“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” – Mahatma Gandhi
He rolls up his sleeves and hits the road.
Mayor-elect Greg Gasataya will go down the road in the history of Bacolod politics as the undefeated politician since he threw his hat in the political arena in 2001. But this is icing on the cake. The more important question is why Mayor Greg Gasataya never lost an election each and every three years? From being a Bombo Radyo anchorman, the next Mayor of Bacolod City in the remaining 15 days has become a household name especially among the youth and the marginalized Bacolodnons?
SOLID IMPACT
More than any propaganda ploy of a seasoned politician his “serbisyong may puso” brand of service has hit the core of most Bacolodnons – voting and non-voting alike. This timely and impactful brand of service despite various accusations thrown his way is a testament of a dedicated and committed public service exemplifying good governance. This is not to say that his predecessors did not contribute in re-shaping Bacolod’s socio-economic landscape and never made an impact among constituents but, rather, his brand of governance has made a more lasting and significant impact.
Gasataya has a well-blended type of public-service from community engagements, felt policy reforms, timely, deep-seated and innovative approaches in delivering basic needs encompassing multi-sectoral concerns such as health, education, sports development, various forms of immediate assistance arguably, with long-term impacts. These are products of Gasataya’s personal experience that he, himself experienced and perhaps suffered before becoming a public servant being a son of a public jeepney driver and a devout Christian mother. And since becoming an instrument of public service in transforming lives of others Gasataya vowed to do his best and true to form and substance his brand of “serbisyong may puso” has a more solid impact.
EFFECTIVE SILENT WISDOM
The leadership of Gasataya is driven by his humility and silent wisdom where his actions speak tons not his words. He may be one of the most eloquent public speaker considering his background as a broadcast media commentator, once his bread and butter, yet he chose to be the uncanny and most absorptive listener from among his peers, his subordinates and his constituents. His silent wisdom transforms his governance and leadership towards decentralization and inclusivity that, to a significant extent, made him admired by many that ensures his policy reforms and brand of public service align with his constituents socio-economic needs. His being a good listener encouraged citizens’ participation and developed from among his peers and subordinates innovative ideas and confidence.
In effect, this essentially establishes decentralization and accountability in his team and the people he serves where their ideas are transformed into well-meaning actions producing substance of his “serbisyong may puso” brand of service.
GOOD GOVERNANCE RE-CREATED
Gasataya has tailored a new type of good governance, and we expect more to come in his reign as the chief executive of the city of Bacolod. As part of the bureaucratic construct his proximity to the people will be more streamlined to be effective, but to be more efficient where technology and digitalization whenever appropriate shall take centerstage. And, consistent to his party’s “continuity of change” the shift and re-creation of good governance shall continue to adopt the best practices his predecessor started and accomplished setting the standards for a more efficient local governance.
Not losing ground the good governance of Gasataya shall be collaborative with an inclusive decision-making process where local elected officials and other instrumentalities play crucial roles and his adaptive leadership evolves as it adapts to various changes but remains service oriented and people-centered.
Starting from local to national lawmaker to becoming a local chief executive of a rapidly growing and developing highly urbanized city Gasataya has commenced shifting good governance moving closer to the people substantially exemplifying his brand of leadership and public service.
Does this sound more of an exaggeration and highly expectant? No, just the typical form and substance of “Serbisyong May Puso”.*
