Ask the people

 

CONSULTATION is the operative word in the renewed effort to create additional congressional districts in the province.

It must be recalled that the last redistricting move for Pangasinan took place not so long ago and that proved to be a waste of valuable public resources in terms of manpower time and documentation cost, among others. Then 2nd District Rep. Victor Agbayani filed House Bill 4276 and he managed to have it approved on third reading in the Lower House in August 2008. But when it got to the Senate committee on local government around June 2009, the panel chaired by now then Senator Benigno Aquino III, hearings were suspended due to the strong and united opposition put up by provincial officials led by no less than Gov. Amado Espino Jr. At that time, Espino made it clear that they were not against redistricting per se, but are in fact fully in favor of increasing the province’s representation in congress and access to development fund considering Pangasinan’s more than 2.5 million population. What they were contesting about the Agbayani bill was how the new district divisions were defined. Espino, who is now on his third and final term as governor, told the Senate committee that redistricting should take into consideration not just the geographical factor but equally important are the “culture, economy tourism program and even dialect” of the affected areas.

The redistricting this time has been initiated by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, whose membership is known to be an ally of the governor, and they appear to be taking the right course of action by starting off with consultations with congressmen, creating an ad hoc committee, and even employing the UP College of Public Administration for a study. What they should not forget in the process is getting the pulse of the people who will ultimately vote for or against the new districts. When it comes to the vote and Pangasinenses say no, it would be another waste – an even bigger waste – of resources.

Ultimately, redistricting should aim for equitable distribution of resources for development, not for gerrymandering.

 

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In praise of PAL’s Ang

 

PRAISE when there’s reason to praise, but punch when there’s reason to punch.

Ramon S. Ang, thus, deserves praise for having brought the Philippine Airlines back into the European Union (EU).  Not even two years in office as PAL President and CEO, Ang scored the momentous victory that would allow PAL to fly into the 28-member EU bloc.  “Today [July 10], the EU has decided to lift the air ban on Philippine Airlines,” said Guy Ledoux, the EU Ambassador to the Philippines.  “Direct connections will provide a strong additional incentive for European tourists to visit the Philippines.”

This is a testament once more to PAL’s enduring legacy of flying competence and airworthiness that Ang had so gallantly restored in only his short stint at the helm of the nation’s flag carrier. Said Ang: “The lifting by the European Union of the ban on Philippine Airlines (PAL) to fly to Europe is another testimony to PAL’s reputation as a safe airline.” He was magnanimous in victory: “Credit goes to the Philippine government for all its efforts and hard work in successfully addressing this significant concern hounding our aviation industry for years.”

We can only applaud – very heartily, at the very least.

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