By DANNY O. SAGUN

OUR attention shifted to a group of several men in black T-shirts with the word ‘MARSHALL’ boldly printed at the back who showed up suddenly at the People’s Astrodome in barangay Tapuac at the start of a medical mission last month. Those people became visible anew just last week for another medical mission.

‘Where did these people come from?’ was everyone’s query. There were no such Marshalls during the time of former hizzoner Benjie Lim. A regular security guard was stationed at the Astrodome during those days. Where indeed did they come from? Are they regular employees of City Hall? Are they contractuals or casuals?

The city must be awash with money considering the big number of such handie-talkie- wielding men.

If we recall, the Fernandez administration upon assumption faced a dilemma - what to do with so-called midnight appointees. Mayor Al has his own men of confidence, where would he put them since all posts had been already filled up by his predecessor?

Maybe the idea of putting up an office to be manned by ‘marshalls’ came as a result of that predicament, right CIO Ryan?

The problem here however is the city may exceed its funding for personal services (for salaries and wages), sacrificing infrastructure and delivery of basic services. That happened at the provincial Capitol if we believe the claim of the Espino administration. The 55-45 ratio (personal services against operations) prescribed by the local government code was overshot in favor of personal services. Well, it has been said that government is the biggest employer, especially local governments.

Why was the Lim administration often short of money when its predecessor was awash with manna? Former city administrator Raffy Baraan of course disputed that claim saying the city under Benjie’s watch had plenty of money in the banks.

We don’t need much effort to find answer to that question anyway. The city borrowed several millions, hundreds of millions in fact, to finance that Malimgas market, which, according to Ryan is bleeding in finances due to losses. Dagupan bought the idle Mac Adore building for P50 million which money has yet to be recovered considering the yet idle status of that building. The city engaged in masive streetlighting for which the city spent millions and continues to spend big amounts for electric bills. The public order and safety office was created requiring a sizable amount for salaries and wages for its personnel. Other offices were strengthened manpower wise. All that requires is money and lots of it.

Can Mayor Al again achieve surpluses every year with this current situation? We doubt he could unless he removes excess personnel, switches off unnecessary streetlights, makes Malimgas market fully alive, utilizes Mac Adore to the full, etc.

If he does not move fast, Dagupan may be overtaken by the other cities.

Back to the ‘marshalls.’ We wonder if that term fits the actual work of the people concerned. We are reminded of the ‘marshalls of Manila during the first term of Mayor Fred Lim.