THE JAPAN TRIP AND THE HONOR. Was it because of the Japan trip? The question, from Board Member Ranjit Ramos Shahani, direct but very relevant.

Though he didn’t appear combative as he is for, RRS, one of the very few bright boys in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, asked Board Member Alfie Bince, in a low voice, hardly discernible.

So it came to pass that with the erudite Bokal Bince as sponsor, Mr. Ryukichi Kawaguchi, a Japanese, one of the top executives of San Roque Power Corporation (SRPC) became an adopted son of Pangasinan. It was the first in the history of Pangasinan that a Japanee national became an adopted son.

Mr. Kawaguchi may have contributed something to Pangasinan by virtue of his position, something which his company pays for him to do so, but making him adopted son immediately after Pangasinan officials (the Gov., Vice Gov, Prov’l Legal Officer Dindin Baniqued, lawyer Verna Nava-Perez) were hosted in Japan by SRPC late last month for study tour, raised some eyebrows.

RRS contends that if it was because of the SRPC and the projects it did for Pangasinan, then shouldn’t the tribute be for the group of persons in the company and not for Mr. Kawaguchi alone? Or was it given because the Pangasinan’s top officials were hosted in Japan by SRPC? RRS asked.

Board Member Nino Arboleda also raised a valid point when Apo Bince said in his sponsorship speech, that “Kawaguchi was more Pangasinense than a lot of us”. Aray, anagasang met!

Lest I be misunderstood (again), I do not question the propriety of the Japan trip but the timing of the resolution. It’s not Mr. Kawaguchi’s fault that he was given this great honor, but obviously the timing is suspect. I wonder how many more foreigners in Pangasinan will be accorded same honor. Are there guidelines from the provincial board?— Tita Roces

 

WHAT’S THE SCORE IN OUR BARANGAYS? Read the news that 92 percent of the barangays in Metro Manila are now infected by illegal drugs. This is very disturbing since it is an indication that lawmen are losing in the war against illegal drugs.

Can this be said also in Dagupan City and Pangasinan?

It is about time, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) do a new profiling of the barangays in the province to find out if the same is true here.

The report of seeming endless arrests of suspected drug pushers by lawmen is an indication that they have done little against drug dealers.

A new strategy must be devised to stem the tide against drugs because even drug dealers who are now in the slammer in Muntinlupa are still able to continue their illegal business. Only in the Philippines.

It’s time to forget politics, and we have to join hands in stamping out illegal drugs. – Leonardo Micua

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