Playing with Fire
Burgos rehab center all over again?
By Gonzalo Duque
AT the necrological rites for former Councilor Tony de Venecia, we had a brief chat with Congressman Joe de Venecia, Kuya Tony’s younger brod. Our topic was the still unrealized if not elusive regional drug rehab center which under our behest started it in Burgos, but moved to Dagupan City.
The proposed rehab center in Burgos town in West Pangasinan got knocked down because of the indifference and apathy of our provincial officials. We started it with some support from then Vice President Erap and Senator Orly Mercado — but nothing from our provincial officials. Mantakin niyo!
In our accidental meeting last week, Manong Joe referred us to his man Friday, Engr. Nelson Sotto who seemed to know almost everything about the former speaker’s projects.
Well, Nelson told us some Pl5 million has already been released for the project, which has been earmarked for P70 million.
Great! Magmanano kay Manong Joe. Pero tekayo muna, ang total budget ng project na yan ay P70 milyon. Baka alam nyo na… hmmm.
Thank you. But, our instinct tells us that baka may mangya-yari na naman. Sana Sir Joe, ensure that it gets realized naman.
Alam nyo na ang ating kultura. Igapo da ed Pl5 milyon, kutam dia kutam ditan, kabet ta anggapoy nasumpal. We are raising this point because it has been the sad story of our lives.
Baka, after starting it, mag collapse later. If that happens, it’s like Burgos all over again! Let’s pray that it won’t happen again. This is a challenge to Kuya Joe. All of you know the importance if not urgency of a drug center in Pangasinan or in our region. You know that most crimes these days are due to illicit drugs. Only the thick-skinned, the callous or the drugged individuals will deny that the drug menace is not priority.
Even some of our policemen are in the evil business of promoting drugs. It’s a multi million business, but its effect to the soul of those promoting it is also multi million hells.
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We again congratulate Gen. Art Lomibao for finally getting the LTO position. Ano kaya ang nandiyan sa pwesto na yan at nagiging parangmakakoronias. Wadya lad lima to, kabebekta nauplosan to. But if we know the guy, whom we once honored by confering him a doctorate degree with honoris causa. He has delicadeza. Agto ipapasuot so laman to no agda labay. Kaya maraming nagaadmire sa kanya. When we wrote about his LTFRB appointment the other week, so many called or texted us to congratulate him. We’re glad that General Art is that much admired. Is he running for congress? Matinding kalaban yan. Popular. Well loved.
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Ambassador Willy Hold whose wife, the former Eleanor Hammershind, sister in law of our sister Luz, has seen first-hand the civic spiritedness of Filipinos. Occasion was our sister Dr. Luz donating 30 model housing units to Mayor Al Fernandez’s Gawad Kalinga housing program inn Bonuan Gueset.
We’re happy that he saw the brighter side of our Dagupan life. He will have a lot of good things to tell his friends and co-workers when he and wife get back home.
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