Wishful list 2023

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY -- The last days of the past year gives us the chance to set goals for ourselves that are supposed to be accomplished in the coming year. As we go deep into the New Year, life becomes very busy and we find ourselves having less time for ourselves, the family and close relatives.
    Thinking of New Year’s resolutions is easy but realizing them may not be easy because they tend to break by February. When Valentine’s Day, Panagbenga and the Holy Week come, the enticements come back too. At least, that is the reality for most wishful souls.
    Seriously however, do not be discouraged. Try to write down the things you want to accomplish in the coming year. Review the list, erase every accomplished task and take a swig of that Black as you move to the next task.
    There are many wishes for 2023 that we can share and enjoy despite the difficulties we encounter everyday. Just like many of us, I wish our government can really enforce lower SRPs (suggested retail prices) for basic commodities that we can enjoy. Lately, I noticed that the agencies in charge of this are useless. Try to buy onion bulbs.
    I really wish that the DPWH and LGU engineering people be more sincere this year in monitoring the construction of infrastructures and services funded by our taxes so that Filipinos can enjoy these for a longer period, resulting in less or zero exposure to natural and manmade disasters.
    With the new status of electric cooperatives that are now registered with the Cooperative Development Authority, I am looking forward to paying cheaper electricity. How I wish government men this time do not allow themselves to be manipulated by greedy electricity players who meddle with the affairs of the ECs.
    I wish that those involved in agriculture and food production move faster than the storms in looking for management strategies to fight disaster in farms, at the same time go beyond assessing typhoon damages that overlap. Refunding farmers of their damaged crops should be quicker to make them feel the presence of the government.
    I wish that more congressmen and senators open their minds to accept political differences and progressive ideas. That they become more sensible in their duties, knowing their limits and powers as lawmakers and public servants.
    I wish that forest management laws be revisited to integrate in government programs millions of forest dwellers who do not have to be removed from their natural birthplaces.
    This can be done if Congress forgets politics for awhile.
    I wish people would have independent means to fact check the fact checkers, many of whom were self-proclaimed and one-sided, the aim of which is to detect disinformation and lies which could lead to libel. Relatively, I wish for a law decriminalizing all forms of libel.
    Be with me in praying for an end to red-tagging but I also wish the armed “Nice People Around” be treated as ordinary criminals who should be charged under the Revised Penal Code. They should not be branded as CTG (Communist Terrorist Group) because real communists do not rob, kill, ambush, rape or peddle drugs.
    I wish that practicing journalists sincerely make distinctions between opinion and straight news. I further wish that businessmen involved in print and broadcast journalism who violate business laws do not hide under press freedom.
    News flash! Last week SILG Benhur Abalos announced the call for the courtesy resignation of all police colonels and police generals with the aim of purging the ranks of the police from scalawags.
    The problem is that while there are really bad top police officials, there are more scalawags in the lower ranks and in the retired sector. I wish this move will reform the image of the PNP.