By Eva C. Visperas

 

CAN Gov. Monmon Guico clear the Pangasinan baywalk areas of illegal structures and business establishments that have mushroomed in recent years allegedly without legal papers to show ownership of the government land they’re occupying?

It is a gargantuan task, definitely a mission impossible to have those structures in San Fabian, to my beloved hometown Binmaley, towards Lingayen. (In Dagupan City, an independent component city, Mayor Belen is also faced with an equally big challenge as the Bonuan coastal area, including its baywalk has been similarly “invaded”),

When I was a child, I used to swim in Binmaley beach. When I returned to my hometown during my college years, the coastline was still free from concrete structures.

In fact, it was only during the annual Pista’y Dayat celebrations when we would see makeshift sheds made of bamboo poles and coconut palms or pinaor or tents being rented out to families where they can have their picnic.

Actually, there were already few people suddenly owning parcels of land along the Binmaley-Lingayen coastline, just few meters away from the beach even before the baywalk project of then Second District Congressman Pol Bataoil was started.

When the baywalk was constructed, restaurants and beer joints structures mushroomed, non-stop.

I heard people talk of how they enjoyed going to these restos, listened to the bands, stayed overnight in cottages, splashed in private swimming pools, spent memorable nights during their school reunions along that section of the baywalk.

Is this progress? That made me wonder.

At the back of my mind, questions popped up. How did they do it? Did they have magic? Or simply connections? I wondered.

I was invited once by a friend to dine in the area. Naninibago ako talaga. This is not the Binmaley I grew up with. I missed the simplicity that we used to enjoy. In fact, whenever the kids and visitors were around to have a day at the beach, they’d rather suggest that we go to Lingayen, that part behind the Capitol area, where the ‘I Love Pangasinan’ signage is put up where we could feel the old ambience we used to enjoy.

Every time I’d drive along the Binmaley-Lingayen Baywalk for some news coverage at the Capitol, I always felt nostalgic, remembering my happy childhood strolling around the area.

Now I feel like a stranger in Binmaley I call my home since birth.

Then I heard the good governor who minced no words, raring for a legal fight with the owners of the establishments and houses along the baywalk that have sprouted. Kindly read our story in this issue written by your deadline beater here based on our interview with the governor about this topic.

“Lahat ng establishments dyan walang tax, hindi sila mabubuwisan ng BIR because wala silang mayor’s permit. Eh bakit wala silang mayor’s permit? Kasi wala silang occupancy permit dahil wala silang building permit at dahil wala silang proof of ownership ng lupa dahil lahat yan ay public and unclassified land. May connivance si kapitan, si ganitong opisyal, military or what hindi natin alam. Sila na lang nagbibigay. Pak! Akin ito bakuran ko na. Bakit nyo aangkinin yan eh lupa yan ng gobyerno. Ang makinabang dapat dyan yung lahat. Eh ang kakapal nga ng ano eh hindi ko alam.” His words!

“O ito ah, kakasuhan namin kung sino yung dapat kasuhan. Biro mo nagpapa-upo lang sila ng somebody for the purpose of bibigyan ng tax dec kakasuhan namin kasi sobra abu…”

I hope we get invited when Congressman Mark Cojuangco starts the congressional inquiry so we get to inform our dear readers, my kababayans especially, about the progress of this fight. Gov. Monmon and Cong. Mark are one on the same wave length.

Listening to the Gov., I commented during our interview, this is gonna be a tough fight between the rich and the influential versus the provincial government.

The gov is unperturbed but determined.

“Yes, we have to fight for the rights of our poor kababayans,” were his fighting words.

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