We ain’t seen nothing yet

By Ermin F. Garcia Jr.

Typhoons come and go in Pangasinan. They have come with such regularity  that most of us have stopped being too overly concerned with each storm alert raised.

“So how  will  this next typhoon hurt me?” is  how we meet news of a storm headed in our direction. But I guess that attitude is now tempered by ‘Cosme’ who showed us that we ain’t seen nothing yet, and what nature’s wrath is all about.

Metro Manilans learned their lesson some two years ago about need for  preparation and taking a storm  alert seriously.  Typhoon Milenyo lashed at the metro with more than 150 kph wind and I recall how Metro  Manilans looked so helplessly  when they were suddenly homeless, thrown into pitch darkness for  two nights  while some areas were waterless  fordays. You can be sure lessons were learned.

Last  week we underestimated Cosme’s fury and we ended up losing lives and valued properties, not to mention precious investments. We didn’t care enough.

Next  time you hear or read a storm alert, there’s everything to gain  by making the whole  family keep track of the predicted time, strength and path of the storm until it exits the region.

The lives and properties you save may be yours!

*** 

RP  IS OVERCROWDED WITH INT’L AIRPORTS. Last week, I read a commentary published in the Phil. Daily Inquirer  titled “Surplus of airports amid food deficit’.

I thought it was a timely piece and a “must-read”  for our  elected officials who insist on hosting an airport in their respective turfs. (To read the full article, go to  Inquirer.net and Google ‘Ernesto M. Pernia’ on ‘Search Inquirer’).

The article sought answers to questions why President Arroyo prioritized the construction of  another international airport in Panglao Island in Bohol.

Here are some salient points raised in that column for us in Pangasinan to ponder:

1. The country has nine under-utilized international airports ( Laoag, Clark,

     Subic, NAIA, Iloilo, Mactan, Davao, General Santos, Zamboanga, and planned

    upgrading Cagayan de Oro’s domestic airport). 

2.   Philippines already has more international airports than Thailand and

     Malaysia in spite of the fact that we have much lower tourist arrivals         

     compared to them.

3.   Philippines with its 9 international airports has the smallest land area

      among the four countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and RP), the least                  number of tourists, a GDP per capita just slightly above Indonesia’s which                       is the lowest, and the highest poverty incidence (percent of population     

     below the official poverty line).

4.  An additional international airport will be superfluous, a misallocation of 

     resources and a sheer waste of scarce investible funds in a poor country.                    Why not improve on other basic infrastructure and social services that    

     otherwise “remain inadequate while one of three Filipinos exists in deep                      and grinding poverty!”

4. There exists “increasing supply-demand imbalances and ecological  

     instability,  highlighted by the global food crisis, inexorable rise in oil prices

     and climate  change” that would certainly adversely affect international travel

    and tourism.

      ***

I can only add one argument to Mr. Pernia’s.

No airline has come forward to say the Pangasinan route would be profitable and is prepared to commit itself to will fly to and fro Pangasinan once an international airport is built.

Until the facts change, this obsession over an international airport should remain a worthwhile dream while we keep those lands intended for the airports as rice fields.

(Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/punchline/
For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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