Strawberry trees along Balili River / Kid needs help for dialysis

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.