THE report from the Provincial Health Office that the number of active cases Pangasinan last week has shown a continuing decline is certainly encouraging and gives hope to our families to celebrate the Christmas holiday like we always did in the past.

And, the fact that relatives and friends from other provinces can already enter our borders with just the presentation of vaccine cards and IDs tells us that reunions will be plentiful.

The only sour note today is the continued inability of Pangasinenses to travel back and forth from Metro Manila by commercial bus. The Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board still refuses to lift the imposition that buses ferrying Pangasinenses will still have to end and start at the North Luzon Express Terminal in Bocaue town in Bulacan.

The IATF then found reason to pass Resolution 101 to discourage travel between regions, and LTFRB found it necessary to impose restrictions to support the IATF resolution. But Pangasinan and Metro Manila are already on Alert Level 2, an indication that the factors invoked when Metro Manila was under ECQ-MECQ and Pangasinan was under GCQ-MGCQ are no longer present.

Health Secretary and IATF chairman Francisco Duque III, a Pangasinense has since found reason to withdraw the IATF resolution but DOTr-LTFRB is opposing it. Why?? The only plausible reason could be DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade’s desire to help owners of the Bocaue terminal continue earning from bus companies that are required to pay parking fees.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. cannot and must not allow DOTr/LTFRB to continue to discriminate against Pangasinan while allowing other provinces to resume normal travel conditions. The buck stops at his desk. Pangasinan must push back DOTr/LTFRB.

Coddling?

THE disqualification case against Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is a serious matter.  But, seemingly, not to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).  The issue needs urgent attention because at stake is Mr. Marcos’  bid for the presidency, the highest position of the land.  Time is of the essence here.  The May 2022 election isn’t that far from the voter’s radar. Knowing the psyche of the Filipino, his presidential choice could already be in the works.  So, what’s delaying Comelec from acting on the cases filed?  Better yet, what’s stopping Comelec from acting with dispatch?  The issue is not as complex as the Edsa traffic.  It’s about a candidate convicted of tax evasion by a court in 1982-85, and  the law mandates the candidate as “perpetually disqualified” to be either elected or appointed to a public office.  Even a toddler can understand that fully well.  Comelec coddling Mr. Marcos?

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