March L. Fianza
TUBA, Benguet -- On my way down to a cold dip in Asin, I noticed many of the stores still looked the way they were many, many years ago. Relatively, I thought if the small sari-sari stores still looked the same, maybe the owners wanted to maintain them that way or they did not have the means to increase capital.
As we are on the edge of an impending turnover in politics, that Asin road scenario made me look back to Ramon “Mondacs” Dacawi’s recognizable presidential election comment: “Uray sinu mangabak nga presidente, hanak met bumaknang.” (No matter who wins as president, I do not become rich).
In a sense, Mondacs’ remarks could be true. But although the presidency does not provide all, more often than not there are things that voters hope for under a new administration. For many of us, the reason for voting is to see change, maybe not necessarily for ourselves, but for the communities around us.
Once in a while I hear someone say “it’s not bad to dream.” This time then, I dream but for others. I only hope that these dreams come true to some extent under Noynoy’s watch.
In Benguet, vegetable farmers and their organizations are used for personal gains by politicians especially in elections that come every three years. Today, these farmers who have been partly responsible in putting politicians into office are the same farmers who go about their daily routine as if no election occurred.
“Uray sinu mangabak nga mayor, governor weno congressman ket parehas met lang biyag ko” (No matter who wins as mayor, governor or congressman, life will still be the same), Benguet farmers say.
Ilocos farmers are luckier. (Are they?) This is so because a total of about P22 billion is earned annually by the provinces that produce Virginia tobacco. The law or RA 7171 enacted on January 9, 1992 led to economic progress in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan.
Since then, these provinces under Region I have become 1st class provinces. This was brought about by the share from the excise tax that was purely used in economic development, construction of farm-to-market roads and other infrastructure projects.
Governor-elect Chavit Singson authored the law in 1992. In fact, in February the national government released a total of more than P6 billion. Out of that, P3 billion went to Ilocos Sur as its share from the Tobacco Excise Tax.
How I wish Benguet province gets a similar provision under the new administration, considering the fact that it produces tons and tons of highland vegetables for all public markets in the country.
There was an attempt to uplift the condition of Benguet farmers by way of providing subsidy through legislation in 1997. But since all is fair in politics and elections, those who do their work in accordance with the needs of a bigger number of people as against the interests of a few are the ones who are attacked and put down.
Of course, the legislation that was supposed to help Benguet in terms of economic progress was discontinued. Obviously, what were more interesting to supporters were the public works contracts, the kabite and rip-rap that a politician could apportion to them.
In Baguio, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has a standing debt of P600 million. The agency has offered a partial payment of P54 million.
I thought, Baguio was supposed to have the right connections to Malacanang because of Congressman Morris Domogan’s links with GMA. But BCDA’s accumulated debt to the city has contradicted that. In fact Malacanang has played favorites with other provinces in the country.
Imagine the comparison. The national government can easily release P6 Billion to the Ilocos Region but can not make a decision to pay only P600 Million that represents outstanding debts to Baguio by an agency it created.
I wish this attitude of the national government towards the LGUs will change under Noynoy’s watch.
By the way, Uncle Joseph Zambrano from the PIA texted me upon learning about Noynoy’s insurmountable lead over his rivals in the presidential race.
In one of his text messages, he joked about Kris Aquino becoming her brother’s spokesperson and Boy Abunda being appointed as information office head to which I replied:
That will not be the case under Noynoy’s term. Those were precisely the things that we fought against when we voted for him – to stop appointing a personal manicurista to any government agency board, and gardener to other positions.
While the elections were on-going, professionals among Malacañang’s housekeeping staff were outraged. Why?
Not only did GMA appoint her personal manicurist to the board of trustees of Pag-IBIG Housing Fund and will make P130,000.00 a month in per diem, plus perks, for a fixed two-year term. Earlier, she named her gardener as deputy of the Luneta Park Administration.
I texted Uncle Joseph, that manner of appointing people to controversial posts has to change, too. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com
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