WHEN ALL THE TREES ARE GONE – With highway widening projects now being implemented right and left –at least those that were started prior to the ban on public works projects in view of the coming election – many decades-old trees will again be certainly sacrificed and cut down till perhaps there will is no more tree left on the roadside.

These trees give shade and comfort to weary travelers from the hot noon day sun, especially during summer and it is a pity that they will soon be cut down. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) already applied for a tree cutting permit prior to the widening of the San Fernando-Dagupan road.

The rich don’t care if the trees are cut down since they are comfortable inside expensive SUVs anyway, but the poor like us who can’t afford to own SUVs and ride air-conditioned buses will certainly suffer if all those tree covers are finally gone.

If the trees only can talk and shed tears, they would appeal for mercy from the merciless cutters who incidentally include officials and employees of DPWH as well as those of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, who by the way, were sworn by law to protect trees, and those officials and former officials who consort with the cutters and support their misdeeds.

Many of these people may have forgotten that trees can save lives, that is why we are not in conformity with another massacre of trees in Pangasinan. We share the view of environmentalists that there may be some other ways to prosecute road projects without sacrificing the trees that are our friends and not foes. – Leonardo Micua

 

FIREMEN VS. RALLYISTS – Bombero, bombero, may sunog? Saan, saan sa eskwelahan?

Sing it to the tune of a popular kiddie Pinoy song sung during playtime when modern technology has not gotten in the way of children’s rest and recreation hours.

It suddenly came to my mind as a fire truck, with firemen of course, hurriedly proceeded to Bayambang Central School when a group of placard-bearing 500 Pangasinenses presented “the other” state of the province Wednesday through a protest rally.

“Why are you here?,” asked a veteran broadcaster, to which a fireman replied,” We were sent here, sir.”

The broadcaster continued, “There is no fire going on. It had happened three years ago when these Gabaldon buildings were burnt.”

The fireman was silent. Perhaps he remembered how the fire station, which is few meters away only from the school, got the flak for not reportedly responding quickly to a fire incident in the said school.

Another reporter of a national television told the fireman to leave.

The fireman said,” We’re here in case of emergency.”

“In case of emergency? Then we need an ambulance, not a fire truck,” the feisty reporter retorted.

Anak ng jueteng. Don’t Pangasinenses have the right to peaceably assemble to air their grievances?

Policemen’s presence around the area was okay. But fire truck? Was it to use their water canons to sow fear among the rallyists and disperse them?

A leader of the rallyists thanked the media around for saving them. The rally went on and ended smoothly.

Their message for holding the rally was clearly sent.—Tita Roces

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

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