For the islands’ sake

IT is no secret that Governor Amado Espino Jr. and Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza are not the best of political friends. They have publicly locked horns over several issues, including the distribution of shotguns to barangay kapitans and the illegal numbers game jueteng. But they have not always been enemies, having once shared an alliance as supporters of then President Fidel V. Ramos. They have other things in common. Both Espino and Braganza have proven themselves among the most determined and hardworking local government officials that Pangasinan has seen who earnestly want to implement developments in the province.

And now would be a good time for them to show that they can be true gentlemen public servants who can set aside differences and work together for a shared interest: protecting the Hundred Islands National Park, the tourism pride and joy of not just Alaminos but Pangasinan as a whole.

There is nothing wrong with the provincial government’s intent to investigate what their aerial photos show to be seemingly uncontrolled proliferation of fishponds in one part of the Hundred Islands Park, which is a declared protected area under a national law. But the governor and his administration need to demonstrate that they are sincere in wanting to look into and resolve the situation rather than being just on a fault-finding mission against Braganza on the issue. As it is now, Espino and his team do not look too good by grand public pronouncements insinuating wrongdoing to the extent of saying that they will go to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Tourism to make inquiries. Before they go looking that far, it makes logical sense to first turn to Braganza because the Hundred Islands is managed and supervised by the local government and the community of Alaminos.

When the administration of Braganza took over the reins from the Philippine Tourism Authority, the Hundred Islands was in such sad decay not just in terms of tourism facilities but more alarmingly its ecological state. No one can contest that major improvements on both fronts were successfully achieved by the LGU under Braganza through a comprehensive and community-based environmental protection program. Why would Braganza compromise the city’s accomplishments over those fishponds if he could do something about it?

For all Espino knows, he could be the hero that Braganza has long been waiting for to help him deal with the fishpond operators that Branganza acknowledges have long been there and do hold government-issued contracts. The provincial government and the local government of Alaminos must sort this out together, not against each other. They have a common enemy. And they need only think of one motivation: For the sake of the precious Hundred Islands.

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