Of garbage charlatans and bogus partylists

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- For a few revelations by Congressman Ronald Cosalan on the status of a company that proposed to put up a waste-to-energy project in San Pascual, Tuba, the proponent’s representatives gave a kilometric answer that only served to show hidden worries about the project. If there was nothing wrong and everything was above board, then why the long answer?”

           

There must be some truth to the inquiry. The efforts of investors to bring in possible solutions to waste problems hounding rural communities is commendable, but while that may be so, it is necessary for host communities to place under tight scrutiny the records of project proponents if they have been playing their game, not only legally but morally, and in accordance with rules acceptable to all parties.

           

In the past, I have met charlatans (excuse the term) disguised as well-organized, legitimate and SEC-registered holding companies, but are later found to be glib-tongued brokers who are out to peddle to wealthy local and foreign financiers the project proposals that seemed to have gotten a semblance of approval by a host community that was persuaded to endorse the project and sign a MOA.

           

In most other cases, the experience is that local host communities that do not consider the importance of seeking the assistance of lawyers who can examine the proposed waste development project are simply guided by their hunger for development and big investment. Exactly and unwittingly, this is what proponents want to hear from targeted host communities – requests for infrastructure projects. Take a look at mining exploration applications for areas such as Bobok in Bokod, Batong-Buhay in Pasil, Kalinga.

Anyone would certainly approve of a proposal in exchange of development projects that are seen to improve barrio life in case these are really implemented. Although, there is an unwritten rule that companies that are involved in multi-billion private proposals in rural communities should not take advantage of the timidity and vulnerability of their intended hosts.           

Normally, a company that wants to enter a barangay, especially in the rural areas, promises to implement development projects requested by the latter such as irrigation and potable water systems, tramlines for transporting farm products, basketball courts, concreting and improvement of footpaths, footbridges, waiting sheds, agricultural processing plant, short of promising the moon and the stars.

If these are promised to be implemented, the intended host is caught by the mouth and cannot free itself because it swallowed the proposal – hook, line and sinker. Frankly, in all my stay and visit to hundreds of barrios, I have yet to see one that has been singly improved by a private investor that is of course, with the exemption of mining companies that have practically built communities where they have been operating. Take a look at Philex and Lepanto.

When the waste-to-energy project at San Pascual became the subject of inquiry by Rep. Cosalan, the proponent’s representative who also served as its spokesman replied. When I read his answers cum “banat,” what came to my mind was that he appeared to be worried. Truth hurts. Maybe, just maybe, someone became upset that the truth about something might be found out – if there was something wrong. No one knows. If something is wrong in the process, then the project might not push through.

The investors would lose millions of projected income, and they would not be able to deliver the promises they made to LGU officials. Take a look at the SM controversy. This was what the investors feared – lose their money just because the people in charge in processing a project did a short-cut. But that is another story. What I am saying is that, if all things are in order, then why worry?

After RA 9003 took effect in 2001, several companies were born claiming to own the best technology to rid communities of their garbage. On the contrary, their machines did not help in reducing waste. Instead, there was an increase of waste from the source and that was exactly what the machines’ owners wanted– process more garbage to justify their existence and the money collection, of course. I am reminded again of the controversial ERS machines in Baguio or the Blackhole in La Trinidad.

Now for Tuba, there is nothing to lose but much to gain if it takes a second look at the waste-to-energy proposal for San Pascual. If everything is in order, and the project sails smoothly through the NEDA and the tedious process of conducting a Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in the whole municipality and adjacent barangays of Sablan, and Tubao and Aringgay in La Union, then the proponents have nothing to worry about. We all know that laws, whether legislated or administratively issued, are expected to provide protection to aggrieved parties, improve the life of people, etc. But then I think that sometimes, laws also produce racketeers, brokers and smooth-talking cons.

                        ***

Someone said,Comelec chair Brillantes should have his head checked. This was because the Comelec en banc removed many partylists from joining the May 13, 2013 elections. This is the first time that the Comelec is honestly weeding out partylists that do not deserve to represent the sector they have identified. Brillantes took the challenge, but he said those who want him to have a psychiatric check up should go with him and should also have their heads checked.

True, they should be the ones to have their heads checked, because while they claim to represent the poor and marginalized, they have hundreds of millions stashed in their personal bank accounts. Ang Kasanga partylist, supposedly is the partylist represented by multi-millionaire and former Congresswoman Ma. Lourdes Arroyo Lesaca, the sister of the late Iggy and FG Mike.

Not only that. Their partylist does not have a known sector to represent. “Ako Bicol” is not qualified to be a partylist, but it successfully got a TRO from the Supreme Court. If so, then there is no stopping Igorots, the Kalingas and Ifugaos in the Cordillera, the Palawenos in Palawan, Muslims, Ilocanos, Ilonggos, Batanguenos and all from organizing and registering as partylists.

They are equally qualified, if the SC ruling prevails. We can now get rid of our regular congressmen and senators since there would obviously be overlapping representations in Congress. By the way, with the existing number of partylist seats in congress, Comelec records bared that only more than half of them got the required two percent minimum threshold number of voters, out of the total number of votes cast for all the partylists, but the SC in a decision allowed the rest of the petitioners in the last election to take their seats. So that, now we have “hilaw” congressmen representing illegitimate partylists that did not get enough votes, fake partylists and real partylists that have members who belong to the poor sector but are represented by wealthy representatives. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com