Newbie politician aims to make big splash in PH fishing capital

HIGH HOPESDI Ang is hoping to make the transition from councilor to mayor. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — First-termer Councilor Dan Israel “DI” Ang knows he is up against “a big fish” in his bid to become mayor of Navotas City, the country’s fishing capital.

“[It’s an] overwhelming challenge, [like] facing a brick wall built years ago head first,” he tells the Inquirer in a recent interview.

Ang is running against Rep. Toby Tiangco, who wants to return to the city’s top post, having served as mayor from 2000 to 2010. Tiangco is looking to switch posts with his brother, incumbent Mayor John Rey Tiangco, who is on his third and last term.

“They have a lot of accomplishments here, but despite [their long] tenure, the improvements in the city [have been] very limited,” Ang says.

The political newcomer acknowledges that he has not done enough as a councilor either, mainly because of his small budget and his being the only member of the minority.

Less progressive

But having lived in the city his whole life — 29 years — he says he knows for a fact that Navotas has lagged behind most cities in Metro Manila.

According to him, he became aware of this as a student at The University of Asia and the Pacific.

“Why is it that we don’t have a mall? And then it goes deeper, why is it that other cities can provide free shoes and books … to their students? Why is it in other cities, hospitalization and housing are free?” he asks.

Ang says he got into politics at the urging of family friends who were in the fishing business. “We noticed that no one was representing the fisherfolk here, although there was a committee on fishing. But the masses are not represented properly, and it’s a shame because it’s the only industry running in Navotas, right?”

He notes, however, that over the years, the city government’s focus has been on the fishing industry. As a result, most jobs revolve around the industry — from fishing to working in the fish port and markets, shipyards or dry docks.

“The industry is slowly dying; we need another avenue in terms of livelihood… It’s the social responsibility of the local government unit [to provide this],” says Ang, whose father was also in the fishing business before he went into property development.

Should he be elected mayor, the entrepreneurial management graduate plans to form cooperatives for tricycle drivers, fisherfolk and small business owners. He wants them empowered to enable them to sustain their livelihood instead of relying on the government.

Ang also plans to develop a Navotas Business District which, he thinks, will complement the proposed New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan.

Prime spot

“Navotas will be a prime spot,” he says, noting that the P736-billion airport project will be roughly 20 kilometers away from the city. “The coastal road passes through Navotas and we will become a hub; we will become a stopover.”

“As a progressive city, you must be geared [toward] development because you will be left behind if your only industry relies on fishing,” Ang says.

He also envisions a business district with a “fleet of restaurants” to generate jobs for Navoteños so they will no longer have to travel to other cities to work.

When Ang ran as an independent candidate for the city council in 2016, he got the second highest number of votes in the second district even if he was one of the last to file his certificate of candidacy.

This time, he aims to end up in the No. 1 spot — as mayor.

“It is exciting even though they say I don’t stand a chance [of winning]. But I talk to people and their battle cry is change,” Ang says. “Although they say that I am too young, I don’t think that is impairing. I’m young, I can do plenty of things and I can do more.”