1. MULTIFARIOUS ISSUES TACKLED AT THE FSUU CANDIDATES FORUM
Issues ranging from rubber plantation to drug addiction were taken up during the Candidates Forum
2016 hosted by the Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Policy Center held in FSUU Morelos
Campus Mini Theater at Barangay Libertad, Butuan City on April 22, 2016.
In the activity supported by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the Philippine Information
Agency (PIA) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Candidates for the
Congressional seat, incumbent Congressman Lawrence Fortun and former IBP Chair Atty Roan
Libarios comprised the first set of speakers addressing issues of national and local concern. These
are, striking a balance between rubber plantation and food security, curbing corruption through the
encouragement and promotion of the value of honesty, climate change specifically sufficiency of
climate change mitigating laws, statement of mayor Duterte related to rape, law on Philippine China
territorial dispute, the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), privatization of public utilities, drug abuse,
support to higher education and payment of taxes.
Similar issues were raised to the candidates for vice mayor. Councilors Ryan Culima and Sergio
Pascual expressed their views on the protection and rehabilitation of the Taguibo watershed,
mechanism so that sectoral concerns will be heard in the city Council, priority measures to ensure
environmental condition of the city, drug abuse solution, supply of clean and potable water to far
flung areas, livelihood and employment and health. Some questions were, however, designed to
elicit the candidates' position on issues pertaining to the vice mayor's relationship with the mayor.
The candidates were asked about their position in case there is conflict with the mayor in relation to
enactment of ordinances.
For the candidates for Mayor, incumbent mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Atty. Teodoro Emboy and
Engr. Ronivic Lagnada were asked, as the first question, for their stand on the Public Private
Partnership Project (PPP) between the Butuan City Water District (BCWD) and the Taguibo
Aquatech Solutions. This was followed by a question on the improvement of revenues and ensuring
efficient use of resources in the city, investment potential of the city, support to K-12 program,
ensuring that the roads last a longer time, addressing gaps in disaster preparedness, traffic woes,
mining, lumad killings, garbage problem, corruption, food security and housing, quality health care
road map,good governance, and drug abuse and addiction.