It’s not all’s well that ends well

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

I welcome the news that residents of Sitio Camangaan in Barangay Mayombo in Dagupan finally relented and decided to help prosecute their neighbors who stole Dagupan Electric’s transformer that delivered electricity to their community.

It took Decorp to see beyond political implications of its move to deny the community electric service if the residents didn’t cooperate to make them see the light (forgive the pun). That the residents even took them some time to realize that protecting criminals in their midst was against the whole community’s interests and welfare, made me pause and wonder what has become of our communities.

I could not but wonder if our famed bayanihan spirit had already taken a different context, a 180 degree turn,  for our communities – that it’s no longer about helping others but simply looking out for one’s self. What could have possibly transformed us from a caring people to being numb and indifferent?

Could it be because our people no longer depend on our law enforcers to protect them against criminals in their midst? Or that life has become so difficult that it’s now every man for himself  without regard to the general welfare of the community?

This is a situation that the Dagupan City government and similarly situated local governments must seriously look into. With an indifferent populace, it’s no wonder that killings are not solved, pilferage of electric and communication equipment continue with impunity, etc.

The Filipino’s bayanihan spirit is dying right before our eyes-and nobody seems to care.

In this case, it isn’t  all’s well that ends well.

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GUV SPINE’S FEARLESS  FORECAST. We have yet to hear from Guv. Spines on what the provincial  government intends to do about its standing notoriety, for having the third most number of illegal open dumpsites in the country.

He can continue to boast of a robust economy in the province under his stewardship but all that braggadocio is meaningless in the face of the daily serious threats to health being faced by Pangasinenses across the province.

He can hem and hew, pretend that these dumpsites don’t exist but when these finally cave in and epidemic strikes, I wonder if he can still claim credit for the province’s robust growth.

Time to act, and fast Mr. Governor! You forecast a year for the province to recover economically, our people wonder what your fearless forecast is for their protection against worsening pollution in the province.

(Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/punchline/
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