Maramba Blvd., still seedy

By Gerry Garcia

IT’S not from tradition that a newly elected mayor of a town or city draws the gall to change the face of the incumbent police chief he does not like. More often it is personal or political, to be more exact. And it certainly is not keeping pace with basic police role of being a firm incorruptible enforcer of the law.

But police Regional Director Leopoldo Bataoil, always the impartial judge of what is fair and not fair, if quick to suggest it’s the prerogative of new officials about to assume office to seek change of faces in police leadership… only if done according to PNP law.

Under PNP law, Chief Supt Bataoil said, secretly pleased, the local chief executive must select from among five names of officers to be recommended by the police provincial director. Bataoil, evidently, is fully aware of the vast gap separating the police mindset from that of a trapo, veteran or neophyte.

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It’s the season of fires again. Dagupan fire authorities, presumably made more wary of the city’s  proneness to conflagration arising from the uncontrolled mushrooming of slum shanties and student boarding houses, would better start the ball rolling for establishment inspections, with special stress on a basic requirement — the fire extinguisher, the first line of defense  against a small fire that could build up to a conflagration. Second vital requirement is the fire-exit, especially when access to it is barred by locked doors or no doors at all.

In this city there are areas or neighborhoods with houses so packed together that roads leading to them are either too narrow or non-existent, giving no chance for coming fire-trucks to get through.

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There are tourist – attracting areas in Lingayen in need of development but are seemingly ignored, like the lengthy Maramba Boulevard leading to the imposing provincial capitol.

Proof of the boulevard’s being inadequately maintained is the absence or scarcity of people coming to the Maramba Park or Boulevard to seek fun or relaxation, especially on week end days. At the San Carlos City plaza, folks and visitors are found every night not only on Sundays because the plaza is attractive and well-kept. The children’s playground is always filled with kids, including the circular skating rink in the middle of the plaza.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/here-and-there/)

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