By Gonzalo Duque

 

THE theatrics going on in both chambers of Congress are amusing me no end.

In the House of Representatives, the Committee on Accounts and its sub-committee, chaired by Rep. Terry Lidon is leading investigations relative to the use of flood control funds.

I presume that Senator Rodante Marcoleta, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, will lead the same investigation in the Senate.

Even before such investigations take place, the players, namely Rep. Joel Chua and company, are already laying the blame on the Senate, led by Senate President Chiz  Escudero, making it appear that the latter, in conspiracy with some contractors, cornered a lot of contracts with the government.

The word war has started between the House of the Senate  and the House of Representatives, which has already taken root in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Rep. Sandro Marcos, the House of Representatives majority floor leader, says it all, and I quote: “We cannot investigate ourselves and therefore should let these investigations be done through an independent commission, such as the one being offered by Baguio Mayor Benjie Magalong.”

Mayor Magalong has volunteered to head the independent commission for as long as it is given the proper power and authority to do so.

Who will authorize him? The two houses can do so by a vote.

But I think we are asking for the moon.

I am starting to like Mayor Benjie Magalong, a fellow Pangasinense, to throw his hat into the presidential race in 2028 if Sara does not run, or if finally convicted in her impeachment case.

Maybe Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto can aspire for the vice presidency in tandem with Magalong, or go for the Senate in 2028.

Other people may be considered for the Senate in the likes of Rowena Guanzon, Vice Mayor Harold Respecio of Isabela,  Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, our very own Atty. Raul Lambino, Ms. Heidi  Mendoza, and of course, my favorite bible-quoting senator, Alan Peter Cayetano.

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I find it funny that detractors of Mayor Belen Fernandez have relentlessly and endlessly blamed the flooding in Dagupan City on her.

Looking back at our history, we have been visited by a lot of devastating floods in the past.

In 1935, the Franklin Bridge that used to link the Dagupan downtown area to Barrio Calmay and Carael was washed out, together with the Saint Albertus Magnus College, the first sectarian school ever put up here. 

There were other big floods that came, especially in 1972, when all of Luzon, including Manila, was submerged in floodwaters due to almost three months of rain.  

We know for a fact that Dagupan sits one meter below sea level. 

It has become even worse when the devastating earthquake of July 16, 1990 struck us.

Because of the natural phenomenon called liquefaction, we sank further down. 

Let us not kid ourselves. All of us know that the flooding in our city will never stop for so many reasons other than those I stated.

If we blame Belen for all the flooding in Dagupan, we might as well blame her too for all the flooding in Bulacan, Pampanga, and Metro Manila.

But where do all these lead us? Nothing!

What we need is to address the preparedness of our barangays in case more floodings occur.

Mayor Belen was not wanting to do so. More blame? Itaga mo sa bato!

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