By BEHN FER. HORTALEZA, JR.

DAGUPENOS woke up morning after the elections to realize the bizarre and stunningly immediate implication to general order and cleanliness in the city of the election loss of City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim to Speaker Joe de Venecia in their gigantic, take-no-prisoners battle for the foruth district congressional seat.

Many city residents quickly observed chaotic traffic in the main thoroughfares as early as Tuesday afternoon, day after the May 14 polls, as public utility drivers merrily began ignoring traffic rules, especially on loading and non-loading areas, ignoring the few traffic enforcers of the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) on the road. Some drivers were shouting insults at POSO men saying their boss (Lim) is no more and that they were claiming supremacy over city roads once again.

Sidewalk vendors and assorted hawkers have also now descended to again occupy the Galvan road since late Tuesday – or as soon as the first indication of Lim’s loss to de Venecia became clear — and garbage and overall disorder at the market area was back, exasperated marketgoers have noted

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Fairly or unfairly (to the incoming city administration), such barbaric attitudes of the transport and vending sectors of Dagupan is being attributed to the administration team’s campaign line to “bring City hall back to the people.”

Pare and cousin Al and his team may have had all the best intention in sounding that line to mean only that they will be more open (approachable?) to the public but now it seems it has boomeranged, or is being grossly misinterpreted, to mean they will “tolerate” the old, undisciplined ways of the mass of their supporters.

Now, they owe it to themselves and an alarmed law-abiding part of the city, to undo the impression early on – perhaps even before they actually assume their posts at City Hall – by categorically stating their position on the issue of traffic regulations and sidewalk or street vending. Absent that, it would only encourage the unruly and lawless to go on believing they can get away with whatever “because we supported Al and his ticket.”

We did not elect conquering Vikings. Or did we?

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By July 1, when the new power-wielders take over from the defeated, so many positions – mainly the co-terminus ones – will be up for grabs by the victors.Over at the Capitol, even if they happen to be plantilla position holders, a changing of the guards will be forthcoming among officers in the top posts of many departments and units. This, after years and years of Agbayani rule.

For the Provincial Information Office (PIO) will it be broadcaster Raul Tamayo taking over from Ruel Camba? Everyone in media knows how Raul had been at the forefront producing all those catchy jingles and telling infomercials for the Espino camp during the campaign – remember the “Lolo Julian” character? It seems his brainchild was effective.

And over here in Dagupan, the big speculation is whether Mayor Al will retain or scrap the POSO, a true-blue Lim creation? That would entail a lot of teeth-gnashing and recriminations, that’s for sure – and certainly, pare Al will not go into something like that blind.

No doubt City Information Officer Orpheus ‘Butch” Velasco will now be going into private advertising or media-related jobs. Many colleagues are saying though another Velasco could be taking over the CIO. Make your guess. He holds the honor of having handled the media bureau of many of the current winners in the local level polls.