By Farah G. Decano

THIS quaint interior called Pagasa along Arellano Street has been home to some families of political influence. Located in this village are properties of the Rayoses, Melendezes, Ravanzos, Marambas, Fernandezes, Coquias, and the Decanos. But, it is only now that its ever-deteriorating narrow roads are seriously taken into consideration by the city.

I will not blame the politicos in these families for their “seeming” failure to address the plights of those who live here.  Perhaps, they were of the same mind as I was when I was associated with the city government. Out of delicadeza, I could not prioritize my own interest. I have taken cue from Speaker Jose de Venecia who emphatically told his constituents that the long, rough, and dusty road to his house shall not be paved until all roads in his congressional district shall have been cemented.

The deterioration of Pagasa has taken a steep nosedive in recent years. Rainfall that lasts for two hours will flood the first 100 meters of the village from the main road while more than a meter rise in tide will inundate its last hundred meters.  Conditions become worse when these two natural events occur simultaneously. The dismal situation however, does not stop there.  Floodwaters that find their way into the neighborhood do not go anywhere.  They become trapped. They stagnate. And then they get regularly replenished by new water accumulations from the next rainfall and high tide.

For almost twenty-four months now, the residents and transients in the area have been suffering from this sorry plight. Most of them wade through greenish-brown and smelly waters as high as 12 inches. Many passers-by who are unfamiliar with the terrain have been injured because of the slippery algae formation on the watery ground.  Many rider services have rejected going to the area and would ask for an alternate address for delivery of items.

Finally, the much needed road elevation and drainage installation in Pagasa has commenced.  Interestingly, the residents welcome the inconvenience and the chaos. They are happily cooperating with, and are grateful to, the local government. They know that the daily inconvenience of walking through mud and flood is temporary.

We hope that other dwellers in Dagupan City will have the same attitude as the residents of Pagasa.  Instead of whining endlessly, they should cooperate with the collective effort to finish this construction project as soon as possible. Kudos to Mayor Belen and the city officials for giving pag-asa to Pagasa.

*          *          *          *

My mother is a fine example of positivity as regards the ongoing diggings in Pagasa.  With the help of two assistants, my ninety-year-old Mama gamely negotiates this hazardous trail in our neighborhood.  She does not show any annoyance with her ordeal.  She knows that the struggle is fleeting.  Instead of grumbling about walking under the sun, she takes pride in being able to traverse what seems to be a long and difficult obstacle course.  In fact, she is thrilled whenever she recounts her adventurous experience to her friends.

The secret to her cheerful disposition despite the challenges?  She has hope that everything will turn out to be fine.  She believes that pag-asa has finally arrived in Pagasa.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments