Think about it
Fish pens are anti-poor
By Jun Velasco
MAYOR Sammy Rosario of Binmaley has endeared poor fishermen in his lovely town for completely stopping the operations of fish pens, calling it anti-poor.
Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Eleazar Quinto has commended him for it, adding Sammy simply replicated what they started in Laguna Lake.
Earlier, education and civic leader Dominador Rayos denounced the unregulated proliferation of fish pens in Dagupan, as he chided the local Sanggunian’s over liberal attitude to this crime against marine wealth.
City Agriculturist Emma Molina has been issuing warnings against irresponsible fish pen operators, raising the question, are there responsible operators? Sammy said all fish pen operators will always be tempted to abuse, so why give them the opportunity?
Maybe she should attend a seminar from Sammy Rosario.
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A group of publishers came up by year end with a Who’s Who List on locals who made social impact last year on the national scene.
The PAPI’s list excluded politicians but put the spotlight on persons with proven, effective and result-oriented leadership and independence of mind.
Led by Bishop Cruz and businessman Joey de Venecia III of militant leadership fame, the list also picked Secretary Jun Ebdane, Secretary Francisco Duque III and Usec Bebot Villar who are known PGMA loyalists.
Television announcer Maki Pulido and lawyer Raul Lambino were picked for their omnipresence on TV while strong-willed Prosecutor Caridad Junio who makes criminals cower in fear is a fine choice.
Publishers Association of the Philippines in Northern Luzon czar Ruben Rivera, director of Diwa Salita at Gawa says these achievers will be cited at DSG’s 30th anniversary on Feb. 26.
Locals in the list include Director Westly Rosario, Judge Clifton Ganay, Police Station Chief Dionicio Borromeo, Provincial Information Officer Cesar Carpio and balikbayan-civic leader Alfredo Dawana.
These personas have made news reporting lively and the democratic debate vibrant.
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Speaker Joe de Venecia, for the information of local mediamen, was a former journalist, a champion winner during his college days of a world awardas editor of the Ateneo college paper.
The Pangasinan Press and Radio Club which invited JdV as guest of honor and speaker at its induction of officers may not know that the speaker was a news correspondent of this paper, columnist before he was 20 years old of the Philippines Herald.
The PPRC might not know that inducting officer, Mayor Al Fernandez was a radio station manager, radio announcer, and former vice president of the Tarlac Press and Radio Club.
Though non mediaman, Guv’nor Amado Espino Jr., was a student activist before a military career and politics swallowed him.
Joe de V was a fiery radio commentator that enraged the enemies of his candidate for governor, Dr. Francisco Duque Jr., and filed a libel suit against him. Those who are driving a wedge between the speaker and the Duques did not know about that durable friendship.
JdV founded the Radio Mindanao Network, Pan Asia News Alliance, Asian Forum and Asian Arab Forum, Data Fil and Asia Research Systems which we managed in the early 80’s,
JdV authored the law mandating the holding of high school press conferences to attract the young to the world of journalism.
But Joe found that politics was more in keeping with his passion to serve the biggest number of people. He ran for congress in l965 as an independent but lost.
He ran again in l969, and since then, has never been defeated in all his congressional fights except the l998 presidential race which was won by popular movie icon Erap Estrada who early on fell from grace.
Joe de V confesses that his journalistic career has given him expert grasp of issues and commanding view of community, national and world affairs.
In an unexpected turn of events, the real heart of Joe shone like A spark in a dark night when his son Joey slammed the world of compromise in favor of the truth and accountability.
(Readers may reach columnist at junmv@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)
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