The ‘oust PDU30’ agenda

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

AS I write this piece, the political opposition in the country is set to hold a grand protest rally at the Luneta in Manila ostensibly to recall the abuse of Martial Law, to stop the return of the Marcoses to power AND to oust President Duterte.

The truth –  the main agenda is simply to oust PDU30. Surely, the victims of Marcos Martial Law are already hoarse decrying it especially there is no indication that Martial Law is about to be declared. Or protesting the prospect of Bongbong Marcos winning his electoral protest is moot. What can protesters do if the Presidential Electoral Tribunal decided his case on merit?

What I note with serious concern that the scheduled activities organized have all indicators of political protest rallies of the radical left – the communists. It has become evident that the traditional opposition, a role this time assigned to the Liberal Party, has yielded leadership post to the NDF-CPP-NPA. What’s worrisome is to see the Liberal Party opening itself to violence as an alternative in its opposition role.

While the touted LP affiliation with the CPP-NPA is an isolated political affair in the national level alone, I hope LP leaders in our local governments are careful not to be influenced by radical messages being mouthed by their peers in Metro Manila.

However, I seriously doubt that the ties that the LPs pursued with the radical left will hold very long.  The serious implications of such a collaboration will only heighten risks to the security of our villages especially at the time when Pangasinan was just recently confirmed to be “insurgents-free”!

For the LPs to consider collaboration with the radical left is clearly an act of irresponsible desperation just to have President Duterte ousted from office. Only the oligarchs and the elite would choose this option to advance their political and economic agenda at the expense of the majority of Filipinos.

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BAYANIHAN IN DAGUPAN. Like they say, one can find good hearts in every crisis.

Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez lent credence to this when she publicly acknowledged and thanked owners of private houses and schools, churches and business establishments who willingly extended their places as shelter for evacuees of residents at the height of the 2-day onslaught of Typhoon Ompong.

Among the schools that accommodated evacuees were the Phinma-University of Pangasinan that offered shelter to 246 families (996 persons),
from Barangay Pantal, and PIMSAT that accommodated two families
consisting of six persons from Barangay Tambac.

The Dagupan Water District also accommodated 21 families (102
persons) also from Barangay Tambac.

Nepo Mall opened its doors to 95 families (416 persons) while the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Arellano  St. offered shelter to 44 families (176 persons) from Barangay Pantal while the church of LDS in Barangay IV served 15 families (57 persons). The Baptist Church served 30 families (96 individuals). 

How many evacuees did Catholic Churches and schools serve? Hmmm.

It’s not that I propose to abuse the hospitality and generosity of the above volunteer-establishments and places, but lets’ face it, Ompong will not be the last super typhoon that will hit the city.  Knowing that we have big and small establishments that are willing to give back to the community, may I offer this suggestion that the city government makes a joint assessment with the above listed establishments and ask for a confirmation of future help should an emergency arise again.

In confirming their assistance, it’d help if they can identity with certainty how they can be more organized to help in the future. They can identify the areas, estimate maximum accommodation and limitations of facilities… then determine how city government can complement and support.

As I’m certain other schools would be just as willing to provide shelter if prepared, the city hall should not hesitate to invite them to be counted in the effort.  If not willing, then let’s leave them be.  

The Sunday PUNCH joins the city government in thanking the families, church sects, schools, establishments and the churches profusely for their selfless acts to help protect families.

We have seen bayanihan at its best in Balon Dagupan.

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BARANGAY PROJECT.  With ongoing clearing and cleaning operations in barangays, I hope our barangay officials are conscious as well of the health issues that go with all natural calamities.

The two major health issues during and after floods are dengue and leptospirosis.  And believe you me, in spite of all the news about dengue deaths, many families continue to ignore the symptoms.

Pockets of stagnant waters, home to deadly mosquitoes, in communities are a common sight, too common that their presence are taken for granted.

I strongly suggest that barangay health workers conduct a door-to-door monitoring and education in populated areas to check if any family member suffered symptoms over the last 5 days. This way families are made aware of seriousness of dengue (and leptospirosis).

At the same time, I suggest barangay officials to adopt the preparation and distribution of BTI coconut bombs as a community project. These have been proven effective in neutralizing dengue.

With the expected increased frequency of habagat, typhoons aggravated by high tide, these two practices should be made a regular agenda of barangay councils- on top of the campaign against illegal drugs!

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RESTORE TOKHANG IN PANGASINAN. Speaking of illegal drugs, I note that the number of newly identified drug personalities appear to be increasing. Why so?

I believe this is because the fear and shame factors have diminished with the discontinuance of Oplan Tokhang in our barangays. We are back to cat-and-mouse game instead of self-regulation in our barangays. 

It is time to consider restoring the ‘tokhang’ approach in our barangays by our Barangay Anti-Drugs Advisory Council (BADAC) in Pangasinan in cooperation with the police.

The tokhang approach was effective until human rights groups pounced on it over a few incidents of clear abuses by errant law enforcers.  But note that tokhang was never declared illegal given its concept.

Tokhang as intended simply identifies suspected drug users and pushers, and representatives of barangays, police and NGOs visit them at their homes to be warned to the dangers of drug use and drug trade. Surely, no violence can be expected from that unless the visited suspect resents the visit and takes it against someone in the barangay. 

Two new attributes that can be added to a new tokhang in Pangasinan are: 1) A 5-minute pray-over by visiting team. 2) Provide a benefit that if a drug personality voluntarily confesses to being a drug user/pusher, he/she will not be arrested and will qualify to join a community-based rehabilitation program where a free training for livelihood can be provided.

The fear and shame factors that a drug personality will imbibe after tokhang will again greatly impact on the campaign… and save more families in the process.

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