An Accidental Politician
An Interview with Congressman Perpetuo Ylagan
Text and Photo by Aline Parrone

For an accidental politician, Perpetuo "Totoy" B. Ylagan has sure come a long way.

In the 1980ish Martial Law period, a brother was campaigning for mayor for Odiongan, Romblon when one of his councilors (sanggunian) pulled out from the race. Unable to find an able replacement, Pepertuo Ylagan came to the rescue. As luck would have it (or was it his charm with the locals?), he won a spot in the councillorship, and 16 years later, a politician with a nickname of Totoy, is the lone representative of Romblon province.

But that is going ahead of the story. Perpetuo Ylagan was born in Odiongan on November 13, 1937. He attended primary years in Odiongan South Central School but continued his studies (from elementary to college) in Manila. His rise to his present position is anything but meteoric. It was a gradual, step-by-step procedure for Totoy Ylagan, to say the least. From being a councilor, he became the mayor of Odiongan, then a one-term governor of Romblon. By the time he reached governorship, he has learned the ropes quite well and winning a seat for Congress has been easy.

What would he be if he did not become a politician? Before he ran for the municipal councilor elections, he was a farmer-businessman who raised chickens and hogs in his province.

It is therefore no surprise then that his pet projects in Romblon deal with agri-business and aquaculture ventures as a means of battling the most serious problem of the province: poverty. Realistically speaking, Romblon is too far and transportation and communication is inadequate to attract medium to large industries to set up business in the province, according to Cong. Ylagan. "Even tourism should be limited to Sibuyan Island where the rich wildlife of Mt. Guiting-Guiting could be found and in Romblon, Romblon for its rich diving sites", Rep. Ylagan adds.

Cong. Ylagan reveals that aside from a half a million budget for Congressional scholars in Romblon, most of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allotted to him goes to a variety of agriculture and aquaculture ventures.

There is the DOST (Department of Science and Technology)-assisted project that will produce CME oil (coco methyl ether) or oil derived from coconut that is a good substitute for diesel. This is a pilot project and is the first for the entire country.

There is also the integrated coconut development program, which aims to produce exportable coconut coir that is used for erosion control projects. Hopefully, Ylagan adds that this will open up better alternatives to coco products and protect farmers from the flactuating and unstable copra prices in the world market.

Other agriculture venture is the raising of "sasu" breed of chickens which can increase its weight of up to 5-7 kilos in just 4 months. Cong. Ylagan is also hopeful that the aquaculture projects he is supporting will assist more self-employed fishermen through the fingerling dispersal program. These include tilapia, African hito and freshwater shrimps or hulang.

Then there is the plan to transfer the jail from Romblon to Odiongan that will have a bigger space and surroundings. The current jail has a capacity of 20 inmates but is right now accommodating 40 prisoners. With the transfer, some inmates can even be employed in some of the projects within the prison gate, as the Congressman envisions.

But what are his visions for the province of Romblon?

The Congressman, getting serious says, "A more sustainable economic growth anchored on agriculture, fishing or aquaculture". He also hopes for better communication lines, which this January 2003 might bring. Already, telecommunications company Smart and Globe will cover Romblon, Odiongan, San Andres and San Agustin. A good way indeed to welcome the new year.

Transportation, communication, economic programs and tourism projects: those are the priorities of the Congressman of Romblon. Tough challenges for a reluctant politician!