Random Thoughts

By October 24, 2016Opinion, Random Thoughts

A ‘CHANGED’ COP — Here’s a text message sent on Oct. 14 to three of Pangasinan’s top police officers and see how fast they replied.

Me: Sir good pm. Pinapatanong po ni Mr. Ermin Garcia, publisher at editor-in-chief ng Sunday Punch kung ilan na daw po ang declared drug-free barangays and if pwede we can have them asap po?

It was first sent at 4:51 p.m. to two numbers of Chief Inspector Ryan Manongdo, officer-in-charge of the Operations Branch at the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office.

The PUNCH got no reply from one of the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service awardees given by Metrobank. It was not the first time he did so after receiving his Metrobank award.

The same text message was sent to Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, acting provincial police director of Pangasinan and Superintendent Jackie Candelario, deputy police director for operations.

Lee sent his reply (two text messages) after an hour. Maybe, he was in a meeting, I murmured while waiting for his response.

Candelario gave his answer after 15 minutes and sent the list of drug-cleared barangays in another 15 minutes through messenger in Facebook.

This writer narrated this sad experience with Manongdo to a correspondent of a national newspaper.

“Ryan should remember that he owes much to the media. Naging sikat sya at nakatikim ng kanyang unang media mileage through a front page news sa amin (name of the writer’s newspaper) nung hepe pa sya ng San Jacinto tungkol sa pagsagip ng mga kapulisan sa mga binahang tao dun,” said the colleague.

The correspondent said it was through that article that a noontime show in a national television learned about the policemen’s heroic deeds led by Manongdo. The show hosts gave the police their meaningful reward.

Prior to the Oct. 14 sad incident with Manongdo, another reporter said she was peeved by the act of the police officer for being a snob about a query sent to him on matters he is responsible to provide answers with.

The reporter recounted giving this message to Manongdo: Sir, hindi ka na sumasagot ngayon sa texts at message ko sa FB. Tapos na ang Metrobank awarding. Sana yung dating Ryan Manongdo na nakilala ko noon ay babalik na ngayon. May gusto akong makuha sanang data and PD Lee said I will get them from you, being the new S3.

Manongdo obviously read the message based on a check sign that appeared below the message sent in his Facebook account. But he simply ignored it.

Manongdo loves the media because he knows too well that Pangasinan mediamen are too kind to him sans any gifts or favors. He got all the media exposure he so desired in news features about his projects. Konting kembot lang nya, balita na agad.

But why the sudden change of attitude, Sir Ryan? Epekto kaya yan ng pagiging COPS awardee? What’s wrong, sir?Tita Roces

TIME TO REVISE SCHOOL CALENDAR – Education suffered a big set back at the expense of the pupils and students in all levels because of Typhoons Karen and Lawin. From Oct. 17 to 21, they were in school for only just half a day. Only three to four hours, at most!

Typhoon Karen forced the cancellation of classes for two days from Oct. 17 to 18 while classes were cancelled from afternoon of Oct. 19 to 21 on account of Typhoon Lawin that brought incalculable devastation in Northern Luzon, the province of Pangasinan and the city of Dagupan included.

“Karen” with its powerful winds, raged on at dawn last Oct. 16 and the ordeal was over by 2:00 p.m. However, it left a swath of destruction all over Pangasinan, including Dagupan, in terms of fallen trees and blown down branches of trees that had blocked many roads leading to schools and had to be cleared.

Classes were suspended the next day on the strength of executive orders of Governor Amado I. Espino III, in the case of Pangasinan, and Vice Mayor Brian Lim, as acting mayor, in the case of Dagupan. The suspension of classes was again ordered by the two on Oct. 17.

While on official trip to the United States, Mayor Belen Fernandez, who continued to monitor the situation in Dagupan, posted on her Facebook account recommending to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) to study the possibility of suspending classes on Oct. 17 to allow the clearing of roads from fallen trees that may pose danger to students going to their school. It was done.

The suspension of classes in both Dagupan and Pangasinan was extended till Oct. 18.

There was no suspension of classes issued on Oct. 19, so the pupils and students went to school.  At that time though, a storm with the international name of “Haima”, with a potential to develop into a super typhoon when it will hit land, and to be named locally as Typhoon Lawin, was already about to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Hastily, Gov. Espino and Acting Mayor Brian Lim again suspended classes beginning in the afternoon of Oct. 19 till the next day (Oct. 20) when “Lawin” lashed at Pangasinan with powerful winds and rains that again caused flooding in Sta. Barbara, Calasiao and Dagupan and at the same time unleashed storm surge in the coastal areas, spawning evacuation of affected residents.

The next day (Oct. 21), Lim again suspended classes while Gov. Espino ordered localized suspension of classes in Pangasinan that gave local executives in towns and cities as well as school administrators and principals the discretion to suspend classes if in their own assessment there was a need for it.

I recall that many more suspension of classes happened in August this year when Pangasinan and Dagupan experienced flooding due to days of monsoon rains which in all seriously impacted on pupils and students.

Isn’t it about time our lawmakers and officials of the Department of Education revive earlier calls for a revision of the school calendar so that pupils and students would be in the comfort of their homes during the typhoon season in the Philippines and not risk life and limb wading on flooded roads in going to school?

The worsening impact of climate change – typhoons and storm surge as well as El Niño and La Niña – never seen before by humankind, could be the best and most plausible argument to be cited for the immediate revision of the school calendar. – Leonardo Micua

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments