BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The
statement of Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong that Balili River which flows down
from the Summer Capital to this Salad Bowl of the county has polluted the
popular Strawberry Fields here has raised the shackles of locals and their officials.
After
Magalong’s statements were aired on TV, locals noted a dip in number of
vehicles from the lowlands like Manila going to the farm.
Some
residents said they were actually relieved as traffic from Baguio to Trinidad
has eased with less tourist vehicles.
Since I live
near the farm, we have often been asked by some tourists where the strawberries
are.
The usual
quip of our friendly, neighborhood drunken philosopher was: “Bakit, hindi pa ba
kayo nakakakita ng strawberry tree? Marami dito. (Haven’t you seen yet a
strawberry tree, these abound here.”
Of course, there are no strawberry trees at
the farm since the plant’s fruits are picked from stems near the ground.
***
But one time
during a strawberry festival during Mayor Edna Tabanda’s term, somebody brought
a strawberry tree at the park in front of the municipal hall during a press
conference. Yes, a strawberry tree.
We were told
the tree, around a foot long, was the result of studies done by the Benguet
State University. It would be nice if the BSU, which is known for its academic
excellence and actual application could produce more strawberry trees.
This could
further arouse the interest of people from the lowlands to visit La Trinidad.
***
Anyhow,
Magalong’s statement has given a breather to folks here tired of daily traffic
jams particularly along km 6 where the strawberry farm is located.
Magalong has
since apologized to officials of La Trinidad and constituents for what he
described as uncalled for statements that were damaging to the neighboring town
and their product.
“I was
emphasizing that we in Baguio are guilty of polluting Balili River that flows
down to the municipality, that we have a social responsibility to address it
and that we are going to do something about it so that they will have cleaner
water but in my desire to drive home that point, I came up with uncalled for
statement that I should have not said at all. I was wrong and I
apologize,” the mayor said in a press dispatch sent by Aileen P. Refuerzo,
chief of the city information office to the NPT.
The dispatch
said in the Jan. 10 consultation with the heads of the Depts. of Tourism,
Environment and Natural Resources and the Interior and Local Government,
Magalong talked of the city’s urgent need to rehabilitate its sewerage system
to address the pollution of the Balili River of which coliform level had run
into quadrillions.
He then said
this adversely affects the town including its strawberry produce being
irrigated by with the water from the filthy water source.
Realizing his
mistake, the mayor immediately apologized to La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda
through a text message: “Good afternoon Manong Romy. My apologies if you
felt slighted with my pronouncement regarding Balili River and strawberry farm.
I believe it was uncalled for. I will make amends.”
***
Salda
acknowledged Magalong’s apology but sought to correct the implications of the
statement in interviews with local media where he said, “There is no irrigation
from Balili River going to the swamp area where the strawberry farms are” and
they “have a source from the creek from Pico and Puguis but none from Balili
River.”
La Trinidad
Tourism Officer Valred Olsim reportedly appealed to officials of the Baguio-La
Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) to be cautious in issuing
statements to avoid putting neighbors in a bad light.
***
Anyhow, the
gaffe was a wake-up call. The DENR could conduct
studies on
quality of water being used to water strawberries at the farm considering tourists often eat strawberries on the spot
after harvesting these.
A clean watering
system could be done to bring back the trust of tourists on cleanliness of
strawberries they eat.
If the
farmers of Buguias, Benguet use permanent sprinklers to water their vegetables,
maybe it could be done at the strawberry fields. Water could come from deep
wells or from the La Trinidad Water District.
The initiative
could come from the BSU since it owns the farm being rented out to farmers.
The Dept. of
Agriculture could also come up with an irrigation project in the site.
As an old
adage says, behind every problem is an opportunity. Over the years, La Trinidad
officials have often been complaining since they could not implement some local
laws within BSU.
School
authorities have always said the school is autonomous and covered by its own
policies.
Anyhow, if
anything good came out of the Baguio mayor’s gaffe, local authorities, BSU, DA,
environment, health among other concerned officials could now meet to discuss
the issue of strawberries which could be widened to include issues on
environment, lands and socio-economic concerns of the Salad Bowl of the country.
Oh, I almost
forgot, the BLISTT (Baguio, La Trinidad, Sablan, Tublay, Tuba) body could start
the talks considering it is an environment, health and sanitation concern.
Meanwhile,
will somebody please bring me some strawberry trees to adorn my patio and brag
about to visitors?
***
Chronic
kidney disease patient Bryan Kelly Becaca whose life depends on a
three-time-weekly dialysis routine is appealing for assistance in acquiring a
fistula and provide for other medical needs, Julie G. Fianza of the city
information office said.
The costly
fistula provides an artery-vein connection appropriate for dialysis.
And 25-year
old Bryan needs it immediately as the catheter now being used is susceptible to
infection, Fianza said.
He has been
on dialysis for more than five years now, after being hospitalized due to
influenza in 2014 which progressed to Chronic Kidney Disease stage 5, secondary
to Chronic Glomerulonephritis with needs for intensive medication.
Last week,
his mother, Claudia proceeded to city hall, nearly in tears as she poured out
Bryan’s near-death stories due to missed dialysis session, congestion and
infection. Living in the outskirts of the city also poses a challenge as mother
and son have to hike a distance in early mornings to catch a ride to Baguio
where dialysis centers are located.
Bryan, is the
sixth child among seven siblings and only son of Christopher and Claudia
Becaca, who are residents of Luneta, Loacan, Itogon, Benguet. He finished his
secondary studies at Alejo M. Pacalso National High School in Bua, Tuding,
Itogon; and took up Bachelor of Arts in Architecture at the Benguet State
University in La Trinida, Benguet. Due to his present health condition, he
stopped schooling but feels positive that he could overcome this predicament.
His father
Christopher is a laborer, with earnings just enough to sustain their daily
needs.
Bryan’s
mother Claudia could be contacted through CP # 09466603344 for benevolent
readers who may wish to share any assistance.
A surgeon in
the city has reportedly expressed interest in giving aid to Bryan.
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