By Gonzalo Duque

 

THE chaos around the world has started to engulf several countries, especially underdeveloped and developing ones, like the Philippines, as a consequence of the  Iran-Israeli conflict, which has been raging for more than one week now.

But instead of addressing our myriad of economic problems spawned by the conflict in the Middle East, our lawmakers are busy talking about the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a few more days, the next sets of local government officials –  provinces, cities, municipalities – will take their oath of office (if they had not done so already), and start working.

Unless our national leaders — PBBM and those in Congress — can demonstrate an iron will in addressing the problems of our country, we will go down to the dogs economically and politically.

At this juncture, we have been informed that our oil reserves can only last up to 30 days, and if we do not get any fresh shipment of crude oil from Dubai, we are finished!

With all these developments, why are we still so much preoccupied with the impeachment of VP Sara when her only power is to succeed the presidency in case PBB dies or becomes incapacitated?

It seems, everybody is already thinking of 2028 when we might not even be there by that time.

Incidentally, Pope Leo XIV called on all the Catholic faithful to pray 3 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, and 3 Glory Be to ask for God’s protection against the forces of Satan.

Parang may alam si Pope Leo XIV na hindi natin alam!

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And speaking of 2028, the Magnificent 7 (or is it Magic 7?) in the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod are now busy pushing for resolutions and ordinances, which they could have thoroughly reviewed first and passed during their heydays as majority councilors.

Of particular interest is the  passage of Draft Ordinance O-920, titled “An ordinance Strengthening the Operationalization of Freedom of Information and Providing for a Mechanism for Disclosure of Public Records  in the City of Dagupan and Providing  Penalties for Violations thereof.”

If we read the draft ordinance between the lines, it may seem that it has a noble intention. We agree.

But I think there is a need to further study the ordinance very carefully, and as of this writing, the majority councilors have no more time to pass this as they have just one session left before they end their term on June 30.

The proposal should not be rushed, as it may be interpreted as just a ‘midnight’ ordinance to suit the interests of the authors and embarrass the sitting city administration. 

Hintayin na lang ninyo ang 2028, baka kayo ay suwertihin na.

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Our 78th Agew na Dagupan celebration on June 20 was marked by the extension of a variety of public services to all Dagupeños, especially those who have less in life.

A massive tree planting activity was also conducted at the Bonuan dumpsite which is now being prepared as an eco-tourism park as well as a fun site.

Free medical and dental, and even legal services were undertaken, and so with the distribution of fertilizers and seeds to farmers and home gardeners as well as nets, fishing gears, and fingerlings to fishermen in a program at the city plaza dubbed as People’s Day.

I heard that Mayor Belen, together with her city council, also distributed new rescue vehicles purchased by the city to the 10  barangays for official use during calamities and other natural and man-made disasters.

Our policemen were there too and conducted lectures on anti-drug abuse and crime prevention.

My partner, Ermin Garcia Jr., would be happy that our beloved Mayor Belen is hands-on in attending to all the problems of our city

He (Ermin) would be a lot happier if Dagupan finally becomes a drug-free city soon.  I agree with him.

Corollary to this, I was informed that tons upon tons of shabu, estimated at close to one billion pesos, were discovered in Currimao, Laoag, and Pagudpod in Ilocos Norte as well as in a certain coastal town in Cagayan, similar to those earlier discovered in Boiinao, Bani and  Agno, Pangasinan; and in Sta. Cruz, Ilocos, as well as in Masinloc, Zambales, near our own Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.

This massive landing of shabu on our coastline did not happen during the past Duterte administration. Why are these things happening now?

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