By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

LUCKY for the Fernandez administration. Just when it thought it had to start all over again to look for another worthy alternative to the lost Sure Global deal for the ideal waste-to-energy project, now comes Holcim with its magic wand.

Holcim Philippines’ project proposal can still help end the 60-year-old garbage problem of Dagupan though not overnight but at least the city doesn’t spend a single peso.

Holcim, manufacturer of Portland Cement of Holcim brand based in Bulacan, presented a timely alternative, perhaps not as ideal as the aborted $15 million Waste to Energy project with Sure Global but still certainly a big plus.

Holcim can still help Dagupan obtain zero waste through its cement kiln co-processing by converting plastic wastes from the households in the dumpsite into alternative fuel that can be used for production of cement.

With Holcim, much of the sight of the filthy mounds at the dumpsite will soon disappear because the garbage will be compacted at no costs to the city government, and delivered to Holcim. But unlike the Sure Global deal that presented an opportunity for the city to earn from the alternative fuel, there is no additional benefit to the city except to make the dumpsite irrelevant and vanish.

Hey, that’s good enough. But still,  easier said than done for the city.

Since wastes useful to Holcim for compacting are limited, the participation of barangays and commercial establishments is, therefore,  crucial. The barangay councils must commit to implementing strict segregation of wastes in our communities with only one motive: to make sure that the deal with Holcim holds!

It’s about teaching and practicing discipline in the segregation of wastes!

This motivation and subsequent strict compliance will lead to more benefits not only seeing and feeling discipline in the community, but promoting individual discipline to obey rules, regulations and policies.

So, the city must not lose this deal with Holcim.

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NEVER FORGET. Lest people forget it was the petty politics of then Mayor Brian Lim and his cohorts that included Councilor Red Erfe-Mejia that pushed back the progress of the city in environmental preservation and protection.

Mr. Lim ignored the city government’s commitment to the Sure Global company all because  it was negotiated and agreed to by her predecessor at the time, Belen Fernandez.  That was enough to make Sure Global to back out.

He didn’t show the least appreciation of what benefits that the partnership holds for the city.  If he and Mr. Erfe-Mejia  only cared to apply  some strategic political common sense, they  could have taken full credit of the expected success of the project since it could have taken off with them at the helm. But I guess it was too much to expect that from people with parochial mindset.

In sharp contrast, Mayor Belen had the foresight to continue the Bangus Festival and promoted Dagupan Bangus conceptualized by her predecessor at the time, Mayor Benjie Lim. And, her efforts to even add more highlights to the event paid off well.  Ask Dagupeños on the streets and they will tell you they are not even aware that Bangus Festival was the brainchild of Mayor BSL! They think it’s Mayor Belen’s initiative.

The Brian Lim-Red Erfe-Mejia political partnership definitely wronged Dagupan City in a worst possible way –  to keep the dumpsite a living hell for the Dagupeños!

Never forget!

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OUR COVID HEROES. There was a news last week about the “Black Hearts Day Protest “ rally staged by health workers in front of the Department of Health office in Manila.

It appears our Covid frontliners, they whom we lionized as heroes, continue to be deprived not only of what’s due them but what was promised to them in 2022 – Allowances for Covid -19 frontliners!

Did the provincial government forget, too, to provide the frontliners, particularly those who kept active watch over patients confined at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the incentives they deserved?

It behooves the Guico administration to look into our frontliners situation. They don’t deserve to be treated like nuisance characters asking for their benefits simply because the  pandemic is long gone.

They are heroes.

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ANOTHER HUMILIATION AHEAD. So Mayor Belen Fernandez is keen on appearing before the SP committee to defend the 2024 budget nest week.

Personally, I don’t understand why she continues to give the 7 epaLiFes the opportunity to humiliate her person and her office then does nothing to push them back.

If she agrees to still have the department heads to appear before and after own appearance, does she realize that she’s allowing herself to be treated like just another department head? Where’s City Legal Officer Atty. AuroraValle?

Coming out from that hearing, she cannot complain how she and her office was disrespected.  She knew what was coming to her, and still she went.

I can only say, she asked for it.

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LIVING LEGACY FOR LIFE. The opening of the Pangasinan Polytechnic College bodes well for the Guico administration.

The courses that PPC will offer sets it apart from the traditional educational centers in the country. In fact, it is the same vision that DepEd’s K to 12 program started with but failed.

The future successful graduates of the college’s courses will be the living individual legacy of Gov. Mon-mon for life.

It’s off to a good start, let’s pray he and his future successors will keeps his vision for the thousands of financially challenged young alive!

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Personal Values to live by.

And no man is to be reverenced more than the Truth. – Socrates

The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil mem – Plato

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his own soul – Mark 8:36

 To God be the Glory.

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