Panic reaction

RAMPAGING waters that brought about floods as high as 12 feet high is terrifying. In the aftermath, with deaths and damages to property, livelihood and infrastructure that run up to as much as P10 billion, it would be understandable that our province would be thrown into panic. But we expect Pangasinenses, especially our local government leaders, to rise above that.

Calling for the decommissioning of the San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam, particularly its power-generation function, is one such ‘shooting-from-the-hip’ proposition caused by an unchecked panic reaction. Now more than ever, with our province suffering from the most destructive flood in its history, we need clear and cool heads to sort out solutions to make sure that there will be no repeat of such a tragedy.

What we should set our eyes on is working with the National Power Corporation in crafting new policies on protocols that would ensure the protection of Pangasinan’s interests. Having seen the extent of the threat that water releases from the dam could cause to the province, we now know that we need to have a bigger and more pro-active participation in this aspect of San Roque Dam’s operations.

And for leverage, the provincial government and other sectors should not hold back on their plans to file class suits against the Napocor officials, under the command responsibility principle, and the dam’s operating officers who directed the release of the huge volume of water without regard to the lives and properties of Pangasinenses. The fact, as pointed out by Vice Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, that similar legal actions in the past have not yielded results where those responsible were made liable for their inefficiencies and mistakes, should not serve as a discouragement. On the contrary, those failed legal battles must be a source of lessons on how it can be done right this time within the judicial process. The goal is not simply to lay blame. It is to seek and force accountability.

We do have our hands full now with all the reconstruction work that needs to be done. It will take years to get the province back on the progressive track it was on before the 10/9 deluge. Court proceedings may prove to be long and painful. But a major part of this rebuilding task is making certain that we will not be subjected to a similar calamity.

Only a class suit will deliver the message that Pangasinan has had it with Napocor’s incompetence and irresponsibility.

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