LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

Cleaning the City of Pines
March L. Fianza

Before it is misinterpreted, this Sunday’s topic does not intend to discourage tourists from visiting this highland city. Baguio is exceptionally beautiful and captivating even in cold rainy months where one finds pleasure in watching golden western evening skies after the afternoon rains. Hot brewed coffee, wine and brandy in any bar are best while Session road gets drenched. Unlike here, rainy months in the lowlands are hot and they come with the floods.

What we are referring to is the call by Dr. Myrna C. Cabotaje, Cordillera region Health Director to clean our backyards and drain containers of stagnant water to avoid any dengue outbreak. The health department is appealing to everyone to be concerned with a healthy environment to prevent illnesses that come in the summer and rainy months. No one is exempted from being hit by any disease therefore everyone must do their share in preventing an outbreak.

Again, we make it clear to the business sector, particularly the hotel and restaurant owners, that journalists reporting about preventing illnesses that inadvertently “alarm” their readers do not have any intention to reduce the flow of patrons thereby affecting business sales. They are simply performing their duties. Good for the businessmen, they have business interests to protect while the rest of us do not even have money capital to talk about.

Talking about healthy lives, Dr. Erwin A. Baclig was quick to announce in a press conference that the cobalt machine at the Baguio General Hospital is supposed to be functional next week or within the month. The machine that has been useless since last year is now under repair by its manufacturer. This has forced many indigent cancer patients to proceed to hospitals in Manila and suburbs. The nearest hospital facility with a cobalt machine is in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

The question on the status of the BGH cobalt machine came up as cancer patients had no other choice but rent rooms near the hospitals where they avail of cobalt treatment. This is an additional burden, especially for patients of poorer families. For Dr. Baclig, he had to postpone the cobalt treatment for his cancer patient, while families of other cancer patients I know think the BGH machine is not government priority -- because there are machines in other hospitals.

Some say government does not care to put in funds for its repair because “it is not making any money anyway.” Others think hospital authorities deliberately left the machine to rot unrepaired just like the indigent patients who come to use it. But I have disabused my mind of these allegations. I know BGH authorities want the machine to be repaired because they do care.

Climate change is another concern that the health officials talked about. Our forested mountainous region boasts of firewood that is harvested or found scattered on the forest floor. Cordillerans love to perform cañaos, go to parties, build bonfires and are fond of cooking outdoors. Houses built on colder heights have dirty kitchens with pit stove where people warm their souls.

Such human activities contribute to the massing of carbon dioxide and methane gases in the atmosphere, therefore blocking the natural escape of heat, resulting to warmer temperatures in the atmosphere. To this, Dr. Cabotaje is pressed to call on everyone to minimize such activities. “Burn your pinikpikan on your LPG stoves,” she urges.
***
What is this I heard about a bingo joint cum gambling den at Kayang-Hilltop that is alleged to be “protected” by a member of the staff of a public official? Apparently a gambler himself, this guy who volunteered to tell me his story said, the gambling den is open to the public and that it operates as if it has a permit. The man whose face was quite familiar either knew me as a newsman or maybe not. Yet, he gave me the names Terryo and Charlie Pride as the owners of the gambling joint.

I did not have any particular interest in the mysterious guy’s tales but he just kept talking as I drank my coffee at Chongloi’s. I remember hearing the man saying, someone who at city hall collected P200,000 for the campaign kitty of his boss. It was unbelievable but if there was some truth to his tales, the money may not have reached the boss because he may have pocketed all of it.

I did not ask for the name of the guy who told me he lost thousands of hard earned money “napasubo” on the “drop ball” and “color game,” thinking that he might stop talking. This indicated that bets ran to thousands of pesos. But I remember asking him “if the gambling den is open to the public, how come the police nearby do not invade it and make arrests so it will stop?” His answer was garbled. “Ni Greg (Fred?) ti mang-ayayos amin” (Greg fixes everything), he said.

He also knew of the issuance of a closure order for the joint but that has not been served. To my dirty mind, it seems the closure order was just dangled in the faces of Terry and Charlie to remind them of their “dues.” I wanted to find out if the police was getting as much as Greg’s (or Fred’s). Good thing, I did not hear any answer. Later, I had to believe the existence of the gambling den because last Thursday, morning TV news reported that elements of the CIDG raided the den Wednesday night.

Apart from the janitor’s chores of cleaning the city’s environs to make it more live-able and healthy, newly elected Mayor Peter Rey Bautista faces the challenge of ridding corrupt men and women from city hall. He has not taken oath but this early, the wrongful acts of some dishonest employees may pull him down. He has a name to protect and I believe he is incorruptible. Mayor Peter Rey is young and idealistic – he has long years ahead of him to serve and serve good. He can not afford to destroy that once in a lifetime chance. Those who put his office and name to shame must be exposed and thrown out from city hall. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com