Editorial
Relocating the Dagupan District Jail is urgent
AS Dagupan gets into a frenzy for the preparation of another grand Bangus Festival, the city government must not lose sight of one pressing issue that begs to be at the top of the priority list: the relocation of the district jail.
Efforts to promote this coastal city as a premier tourist destination would somehow be for naught if the Tondaligan Beach area, which is a declared national park, is stinking with the waste coming from the over-populated jail that has, as admitted by the jail warden himself, a defective sewer and sanitation system.
The waste and the stench is not just a threat to the city’s vulnerable tourism industry, it is also a major health hazard for the people, a menace to the fishing community that depends on the Lingayen Gulf for livelihood, and it could very well eventually taint the image of the Dagupan bangus, the city’s premier product known to be tastier than any other grown elsewhere.
The present city administration — led by Mayor Alipio Fernandez, with very proactive support from Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, the city council and the various departments — has been exhibiting an impressive performance in managing the city, it surely must possess the political will to find the funds and other resources needed to sort out this long-standing problem.
Vice Mayor Fernandez herself has said that a plan must be adopted “in the long term to protect the inmates, the city jail, tourism and health of our people.” Now that plan needs to be put into action immediately.
The case of Dagupan should serve as a lesson to other coastal towns in the province on how not to destroy the tourism industry. Officials and the people in the community must realize that every barangay sitting on a coastline has the potential to be a tourism destination.
Many beaches around the world are considered primary income generators that afford livelihood for entire communities. Their developments are more valuable than land destinations. Picking up on the lessons provided by Dagupan City, coastal towns should begin to study and draft plans for the development of their beach as tourist destinations.
There are plenty of data and experts available as resource within the government and non-government organizations. Effective planning today will yield enormous profits for the communities in no time.
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