Blunders

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March Fianza

While national line agencies and independent provincial units in the Cordillera draw salaries and allowances, spend peoples’ taxes, use government time and logistics to eagerly tour a “lifeless” bronze gong in a bid for regional autonomy; the scenario differs in Britain that chose to separate from the European Union (EU) during last Thursday's landmark referendum – and become independent once again, politico-economically at least.

On TV, Western world leaders were quick to say that the vote to quit the 28-member nations of EU sets Great Britain on an uncertain path and leads the country to some years of messy divorce proceedings with the EU.

For some, leaving the EU means Britain must seek new trade ties with other countries or renew old trade agreements, while EU emerges economically and politically weakened because it loses more than one-sixth of its total economic output.

Founded on November 1993 in Maastricht, Netherlands by France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Netherlands and Germany with an estimated aggregate population of around 508 million; the EU is a political and economic union of 28 member states located inside Europe.

Being under EU must have been a bad experience for Great Britain, something that modern autonomy advocates must research on to avoid blunders and unwanted risks.

********

            This paper’s headline last week screamed that unofficial and “presumptuous” DA secretary Manny Pinol described the recently constructed Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center a “blunder”. I do not know how familiar he is with the process that has gone through the construction of the P655-million post-harvest facility.

The bigger blunder that I know is Pinol presumptuously appointing someone unqualified to the position of Assistant Secretary. How can that be – the person cannot even write a complete sentence, much less understand the communication letters that will reach him.

I think being a public official in the past who exploited sportsmen in his ring are not the qualifications that a sensitive department such as the DA needs, unless Pinol wants to ruin President Duterte’s administration even while they have yet to warm their cabinet seats.

There are more qualified men and women who know the facts of agriculture in the Cordillera. One better guy I know who can do more good in the DA if appointed to any of the vacant positions is semi-retired Ramon Mondacs Dacawi, the other philosopher from Luisa’s Café.

And appointing the presumptuous one who has been seen bragging about Pinol’s directive to him is a bigger blunder, not the BAPTC. By the way, it is also wise to know if Pinol can already issue directives and appoint people to different posts when he himself has not taken his oath of office as agriculture secretary.

********

The Environment Code of Baguio is one serious ordinance that needed scrutiny, reason why it was not passed carelessly. Thanks to the delays and deferments, the eyes and ears of our lawmakers at city hall were opened even wider. Thank you too to NCIP lawyer Harriet Nazaro-Abyadang for clearing the clogged provisions of the code that touched on ancestral lands.

As this was being discussed in the city council, Ms. Regina Paz "Gina" Lopez accepted the invitation of President-elect Duterte for her to become the next Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Ms. Lopez is connected with a few charitable institutions and non-government organizations that look after environment projects, including the reforestation of the La Mesa Watershed Reservation and the rehabilitation of the Pasig River and other esteros in Manila.

An anti-mining advocate known for her position against large-scale mining activities in Palawan, Ms. Lopez appointment to the DENR should make her friend, the late Baboo Mondonedo smile.

She is the daughter of ABS-CBN Chairman Emeritus Eugenio Lopez, Jr. and the sister of ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio Lopez III. In the past Ms. Lopez and Philex Mines owner Manny V. Pangilinan had unpleasant encounters over topic on mining.

Hopefully, her appointment and MVP’s position will consider foremost environmental issues and will not turn out to be a bitter fight for territory and business empires, considering that both are with the communication business.