Editorial
A job for would-be heroes
There are priorities and there are priorities. Understandably, for both the national and the local governments, priorities are determined mostly by what are deemed politically correct because justifications are aplenty albeit mostly recycled.
And which issue easily gets to the top of the heap for political consumption? Poverty. Fighting poverty to be precise.
And what does it take to fight poverty? The government’s economic consultants with political savvy provide the spiel so convoluted that even media would have difficulty putting a finger on it. And that’s when our politicians go to town with their lip service to their freshly re-engineered war against poverty. The less people understand, the better. This way, no political will from any politician need to be demonstrated.
Ironically, the single issue that aggravates if not directly causes poverty is environmental degradation. Regrettably, it will never make it to the top of the list of priorities because this is one issue where unwavering and uncompromising political will is a prerequisite.
Definitely, a job for would-be heroes.
Yet today, it no longer takes one to be a rocket scientist to know and understand what degradation of the sea, pollution of the rivers and air, wanton and indiscriminate destruction of forests disposal of waste, do to those who have less in life. Their access to food is cut and they are vulnerable to all forms of diseases that they can ill-afford to be treated. People die by the hundreds each time calamity strikes because the environment can no longer offer the natural protection it was meant to provide.
Political will is a requisite because strict enforcement of laws will mean a running battle with the rich and powerful, they who are either political campaign funders or have strings “upstairs” to pull. It is deemed politically suicidal to banish or prosecute violators who represent big chunk of votes.
So who needs to prioritize environment? Hardly anyone. Yet these are the times when our people urgently need new heroes from both the public and private sectors to lead the war to protect and preserve whatever is left of our environment, for it is the source of life on earth.
Yes, Pangasinan needs new heroes in the 21st century. It would, indeed, be significant for the province if Gov. Amado Espino Jr. would be the first to step up to the plate this year, to lead political forces in a never ceasing war against those who exploit, plunder and waste the province’s environment.
