Kill fruit-bearing trees?

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

by March Fianza

Political “wars” and elections, the scheduled set aside for selecting a set of national and local leaders also involve an unavoidable process where candidates and supporters resort to mudslinging during debates and public rallies that do not rise above irrelevant topics but dwell on unsubstantiated remarks and comments on a person’s character and qualities.

In short, the politics becomes personal. For Atty. Ronald M. Cosalan, Benguet re-electionist for congressman who has been victimized by mudslingers one too many times everytime he files his candidacy, he just shrugs off whatever is thrown at him and says, these come from people who have nothing more to say about their political opponents so they resort to malicious branding.

The latest “malicious missile” that was directed to Cosalan came from a Tuba candidate whose name is not worth campaigning for. However, his missile flew by but did not hit nor reach its intended audience. I remember someone telling me that the sound of this Tuba executive’s missile was a bit shy of the accompanying sound of an offensive fart. In his public appearances, he has repeatedly said that the congressman who is presently the chairman of the committee on public works in congress and the vice-chair of the committee on labor has not introduced development projects in Tuba.

Hence, I come into his defense to dispute such ruse designed to sway innocent votes because I have seen how, through his efforts and connections with the powers in Malacanang, he sincerely works to help uplift the living conditions in Benguet.

In a list shown to me, all of Tuba’s 13 barangays have availed of national government support for livelihood, small and medium infrastructure, school buildings, energization and waterworks projects funded by an aggregate amount reaching more than P45M since 2010.

It would be best to ask Tuba officials and the 13 barangay kapitanes who worked for these funds. Also, aside from each barangay receiving P500K for other infrastructure projects of their choice, Tuba received an emergency vehicle or an ambulance worth P1.2M which was even personally driven home to Tuba by the town’s chief executive as soon as it was officially turned over to him in La Trinidad.

The other projects were: Kennon road rehab works worth P118M, Sto Tomas roadworks worth P79M, Marcos Highway at P40M, Farm to Market roads at P5M, repair of school buildings at P1.8M, waterworks at P550K, and an initial 33 scholarship grants for deserving Tuba students. I speak of Tuba alone. What about the other 12 municipalities? I was informed by a staff engineer of the Benguet Engineering District who requested that his name be withheld for fear that he might be charged of an election offense as a government worker said that the other towns too have received more or less the same support through Cosalan’s initiatives.

The same BED engineer said that more socio-economic infrastructure development projects for Benguet’s 140 barangays and livelihood assistance for hundreds of associations in the province are waiting in line for their respective funding.

In Kabayan, unopposed mayor Faustino Aquisan and his constituents are all smiles as the concreting of the Gurel-Abatan secondary national road that traverses his town is about to be finished, all through the initiative of Cosalan and local officials that are supporting him. Soon, trade and commerce along this route would be less problematic. If that is the picture in the remote towns of Benguet, then only a crazy and unintelligent mind would want to put an end to government support for projects intended for communities that terribly need economic growth.

Personal interests have interfered that is why there are politicians who push other agenda regardless of whether or not development in a certain community is adversely affected. The fearful truth is that naturally, administrations support those who are supportive of its programs.

For PNoy who would still be President until 2016, winning candidates who belong to opponent political parties may not expect immediate government support as this would first be prioritized for the LP and its party alliances. According to PNoy, the Nationalist United Party or NUP is not an ally party as what its candidates and misinformed supporters want the voters to believe.

And so, after the “bloody” mudslinging in a recently finished campaign, maybe even the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel” of winning congressmen from opposition parties amounting to P70M annually may not easily be availed of unless PNoy releases it. What is more certain is that neophyte congressmen from the opposition party would hardly be recognized in congress and may not be given memberships to any of the committees.

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In Baguio, things look different. It is not a city that is wanting of development. In fact, it has over-developed with its seams about to burst. In mayoralty bet Joe Molintas’ words, he said, the “uglification” of Baguio must stop in order to give time for the environment to breath. He took note of the fact that cement development is going fast at the expense of trees. In a recent forum aired thru dzWT/WR, Joemol called for a moratorium of unnecessary infrastructure. But as we go to press, the “uglification” continues.

The classic example of “uglification” is the announcement by the present city administration that they need some P70M for a concrete structure at the Botanical Garden. Apparently, the “improvement” plan that is going on encroaches on space that is needed by the trees. Such a program contradicts the honorable mayor’s statement that he is making efforts to bring back the old description of Baguio as the “City of Pines.” In the last 20 years or so that the duo of the present city administration held on to power, they have successfully turned Baguio into a concrete jungle. They are not the kind of “fruit-bearing” trees should be allowed to grow. Their kind in Baguio must be cut. –marchfianza777@yahoo.com