Can’t blame nature

YET again, a fishkill.

This time the damage is estimated to be about P300 million, not far from the P400 million that Pangasinan’s fish industry suffered three years ago. And that is only counting the value of the fish that were killed. What could be the cost of the potential income that other fish farmers and vendors have lost — are losing — as consumers shy away from bangus until they can be sure that none of the fishkill variety could possibly have been mixed with the unsullied ones?

While the triggering cause of the disaster is natural — a neap tide where water remains almost completely stagnant, following the abrupt change of water parameters after the sudden heavy rains brought by Typhoon “Chedeng” that changed the temperature of the water from low to very high — it is the fish farmers themselves and local government officials who are largely to blame.

The scientific causes of the fish kill are known, can be predicted and ample warning given out. But without strictly regulating activities on fish pen and cage breeding, the catastrophe will just keep on happening.

The damage to environment and people are well established but evidently the lure of bribe money and greed are much too strong to resist.  Fish kill has simply become another addition to statistical and empirical data, nothing else.  Just another tale of greed and corruption.

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No smoking

P-NOY’S first move of note as President was to do away with the wang wang (siren), that gadget used to shoo away vehicles blocking the path of the president’s car. We applauded because, finally, here’s a Chief Executive who would disrobe himself of power perks.

But then, the cracks showed.

He did nothing to avert the Luneta hostage tragedy that killed eight Hong Kong tourists.  He bought a Porsche.  Then he didn’t relieve Totoy Diokno, who was remiss in his duties as Bureau of Corrections chief.

This week, the law on no smoking in public places was revived.

P-Noy smokes.  Will he be exempted and smoke in Malacanang and at Pangarap House (his official residence), both public places? He should really quit the habit for his own health.

It’s been almost a year since we last clapped.

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