Punchline
Golfer Spines vs. politicos
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
THE brouhaha over the “mining” issue at the eco-tourism zone is nothing but that – a brouhaha! From where I am perched, the zone is being mined (not merely a pun but a fact) by those who are desperate for political brownie points, worse by those who do not and cannot see beyond what is, and what should be.
I visited the controversial site last week to see for myself how the development of the area is proceeding. It was then that I believe I saw the golfer in Guv Spines coming to fore. It was obvious there is no, and there never was a mining activity in the zone but simply a dream golf course in the making. But to my chagrin, work in the area has come to a halt because of the cease and desist order issued by DENR on account of initial protests that stemmed from a misrepresentation of the activities in the area by some politicos. This was followed by the no-brainer case filed by Bayan Muna Rep. partylist Rep. Teddy Casiño against the provincial government.
One can easily have an idea of how the planned golf fairways and greens at the zone will eventually shape up by a mere cursory view of the manicured lawns inside the Capitol grounds. One could have mistaken the Capitol grounds as a short executive 9-hole course if putting greens were in place. Without a doubt, it is certainly what a fairway should look like, not a bit like the “fairways” of the present Dagupan golf course. I am certain that if only the local golfers that play at the Dagupan course had their way, they, too, would have the course’s “fairways” dug up and refilled them with fertile soil just as Golfer Spines had done at the zone. And when they do, I doubt if the politicos would accuse the club of small-mining even if the presence of black sand is detected. In brief, the small-mining issue came about only because Golfer Spines is a governor who has the sole authority to issue permits for small-mining.
It is another classic case of 1+1=3!
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My appreciation of the planned golf course became unshakeable when I caught sight of a man-made-lagoon and other areas marked for construction around the supposed “mining” area. It is unmistakably meant as one of the water hazards for the 18-hole golf course! Wow…finally competitive golfers will face the challenge posed by real wide water hazards unlike the imaginary water hazards outlined by white painted rocks at the Dagupan golf course.
So if Dagupan Golf Club members want a golf course they can boast to friends here and overseas, they ought to stage a Noynoying protest in front of the DENR and Ombudsman offices.
And unless Rep. Casiño and his ilk can prove that black sand is ideal to grow trees and grass on, I suggest he drops the complaint pronto and moves on to other provinces where irresponsible small-mining is tolerated in return for huge kickbacks. I’m afraid he’s bound to lose a lot of political support in this vote-rich province if he continues to block the development of the zone as a primary tourist destination that will help boost the local economy.
The DENR can also do the province a great favor if it lifts the CDO while the provincial government is completing the requirements needed for the release of the permits. The lapse on the part of some capitol officials in observing the correct protocol has already a humbling lesson to many but this should not be used by Golfer Spines’ detractors to delay the development of the golf course and other attractions in the zone.
Should a costly impasse remain because of some legal gobbledygook, I urge the Golfer Spines to shuttle the avid golfers in both the DENR and the Ombudsman’s Office to the site and so they can attest to the truth that, yes, there is a 5-star golf course waiting to be completed, and not a black sand mining activity as suspected, in the province’s eco-tourism zone.
In this issue, I must say – Let the politicos do their worst, let the Golfer Spines do his best! (I’ve had and still have some serious issues with Guv Spines over some of his policies but his vision for the eco-tourism zone, I must say, deserves every Pangasinense’s support).
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RIGHT PRIORITIES. The experts from Philvolcs and the Mines and Geo-Sciences hit the nail on the head when they advised Dagupan City officials not to prioritize the construction of the Tsunami Hill at the Pugaro Island.
The were unanimous in their recommendation that efforts should be made instead to educate, train and drill residents in the city, not just the island barangays, on various responses in the event of another intensity 7.5 earthquake and/or a tsunami charging towards the coastline.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council should be funded initially to identify areas and buildings that are most vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunami, then identify ideal refuge areas. It should be followed by constant drills in case of a tsunami occurrence without factoring in the Hill.
Why should the Tsunami Hill be the very last option? Working on a worst scenario basis, the bandied Tsunami Hill may just be the first to collapse if an earthquake shakes it up. Or the Hill could quickly disintegrate or crumble once the surging waves hit it.
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To my mind, the most practical education yet to prepare residents for a tsunami is to teach them how to swim to safety if caught in the raging waters. In other words, residents, particularly children, must be taught how to swim above all!
The estimated P4 million initially budgeted for the construction of the base of the Hill, therefore, will go a long way in educating and instructing residents on the proper responses to emergencies like earthquake, severe flooding and tsunami.
Let’s get our priorities right. First, research on vulnerable areas; second, educate, train and drill residents, then finally construct refuge centers, not even necessarily the Tsunami Hill.
It’s the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council that’s on track! Other town and city councils should follow suit.
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BEBOT, ANOTHER TOUGH PUNCHER. It’s a pleasure and a privilege to have the irrepressible, tough-talking Bebot Villar as the newest addition to the PUNCH family. He’s exactly the kind of guy who says it like it is, and knows when and how to deliver a knockout PUNCH. Move over, Tulfo Brothers!
So many things have been said and written about Bebot, some flattering some demeaning to his persona, but there’s no better way to know him up close than to read his mind, hence, his weekly Deretsahan!
Between Bebot’s Taglish format, Gonz’s Panglish items and purist English of Al, Jun V and myself, The PUNCH expands its reach to all Pangasinenses wherever and whoever they are…and that’s what community journalism is all about. And, with our print and online versions of each issue, no Pangasinense will ever be far away from home.
To our loyal PUNCH readers, the best is yet to come… stick around!
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