Holy or holiday?

WHILE workers in predominantly Catholic Philippines were already swinging into either holy or holiday mood last Wednesday afternoon with most offices already on a half-day work schedule leading up to the long weekend up to Easter Sunday, there was still apprehension in the air at the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Dagupan.

At 5 p.m. the previous day, Tuesday, notices were sent to the councilors for a special session to take up City Hall’s proposed P47 million supplemental budget, of which almost P40 million was to be sourced from the still legally questionable sale of the MC Adore property for P119 million. To comply with the 24-hour notice to every SP member for special sessions, the council would have had to meet at 5 p.m. of Holy Wednesday, previously known as “Spy Wednesday” as it was the day when Judas Iscariot sold Jesus Christ for 20 pieces of silver.

As it turned out, even the supposedly strong majority of the SP backing Mayor Benjamin Lim could not muster a quorum. Only seven out of nine majority members showed up. Could it have been because some of them have taken on a holy mood? Or simply already in holiday mode?

And so the supplemental budget, fortunately for Dagupeños, remains to be battled over. But knowing the Lim administration, it will continue to call for special session until its proposal with all its infirmities is passed.

Meanwhile, here’s wishing a meaningful Easter to Dagupan and the rest of Pangasinan.

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Right direction

THE last tally of squatter-families in Metro Manila was 104,219.  Some 19,440 of them have been listed as living along eight waterways comprising the rivers of San Juan, Pasig and Tullahan, Maricaban Creek, Manggahan Floodway and the esteros of Tripa Gallina, Maypajo and Sunog Apog. Some P10 billion will be spent for their relocation into their permanent houses away from their shantytowns, and provisions for livelihood centers and non-displacement from basic services. President Aquino has allocated another P10 billion for 2014 to sustain the program.  Actually, a total of P50 billion has been earmarked by the President to totally eradicate squatting in the Big City by 2016, the year when his six-year term ends.

It is a step towards the right direction.  No President has ever initiated such an ambitious action.  Let’s wish the President well.

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