Punchline
Believe it or not, ‘may pera sa basura’
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
The best news we’ve heard this month so far is the decision of the Bayambang municipal government to establish and construct a sanitary landfill in their town to serve not only the waste disposal requirements of their town, district and the province but of neighboring provinces as well.
I have no doubt the Bayambang officials are now more informed of the benefits of the project than any of their counterparts in the province. Unknown perhaps to many, a sanitary landfill will be a virtual goldmine for the town if it proceeds with its plan to invite all Pangasinan towns and cities to deliver their wastes to Bayambang.
The by-products of an efficient sanitary landfill are innumerable and will definitely deliver the economic boom that the town can only dream of, without even really trying. For starters, with an efficient landfill in place, there will be gas to be sold, and power to be generated to light up the town at very low costs. And imagine the amount of fees that will have to be paid for each truckload of wastes delivered each day by all towns in Pangasinan and Tarlac.
Yes, there is absolute truth in the slogan- “May pera sa basura.” I only pray that once the sanitary landfill is in place, safeguards shall have been in place to prevent a mafia-type control of the project by politicos.
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DAGUPAN’S REAL ESTATE DEAL. Just like in the failed sanitary landfill project of Dagupan City where there was stiff opposition to its construction in Barangay Awai in San Jacinto from the community, the same can be expected in the Bayambang project. But unlike the Dagupan experience where the project was first and foremost a real estate “business deal” more than a landfill project, it appears that the Bayambang plan has started out pretty well sans scandals. So far, there are no indications that the town’s officials have already made money on the deal with the project implementor, or have they?
I certainly hope Mayor Leocadio de Vera and his fellow town officials have enough sense to look at the long term benefit to their town than risk the project for a short term real estate deal or service contract kickback in preparation for the 2007 election.
Unanen ti met lay Pangasinan!
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GOOD GOVERNANCE TODAY. Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino, who would most likely succeed Gov. Victor Agbayani, would do well to begin planting seeds for a successful administration by supporting the Bayambang project. As the presiding officer of the provincial board, it is his duty to lead in the education of the all local officials on the benefits of an efficient sanitary landfill, and stop all opposition to the project.
A demonstration of his political will be crucial at this stage even before he can think of thinking and acting as a governor. It’s all about good governance.
With a sanitary landfill in place, the province can be expected to accelerate plans to ensure a healthy environment for future generations regardless of who will be the province’s next governor. But if he and his allies in the provincial board would stake their leadership in the Bayambang project program, then I’d like to be the first to say – they deserve to remain in public office.
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DEDICATION OF YOUNG PRIESTS. Last Thursday, I had the pleasant experience of observing how our young priests go about their vocation on a day trip to the Rio Tuba Nickel Mine in Palawan. It was there where I met 28-year old Fr. Anthony Ynzon S.V.D. of Barangay Mckinley, Binmaley.
Newly-ordained, Fr. Anthony is working with miner’s families and indigenous tribes as a matter of choice. He chose an assignment far from a developed town or city. A very articulate son of Mr. and Mrs. Clenio Ynzon, he is truly God’s minister who finds purpose and meaning in not only preaching the Lord’s gospel but working for the upliftment of the lives of those who have long been deprived of economic opportunities and education.
With dedicated priests like him, there is hope for this country.
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JUETENG IN MALASIQUI. Last month the PUNCH Online received an interesting tip from a Mr. Jojo Tamayo (jojo_tamayo@hotmail.com) about helping newly appointed Malasiqui police chief Harris Fama fight illegal gambling in the town.
“Upang matigil na ang jueteng at mahuli ang mga nakikinabang sa Jueteng at Hataw sa Malasiqui ang mga sumusunod ay magsisilbing tip kay Police Chief Harris Fama:
1. Oras ng Bola ng Jueteng: alas 12 ng tanghali, alas 5 ng hapon, alas 10 ng gabi.
2. Lugar ng Bola ng Jueteng : Barangay Viado minsan inililipat sa Barangay Lokeb Norte.
3. Bukod sa Bola ng Jueteng ay may Bookish sa Barangay Lareg-Lareg.
Ang kita o payola ng mga opisyal ng Malasiqui sa jueteng ay umaabot ng P95T daily. Ang hataw payola ay solo ng anak ng isang mataas na opisyal. Ang nakakalungkot dito ay nagiging bulag at tamimi ang mabuting Bise Gobernador Oscar Lambino sa issue na ito.
Ang mga tips na nakasaad dito ay magsisilbing gabay ni Police Chief Fama upang masugpo ang jueteng at hataw sa Malasiqui. Hari nawa ITIGIL NA ANG ILLEGAL NA SUGAL SA MALASIQUI. — Krusada Laban sa Illegal na Sugal sa Malasiqui.
What sayeth you, Chief Fama?
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EWs TERMINATED, NOT CONSULTANTS. For a while, I honestly thought the Lim administration in Dagupan City finally decided to bite the bullet by terminating non-essential emergency workers and redundant kurbata boys (aka consultants).
Well, it appears, Mayor Lim does not have the heart to terminate the services of his friends whom he had appointed as consultants. No consultant was terminated and they all continue to receive their fat allowances while the terminated EWs can only moan and groan while they await future “savings” to cover their separation pays.
Iba na talaga pag EW ka lang!
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TINTED VEHICLE PLATE COVER. Last week I wrote about the proliferation of darkly tinted covers for plate numbers of vehicles, including motorcycles. By some coincidence, I overheard radio reports in Manila last Tuesday that the Traffic Management Group and the LTO agents have been busy stopping motorists in Metro-Manila who sported the tinted plates, and confiscated these.
It’s time the local LTO offices and TMG operatives start getting busy in the province as well. I suggest the cars and SUVs with these plate covers be searched fully, and identification of riders of the motorcycles with tinted plate covers be placed on the crime watchlist. Government designed the plates to be clearly visible and even directed the use of luminous paints on the numbers, why would they try hiding their vehicle’s plates unless a criminal thought crossed their minds?
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