Good, better, best

ONE vital mark of a local government unit’s growth is its capacity to learn from previous mistakes and implement policies and programs that will ensure that those past errors are not repeated.

By that simple standard, we say kudos to the provincial government under Governor Amado Espino Jr. for its vigilance and efforts during typhoons “Pepeng” and “Quiel” in the third quarter of the year to ensure that the devastating flood that Typhoon “Pepeng” brought in 2009 would not happen again. Although parts of the province still went underwater during those back-to-back typhoons that poured in big volumes of water within a span of one week, which means that there is much more that needs to be done by officials at the capitol and those in the municipalities and cities – and it could be done, unless our politicians never really want to learn the lessons of the past.

One other issue that continued to haunt Pangasinan this year is the drive-by murders perpetrated by men riding in tandem on motorcycles. Much has been pronounced by authorities about stopping these hired killings, but we have yet to see the end.

With the closing of the year, we join the people of Pangasinan in a prayer of gratefulness for all that was good in 2011, in hopefulness for all that can still be made better, and in diligence towards trying to become the best.

*     *     *     *      *     *

Only God knows

STORM “Sendong” killed nearly a thousand of our countrymen in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in Mindanao, and in Dumaguete in the Visayas.  The death toll was worse than those recorded in typhoons “Ondoy” in 2009 (400-plus casualties) and “Pedring” and “Quiel” early this year (400-plus dead).

Again, there is so much finger-pointing.  The blame game is on.  Even PNoy drew flak for attending a Christmas party while thousands mourned the death of their kin in the deadliest calamity in years hitting the southern part of the country.

But while it’s almost absolutely true that indiscriminate mining and logging activities could be the twin culprits to this tragedy, let’s put aside fault-finding, and even bickering, and instead, let’s do our share in extending help to our suffering brethren.

It is Christmas and why this tragedy should happen at such a supposed joyous season, only God knows.  Let us pray.

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments