TARLAC CITY — Members of the academe, as well as civic leaders here, were extremely disappointed on how incumbent elected city officials fused politics into a purely extra-curricular annual activity that gave youth and student leaders the opportunity to run the affairs of government for exactly a week.

For the first time since it was initiated five years ago and became an institution that provided the youth an opportunity to develop their leadership potentials, this city will not be holding the "New Generations Week."

The activity is being annually sponsored by the Rotary Club of Central Tarlac (RCCT), which counts among its members prestigious personalities and businessmen in the province.

Through a partnership then established with the city government and government- and privately-owned secondary and tertiary schools here, the RCCT screened and picked up youth and student leaders who acted for one week as this city’s "young mayor" and "young vice mayor," ten "young councilors," as well as "young presidents" each for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) city federation and Association of Barangay Chairmen (ABC), and "young city council secretary."

The elected officials then, together with the council secretary, would have to take the "back seat," so to speak, in order for the "New Generation" leaders to run the affairs of this city, from the executive to the legislative branches, for one week.

In a letter sent to schools in this city tapped by the RCCT to send their respective student leaders for the aborted activity, Rotary member and businessman Juan Cabigting, who was supposed to be the project chairman, said that this year’s New Generations Week "had to be cancelled for reasons beyond our control."

"(T)he officers and members of the Rotary Club of Central Tarlac are one in regretting the loss of such a significant project for the development of young leaders in our community," he said.

Cabigting explained that, normally, the RCCT undertakes preparations for the project as early as July every year in order to ensure its smooth implementation every September.

He added that the RCCT has already talked with Mayor Genaro Mendoza regarding the annual project, "and he (Mendoza) agreed with us that this was a project worthy of continuity."

Cabigting further stated that the civic group has already complied with all the requirements set by the mayor, such as preparing the formal memorandum-of-agreement, the proposed budget and program of activities.

"(Mendoza) gave us assurance that the City Government will continue to be a co-sponsor of the project," he said.

However, Cabigting told members of the academic community that "the city council did not act upon the project despite the mayor’s endorsement and, thus, leaving us in suspended animation."

It was actually on motion for a "study" on the project by councilor Roy Nilo Escalona on why the agreement between the city hall and the RCCT was not immediately approved by the city council.

Cabigting said: "We are working within a definite time frame… we did not expect this disappointment."

Local pundits, however, see a political angle to the cancellation of this year’s New Generations Week activity — the current president of the RCCT is this city’s former mayor, Gelacio Manalang.

Manalang, who ran but lost for governor of the province in the May 2001 polls, is reportedly eyeing a comeback bid as this city’s mayor, and would therefore inevitably challenge the reelection bid of Mendoza.

Escalona, meanwhile, is a known ally of Mendoza in the city council.

Manalang would not comment on the issue, saying instead: "We will continue with our civic duties as Rotarians." — Benjie Villa and Rachelle Tayong