Alan Dinampo: An Environmentalist’s Will to Take Charge
Written By Mary Rascel Mayol
The province of Cebu has been dominated by political dynasties for decades, and Cebuano voters are now realizing that governance should not be limited to these dynastic cliques. In the 2022 elections, let us open our eyes and welcome a new breed of candidates who can truly represent the voice of ordinary citizens. A leader who sees the bigger picture and illuminates to us what we are failing to see.
Perhaps it’s someone like Alan Dinampo, a modest man with a fresh approach to offer in serving the public as a city councillor for Cebu City’s South District. Alan Dinampo may not ring a bell to the majority, but his guts to lead may catch your interest. Get to know him and you would be surprised that an environmentalist who is dedicated to preserving the environment, has the heart for protecting and standing up for the people.
Dinampo has a modest and easygoing persona surrounding him, but when he speaks, his fervour and commitment flow spontaneously in the hopes of becoming one of the councillors for Cebu City’s South District.
On his political affiliations, Dinampo is running as a candidate under the Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi, a political party headed by Muslim presidential candidate Faisal Mangondadato. The political party is composed of underdogs, but it is rich in diversity with leaders coming from different religious groups.
Aside from this, the political party is also adamant in pushing for federalism. One of its members, Conrado Generoso, participated in reviewing the 1987 Constitution with plans of implementing Federalism.
“We are a group of different religions aiming for a better Philippines, for a god-fearing Philippines. We are too small as a party but we believe in the power of prayer,” Dinampo says about their organization, sharing that he hopes they win more seats in the government.
Like Alan Dinampo, these underdogs running under the political party are proving that the passion to lead overpowers the lack of resources. Public service is not a battlefield of fame but it should be a level playing field for competent leaders.
Dinampo’s platforms are not just empty promises; these are platforms rooted in his experience. He is an engineer, educator, lecturer, and speaker on environmental laws. He held leadership posts as the president of the Cebu Climate Change Association, Inc. and he was the former vice-president of the Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water as well as the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines for Region VII.
Dinampo is not an outsider when it comes to public service since he coordinated with LGUs as an environmental consultant and as a member of Mike Rama’s Solid Waste Management Board.
One of his achievements as an environmental consultant is working on Aloguinsan’s Solid Waste Management plan. He attributes Aloguinsan’s successful tourism to the province’s clean environment, of which he is proud of. Alan Dinampo’s experience in working with the environment allowed him to witness how environmental ordinances and laws were weakly implemented. So, he gained the courage to run for the elections driven by his passion for environmental preservation.
With a vision in his mind, Dinampo wants to prioritize a comprehensive drainage plan for the city as his first task in the instance that he gets elected as a city councillor. Other platforms that you should look forward to from him are Kalikupan, Kapanginabuhian, Kahimsug, and Kaayuphan Sa Pang Lawas (Environment, Livelihood, Health, and Physical Well-Being).
Kalikupan covers the drainage and flood control plan, Water code and Environment Code of Cebu City, and modifying the solid waste management plan.
Kapanginabuhian focuses on providing livelihoods and job opportunities for out-of-school youth, senior citizens, women, the LGBTQ community, and other unemployed sectors in the city.
Kahimsug would focus on giving additional benefits to senior citizens, increasing access to vitamins and medicines.
Then, Pang Lawas would promise to increase employment benefits to health workers, develop dialysis centers, and infectious disease hospitals to address the city’s healthcare needs.
His special platform for out-of-school youth piqued my interest since it shows that he has a compassionate side towards approaching the problems of the youth. While others would turn a blind eye to juvenile delinquents, Dinampo believes that the out-of-school youth still have a chance to prove that they can still be part of the country’s hope; that is the youth’s special role in nation-building for future generations. As an educator and a father himself, he understands that the youth of today have a vast potential of skills and talents that must be harnessed so that they can foster significant progress in the country.
He quotes Dr. Jose Rizal’s words: “Ang kabataan ay kayamanan ng ating lipunan [The youth is the treasure of our society],” stating that giving livelihood opportunities to out-of-school youth can propel them from their unfortunate circumstances.
Drawing from his experience when he worked with a former congressman, he saw how these opportunities were able to inspire out-of-school youth and reduce delinquent tendencies like doing drugs and drinking alcohol. “One of the best livelihoods that we can give is something that they can earn from. Not just teaching the livelihood, but we will also teach them how to market their skills. They still have a huge contribution [to] developing our country.”
Although some of his plans may or are (if already planned by the current city administration) facing a lack of proper implementation in the city, Dinampo elaborated that he would strengthen these platforms by reaching out to the grassroots and the masses. These grassroots are the marginalized sectors, and Dinampo understands that these sectors are the most vulnerable individuals. In particular, he is adamant about pushing for environment-oriented solutions like his flood control and drainage plan because he understands that poverty-stricken residents, especially those who are living in hazardous areas, are the most affected individuals by climate change.
Alan Dinampo reassures voters that he embraces transparency and inclusivity. The aspiring city councillor is active in informing the public about his platforms and plans through his Facebook account.
One of the problems he noted in the local government was the discord among public officials because of opposing political parties. Clashing political views would often sacrifice the welfare of the people as some barangays would be left out. In particular, he pointed out that it was problematic for local leaders to refuse cooperation because of opposing parties. From his perspective, Dinampo views the local government as a linked structural unit; whatever happens to one barangay could potentially affect the other. Hence, Dinampo emphasizes that he would push for an inclusive approach if he were elected as a city councillor. Concerning inclusivity, he is open to acknowledging criticisms from the public as a guide for him to improve his performance.
For his message to the voters, Alan Dinampo emphasizes that the people should vote for competent candidates with a genuine love for public service regardless of their political parties. He also calls on the youth to vote for candidates based on their experience and performance and not just names.
“A candidate should be god-fearing, someone who values God's love and fears corruption.” Sharing an interesting conversation he had with his children, he says, “My children asked me if I would be corrupt since I will enter politics, and I told them, ‘You should remind me not to engage in corruption because we have a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, and God does not want corruption.’”
Through the eyes of an environmentalist, Dinampo recognizes that an environmental crisis is also a societal crisis. The people of Cebu City’s South district would certainly need diverse leaders who can approach problems with versatile ranges and Alan Dinampo is a leader we can count on. His unwavering determination as an environmentalist for more than two decades is a testament to his genuine love for the development of the city.
It’s about time that we stop voting for mere names. Instead, vote for credible track records. Perhaps open your hearts and open your minds, because an environmentalist is ready to step up and take charge for the betterment of the community.
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Images from Alan Dinampo’s Facebook Page
