By Eva C. Visperas

 

FOR two weeks now, I couldn’t help but overthink and wonder about the approved Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution authorizing Gov. Monmon Guico to negotiate and enter into a loan agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines in the whooping amount of six billion pesos (P6-B).

Yes, mga Marites at Tolits, you read it right. It’s P6-billion for 21 infrastructure projects under Gov. Guico’s term.

Don’t judge quickly. Wag judger, as our bagets say it now in their lingo.

Unlike Whitney Houston’s popular song “All At Once”, this P6-B loan will be under the terms and conditions of the Omnibus Term Loan Facility (credit line).

In short, hindi minsanang bagsak yan.

*          *          *          *

After returning to my mainstream media work last month, one thing I missed doing is to cover the SP sessions in Lingayen.

To be modest about it, I believe I had attended more regular Monday sessions there than some of the provincial board members did, especially during the Espinos’ (father and son) gubernatorial stints.

Even as a neophyte reporter then some 30 years ago, I had been covering the SP sessions and I had learned a lot from the wisdom, intelligence, wit, rebuttals of the SP members.

I sorely missed the days when our honorable members of the provincial board really studied their work well, came always prepared during discussions on the floor and actively participated.

Ang gagaling nila. Bakbakan sa bakbakan. Ang tatalino nila noon. Mapapa-wow ka sa galing nila. 

Take the batch of then Vice Gov. Gonz Duque with Board Members Romy de Leon, Bobby Ferrer, Editha Demetria, Dionisio Antiniw, Bobby Sison, Toti Baraan, Atty. Luis Serafica and their other batchmates. Of course, I remember, too, the articulate BM Johnny Amor. Magaling din sya. It was always an exciting weekly session for media coverage, too. 

Also during the term of then vice governors Ranjit Shahani, Victor Agbayani, Oscar Lambino, also with Ferdie Calimlim na e-excite pa rin akong mag-cover.

Little by little, as years went on, nauubos na ang mga media na nagtya-tyagang mag-cover, maybe for loss of interest, hanggang ako na lang or two more ang laging present. 

Good thing my good friend, the longest serving and tagged then as the eternal board member Alfie Bince, may his soul rest in peace, was there for several terms, and showed the mettle of a true legislator/fiscalizer. As a journalist, he was my forever idol.

But wonder of wonders, the P6-billion loan was recently passed by the SP seamless. Walang kahirap-hirap. Ni hindi inabot ng 30 minutes discussion given that gargantuan amount involved.

So mapapa-isip ka talaga. Walang objection? Wala po.

Ganun kaganda ang relasyon ng legislative at executive branches ng ating provincial government? 

Sort of.  Kinda. Obviously.

Oh, by the way, Board Member Vici Ventanilla and Vice Gov. Mark Lambino authored jointly that historic resolution. First time na mangyari yan sa Pangasinan na ganyan kalaking amount ang i-lo-loan!

Kung panahon yan nina Atty. Gonz, or Ranjit, maghahalo ang balat sa tinalupan bago yan maaprubahan!

Siguradong mai-inggit ang ibang LGUs how Pangasinan did it this time.

Talagang Pangasinan ang galing ano? Parang ganun nga. Bawal mag-isip ng nega!

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