacy of the Arroyo victory in the elections. But he dispelled such doubts and showed himself up past 11 a.m. drawing cheers from the waiting crowd.

The Speaker arrived later together with the Japanese ambassador.

Taking advantage of the opportunity and possibly to keep the crowd entertained as they waited for the President, De Venecia summoned Lim, Agbayani, Fernandez and other ranking government officials on hand to join him onstage to make that unity show.

Lim also joined the lunch at the Speaker’s house.

But the mayor seemed bent on facing De Venecia in the next congressional fight. “Tuloy ang laban,” he was overheard as saying as he walked past a group of mediamen toward his vehicle after the President left.

Apparently he was just playing his role as the local executive when he rubbed elbows with his perceived political enemies during the groundbreaking activity.

The bridge project, funded by a Japanese soft loan, is due for completion in 28 months or two and a half years. It will link the newly constructed Dawel-Lucao diversion road to complete the Speaker’s vision of a circumferential road for his native city. ,.