Endings

 

TYPHOON Yolanda, having struck at the tail end of the year and leaving devastation so extensive even by international disaster benchmarks, will perhaps go down as the one event that we will collectively remember about 2013. And not forgetting is a good thing. But what is even better is learning. One of the most important lessons that the Yolanda story has pounded on us is the value of disaster-preparedness at the local level. Local governments can no longer take it for granted that their towns and cities will be safe from natural calamities. The officials elected or re-elected in the polls just last May must make it a priority to have plans in place, perhaps undertake practice drills, to minimize losses, in life especially, should the next disaster come their town’s way.

The Pangasinan government under Gov. Amado Espino Jr. has proven its competence in planning, organizing, and implementing the provincial disaster risk-reduction program. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council must now reinforce links with their counterparts at the municipal and city levels so that together they can find ways that will further strengthen the system to protect Pangasinenses, especially those in areas most vulnerable to calamities. Politics is perhaps the biggest threat to a unified disaster-preparedness program, just as we have seen how politics can rear its ugliest head even in the aftermath of such a tragedy as Yolanda. Can our local government leaders show that they can rise above that?

Not to forget that 2013 was also the year that the pork barrel ended, thanks in large part to a public across the country, including in Pangasinan, that stood up to be heard that this nation is tired of such a long history of corruption. It is one small victory in the protracted battle towards achieving a real transparent government. But that is one victory that we must keep in mind as a motivating force to continue to push for good governance.

Here’s a wish for a transparent and calamity-free 2014 from your Sunday PUNCH family. Be safe.

 

*          *          *          *          *          *

Hearsay

 

AFTER the long-overdue resignation of Customs chief Ruffy Biazon comes “an expose” that a certain David Tan had allegedly made a P6-billion payoff to Customs officials over the last 36 months or so as hush money for rice smuggling.  The Inquirer expose last week said it was Tan who centralized payoffs to Customs big shots the last two years—or during Biazon’s watch.

This is serious, coming at a time when Biazon is supposed to have found peace following his departure from admittedly the country’s most corrupt government agency.  The “expose” comes allegedly from a retired “Customs official” who, the Inquirer said, refuses to be identified.  Any Tom, Dick & Harry can also do the same—and get away with it.  In short, such expose is unverifiable. In the absence of solid proof and incontrovertible evidence, an expose is just that—an expose.  Nothing but air.  Plain gobbledygook.

How can one start an investigation from mere hearsay?

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments