DPWH finishes P6.69B Central Luzon Projects

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — Various infrastructure projects amounting to P6.69 billion have been completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Luzon in the first half of this year, DPWH Region 3 Information Adora Sunga reported last week.

The finished works translate to 8,061.698 kilometers of road networks, and bridges with a net length of 1,786.265 lineal meters amounting to a total of P5.19 billion,” said Sunga of the road construction and improvement of 748 road works.

“We were also able to build 230 flood control projects, 310 classrooms for public elementary and secondary schools and state colleges and universities, 19 rainwater collector systems which is in support to the Aquino administration’s climate change adaptation program as it could aid farmers during the dry season, and 356 other infrastructures including hospitals, markets, slaughterhouses, and multi-purpose halls,” she said. -- FGR

 

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Benguet Corp. donates equipment for disasters to barangay nofficials

ITOGON, Benguet – Benguet Corporation has provided some of its host communities with equipment to help disaster officials respond to emergencies during  calamities, especially with the onslaught of the rainy season.

            

Mignon de Leon, BC vice president for administration, said the mine firm has procured personal protective equipment (PPE) and some basic disaster response tools for the 20-member Barangay Disaster Brigade of Virac, Itogon, Benguet under its social development and management program (SDMP) so that they will be well-equipped during emergency situations.

            

According to her, these gears consist of skull guards, rubber boots, raincoats, reflectorized vests, shovels, picks and axes.

            

We have to make sure that our host communities are well-equipped versus disasters so that they will be able to save lives and properties,” de Leon said, adding that disaster preparedness is part of their commitment in order to establish a safe and sound community.

            

The BC official said more equipment are programmed for the same formed emergency response team of Barangay Poblacion, Itogon, which, aside from those earlier mentioned, include fire extinguishers, rechargeable flashlights and emergency lights, megaphone, first aid kits, stretcher, cervical collars and ambubags.

           

 Earlier, the mining company conducted first aid and disaster preparedness trainings for all elementary and high school students, barangay officials and community representatives in its host barangays in order to instill to them the importance of disaster preparedness so that people will be able to save lives and properties from losses and damages once the natural calamities will visit the Cordillera.

           

 De Leon disclosed the company also maintains its rescue team ready to respond to any emergency that may arise even in its surrounding communities, as it has done in the past, in the same way that it conducted relief operations, deployed its heavy equipment, opened its facilities as temporary shelters for those affected and provided other assistance to disaster response considering that disaster preparedness is one of their commitments to its host and neighboring communities.

She cited regular monitoring of company and other surrounding structures was also made as a standard operating procedure whenever a typhoon or heavy rains hit the area to ensure that the company’s facilities are ready during calamity situations.

            

Based on the geo-hazard map released by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, majority of the areas in this mountainous region are landslide prone.

            

“The probability of the occurrence of this and other natural disasters is increasing during the rainy season, reason why the national government has declared July, the usual start of the wet season, as National Disaster Consciousness Month in order to instill awareness among people on the importance of disaster preparedness, especially in reducing the loss of lives and damage to properties,” de Leon said, adding the region, including Benguet, is being frequented by natural calamities that pose a serious threat to life and limb, particularly to those disaster-prone areas that were previously identified. -- Dexter A. See

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91 percent of Cordi LGUs cited: ‘good housekeeping’

BAGUIO CITY – Ninety one percent of local governments in the Cordillera have been cited for adherence to the Aquino administration’s Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH)

Aside from Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao and Baguio City which received a 100 percent rating that led to the issuance of the seal, the provincial government of Mountain Province was also awarded the Seal of Good Housekeeping.

           

In Mountain Province, the towns which were given the Seal of Good Housekeeping were Bauko, Natonin, Paracelis and Sadanga.

  

Also awarded the seal were the towns of Bangued, Bucloc, Danglas, La Paz, Lacob, Langiden, Licuan-Baay, Luba, Malibcong, Manabo, Penarrubia, Pidigan, Sallapadan, San Quintin and the provincial government of Abra.

            

This year, the town of Pudtol received its Seal of Good Housekeeping while Luna, Cooner, Cabugao, Flora, Sta. Marcela and Calanasan received their respective seal last year.

            

In Benguet, the towns of Atok, Kabayan, Kapangan, La Trinidad and Mankayan received their SGH this year while the towns of Aguinaldo, Alfonzo Lista and Hungduan in Ifugao completed the list of the towns that received their SGH.

            

In Kalinga, the towns of Balbalan, Pasil and Tinglayan already received their SGH with the provincial government while the towns of Tanudan, Lubuagan, Tinglayan, Pinukpok, Rizal and the City of Tabuk received their SGH last year.

Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Austere Panaderosaid the Seal of Good Housekeeping is issued by the agency to local governments nationwide with good performances based on annual Commission on Audit reports and the posting of government expenditures on bulletin boards, websites and newspapers in compliance to the Aquino administration’s transparent and accountable governance.

           

 Furthermore, the compliance and adherence of local governments to the requirements of the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA), particularly in the compliance with the required citizen’s charter and report card surveys conducted by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), will be an added criteria in the selection of awardees next year.

“Local governments that receive the Seal of Good Housekeeping are entitled to financial assistance through the Performance Challenge Fund,” Panadero said, adding that in getting the seal, a local government must score high in planning, budgeting, revenue mobilization, financial management and budget execution, procurement and resource mobilization.

            

According to him, local governments must come up with comprehensive land use development plans and annual investment plan are updated and duly approved for proper implementation.

            

“Each local government must also have sound fiscal management which is reflected in how the town city or province prepares its annual budget and in the growth of local revenues over a period of three years,” he added, citing that local governments must practice transparency in the procurement process and full disclosure in its finances and comply with the ARTA.

            

He pointed out full disclosure promotes the honest, orderly management of public funds and helps minimize corruption and misuse of public funds and resources.

           

 Panadero explained the funds awarded to local governments will go to projects in line with the Millennium Development Goals, local economic development program and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

            

He cited local governments will receive P1 million for municipalities, P3 million for cities and P7 million for provinces.

               

Meanwhile, a top officials of the Regional Development Council said Cordillera LGIs’ adherence to the government’s good governanceis a plus factor in convincing the national government in supporting the region’s renewed quest for autonomous status since local officials proved they can effectively perform functions of government to the Aquino administration’s thrust of transparent and accountable governance.

           

 Dr. Virgilio C. Bautista, RDC co-chairman, said the outstanding performance of the region’s LGUs in complying with transparent and accountable governance is a significant indicator towards realizing regional self-governance.

            

“Our good showing in complying with the government’s transparent and accountable governance should convince the national leadership to support our renewed quest for regional autonomy so that the development and socio-economic condition of the Cordillera will be accelerated,” Bautista said.

               

He added the overflowing support of different sectors in the region to the call for self-determination should also awaken the national government to support the thrust of self-rule.

            

The clamor for regional autonomy was strengthened when the Cory administration issued Executive Order No. 220 that created the Cordillera Administrative Region composed of the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Mountain Province and Baguio City from Region I and the provinces of Ifugao, Kalinga and Apayao from Region II.

          

House Bill 5595 authored by Baguio City Rep. Bernardo M. Vergara, Apayao Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Kalinga Rep. Manuel S. Agyao, Ifugao Rep. TeodoroBaguilat, Jr. and Mountain Province Rep. MaximoDalog seeking the creation of a Cordillera Autonomous Region is now pending approval in the House committee on appropriations after it was unanimously passed by the House committee on local government.

                

Its counterpart bill, Senate Bill (SB) 3115 authored by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III is also awaiting deliberation by the Senate committee on local government chaired by Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr..

            

Dr. Jay Prospero de Vera III, vice president for public affairs of the University of the Philippines, said Autonomy has a better chance of succeeding in the Cordillera once it will be able to correct the failure of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and benefit from the development that it brings coupled with brilliant local governance.

            

“Every peso invested by the government in the Cordillera translates to better development because of the peace being enjoyed by the region,” Jay Prospero de Vera III, said.

           

 According to him, “the failed ARMM experience is making it difficult for Cordillera autonomy advocates to convince the people to support the renewed quest for self-determination because there is no model which could be used by the region to achieve the desired structure of an autonomous regional government, thus, the best way for the Cordillerans to experiment on possible provisions that will correct the wrongful provisions of the ARMM law.”

            

De Vera explained “the ARMM set up was copied from the structure of the central government, thus, the autonomous regional government became an employment agency for political supporters resulting to the waste of public funds that were downloaded for the development of the neglected areas in the area.”

            

In the Cordillera setting, de Vera suggested “the proposed autonomy bills must be able to contain a mechanism on how to explicitly define the allocation of the available resources to prevent the practice of patronage politics and that a mechanism must also be put in place to make sure that less developed areas will be able to receive bigger resources so that they will be able to catch up with the developed areas in the autonomous region.”

            

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3 wanted men nabbed including rookie cop

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet --Three wanted persons including a rookie policeman were arrested in Abra and Benguet last week.

Arrested on July 31 by joint elements of Abra police and elements of the  and regional intelligence unit 14 led by Chief Insp. Allen Lee Bauding was PO1 Larry Lepi y Luciap, 36, of Barangay Mudiit, Dolores, Abra for Violation of Republic         Act 7610.  

He was arrested following a warrant issued by Judge Raphiel F Alzate, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court,  Branch 1, Bangued, Abra.`

Alzate recommended a P80,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

The arrested policeman was previously reported to be on AWOL (absent without leave)  and failed to turn in his issued firearms for which he was subjected to administrative proceedings.

Second to be arrested at his residence was  Raphael Peig y Dosono, 45 Barangay Bangbangar, Bangued.

He was arrested July 31 at about   9:45 a.m. after a warrant doe his arrest was also issued by Alzate for estafa with a recommended bail bond of P36, 000.

 Meanwhile, Bonnie Lucas y Dawagey, a resident of Barangay Magney, Atok, Benguet was arrested in his residence at about 6 a.m. July 31.

Judge Maria Clarita Casuga Tabin, presiding judge of Municipal Trial Circuit Court, Branch 4, Baguio City issed a warrant for Dawagey’s arrest for slight physical injuries.

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Five killed as father massacres own family

By Mydz Supnad

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – A distraught father massacred his own family before dawn Thursday killing four of his family members, then shot himself in the head here in Barangay 2.

Senior Supt. Samuel Amoyen, Ilocos Sur police director said Edwin Espinueva, 37, businessman, shot dead his wife Frances Roella Espinueva, 34; her daughter Carla, 16, a student of Divine Word College of Vigan; Estrelita Mendoza, 56, suspect’s mother in law; Jeffrey Mendoza, 30, suspect’s brother in law.

The suspect also shot his 7-year-old daughter Samantha who is now in critical condition.

Her chance of living is slim since she was hit in the head and chest with caliber 45 pistol.

 After killing the victims, the suspect turned the gun on his head and shot himself dead.

The family members are all living in a two – storey house in Barangay 2.

 Amoyen said that based on investigation, the shooting incident happened at about 1 a.m. 

Police said the suspect entered the room where his wife and his daughters were sleeping and suddenly shot them on their head causing Frances Roella and Carla to die on the spot while his other daughter was critically wounded.

 “Misunderstanding and tinitingnan namin dahil may mga instances na nag aaway silang mag asa na nakikita ng nanay at kapatid ng babae o asawa ng suspek,” said Amoyen.

 Amoyen said lawmen recovered  calibers 45 and  38  pistols used in the incident by the suspect.

 “We are still investigating whether the guns used by the suspect are licensed or not,” added Amoyen.

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No crew found on death ships: Two foreign barges run aground in Pangasinan

AGOO, Pangasinan -- Two abandoned barges believed to be from Indonesia were found here Tuesday morning.

The two barges marked "Soekawati 2708, Tanjung Priok" and "Soekawati 2707, Tanjung Priok" were believed swept to shore by strong storm surges spawned by typhoon "Gener."

The crewmen of the two barges were nowhere to be found.

Both barges were 80 meters in length and 15 meters in width and black in color.

The local police informed the Philippine Coast Guard about the two barges.

At the height of the typhoon on night of July 29, a Korean -registered cargo vessel with 18 crewmen onboard ran aground 800 yards west of Canas Point in Mariveles, Bataan.

The Philippine Coast Guard said that the vessel marked Ocean Galaxy was transiting the vicinity waters of Mariveles when it encountered engine trouble and decided to drop anchor.

The ship, coming from China and enroute to Manila, was dragged and subsequently ran aground.

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Case filed vs Baguio illegal ‘drug pusher’

BAGUIO CITY – An alleged drug pusher was charged for illegal drugs after he was arrested in a buy-bust operation here last week by police Regional Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group in coordination with regional Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency agents.

A police report identified the suspect as Morced Ofiana y Terrano, 39, married and resident of 29, South Central Aurora Hill, Baguio City.

 Ofiana was arrested about 9 p.m. July 31 in his residence when he reportedly sold to operatives, about  1.5 grams of shabu.

Another sachet  containing about  0.5 grams of shabu worth P15,000 was reportedly recovered from his possession.

               

He was subjected to drug test and is at present under the custody of the RAIDSOTG.

               

The confiscated pieces of evidence were turned over to the police crime laboratory in Camp Bado Dangwa, La Trinidad, Benguet for chemical analysis. 

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The PNP on security of media

 EDITORIAL

With the rising cases of media killings, a top police official said the Philippine National Police through the Police Community Relations Group is providing steps on security awareness and protection for newsmen in provinces.

Harris R. Fama, chief of the information and communication development division of PCRG in Camp Crame, said Chief Supt. Agrimero A. Cruz Jr. has stressed “utmost security of media practitioners.”

               

Fama said security measures and tips were provided by the PNP during the recent media conference with Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. at the Makati Sports Club.

               

“Coping with the rapid changes in news publishing,” Fama said the conference had various lectures which included PNP-media partnership on how best to enhance the security of media practitioners, we can agree on and do right away.”

               

Said lectures were discussed with an open-forum that addressed and clarified participants’ queries, said Fama who lectured on personal security measures for media practitioners.

               

The PNP also distributed handbooks on  personal security measures for media practitioners which included detection and threat assessment detecting surveillance, personal and children security, security at home and workplace, vehicle and travel security and others.

               

Fama added the lecture also encouraged media practitioners to be always smart and safe at all times, saying “this basically entails awareness, vigilance and discreet preparedness.”

               

In other words, it depends on the media practitioner himself to practice measures so that he would not fall prey to evil schemes (like torture and assassination) perpetrated by bad elements of society which include officials who are hit by negative comments or news articles.

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‘Corruption’ at San Roque Dam

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

Where there is smoke, there is fire. In the case of the San Roque dam in San Manuel, Pangasinan – where there is water, money flows away.

With Congress back in its 3rd regular session, Bayan Muna Rep. called on the House committee on local government chaired by Negros Oriental Rep. George Arnaiz to “immediately conduct hearings on the abrupt reduction of the national wealth share from San Roque Dam operations to headwater host local government units of Benguet.”
               

Vince Borromeo, from the office of Rep. Casino sent us a copy of House Resolution 2098 urging the House committee on good government and public accountability to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation on possible irregularities on the matter. 

According to HB 2098, in 2010 the provincial government of Benguet sought an increased share from the taxes generated by the operation of the 345-megawatt San Roque multi-purpose dam in San Manuel, Pangasinan, invoking the fact that the water, the main ingredient in power generation, comes from the watersheds of Benguet.

               

The House resolution cited Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan as saying that increasing the province’s share from the national wealth tax being paid by the operator of the second biggest dam in Asia will be utilized to implement more development projects within the host communities.

               

In 2007, the resolution added, Gov. Fongwan was able to work out a 50-50 sharing of the national wealth tax from the operations of the San Roque dam is located within the boundary of Benguet and Pangasinan provinces.

               

The basis of the equal sharing originated from the fact that while the dam is located in San Manuel, Pangasinan, the dam’s reservoir and watershed is hosted by Itogon, Benguet;

               

According to Casino, the state policy on the national wealth tax, 60 percent is retained by the national government while 40 percent will be shared by the host provinces, municipalities and barangays (villages) as specified in Section 287 (A) of the Tax Reform Act of 1997 (Republic Act 8424);

               

The same law stipulates in Sec. 287 (B) that Local Government Units shall have a share, based on the preceding fiscal year, from the proceeds derived by any government agency or government-owned or controlled corporation engaged in the utilization and development of the national wealth based on the following formula, whichever will produce a higher share for the local government unit: one percent of the gross sales or receipts of the preceding calendar year, or 40 percent of the excise taxes on mineral products, royalties, and such other taxes, fees or charges, including related surcharges, interests or fines the government agency or government-owned or -controlled corporations would have paid if it were not otherwise exempt.

               

Casino said Sec. 287 (C) states that the share in the preceding section shall be distributed in the following manner where the natural resources are located in the province: province - twenty percent; component city/municipality - 45 percent and barangay at 35 percent.

               

Provided, however, that where the natural resources are located in two or more cities, the allocation of shares shall be based on the formula on population and land area as specified in subsection (C)(1).

               

Where natural resources are located in a highly urbanized or independent component city, the sharing would be 65 percent while the barangay gets 35 percent.

               

HB 2098 said officials of Barangay Dalupirip, Itogon, Benguet, passed Resolution No. 125, s. 2011 on December 3, 2011 requesting Rep. Casino to seek an inquiry on the sudden reduction of the village’s National Wealth Tax Share (NWTS)from the operations of the San Roque Dam.

               

“The barangay officials were aghast when they found out that on May 11, 2011 their NWTS for the first quarter of 2011 was a measly P52,279.76 only. This is a sudden reduction of almost 99 percent of the actual quarterly amount ranging from P1,107,000 to P1,108,000 that Dalupirip received in the past years,” the House resolution said.

               

“After seeking clarifications and getting no answer from local government officials in the municipal and provincial levels, the barangay officials are now in a quandary as to how they shall accomplish the development projects in their area that are dependent on the NWTS and their much smaller internal revenue allotment (IRA) share;

               

“The sheer and sudden reduction of the NWTS of the said barangay in Itogon, Benguet is a sore thumb in the current government’s drive to make governance and state finance transparent and graft-free;

               

“This matter is a possible case of corruption by state officials involved in the implementation of our country’s tax laws, local government code and in the financial operations of the San Roque Dam. Congress can and should intervene to uncover the real story and in the process come up with remedial legislation for further transparency and accountability,” HB 2098 concluded.

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Constitutional or man-made crisis?

PERRYSCOPE
Perry Diaz

The Judicial and Bar Council’s interview of the 20 nominees to the Chief Justice position was going so well into the fourth and last day when suddenly it hit a snag that could trigger a constitutional crisis in the Judiciary. 

               

Indeed, in a matter of days, the orderly selection process went into a tailspin when the two leaders of Congress – Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. – announced that they’re pulling their representatives out of the Judicial Bar Council (JBC) due to a Supreme Court decision, which ruled that the bicameral legislative body can only have one representative in JBC.  As a result, the JBC postponed voting for the final three nominees to August 2.

               

The postponement gave Justice Secretary Leila de Lima who is running against time to have three disbarment cases against her dismissed before the JBC votes on the shortlist.  But she suffered a major blow last July 28 when the Board of Directors of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) rejected her bid to have the cases against her dismissed. 

Instead the IBP board ordered a full-blown investigation into two of the three cases that were filed against her for defiance of the Supreme Court’s Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued on the travel ban ordered by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on ex-president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last November.  Given the time needed to complete the investigations, it is doubtful if it could be done by August 2.

                ***

As soon as IBP rejected De Lima’s appeal, Malacañang Palace gave her some encouraging support.  During a press briefing, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that De Lima has “right to appeal to the Judicial and Bar Council should it exclude her from the chief justice candidate shortlist.”  “She is just laying out the basis why this disbarment case should not be considered by the JBC considering that they were filed in the light of her opposition to the removed Chief Justice Corona,” Lacierda said.

               

According to Lacierda, De Lima also submitted a seven-page letter to the JBC in which she argued that she should not be excluded from the shortlist on account of her pending disbarment cases, which she claimed were politically motivated.  However, in an attempt to show neutrality, Lacierda said, “We will leave it with the JBC to determine in its discretion the validity and weight of the letter of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.”  And to further distance Malacañang from the controversy, he said that the Palace was “very happy” and “very comfortable” with De Lima being the DOJ secretary.

               

But De Lima, 52, is driven by ambition.  If appointed, she will be the top magistrate of the land for18 years until she reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.  She claims that as an “outsider,” she has the edge over the other nominees because of “her strong personality to institute reforms in a judiciary tarnished by the impeachment trial of Corona.”  But what makes her believe that she has the “edge” when she doesn’t have any experience as a judge or justice?

               

And this brings to mind what kind of reforms would she institute?  Unlike the six “insiders” who each gave a detailed description of the reforms they would pursue, De Lima did not mention a single item that needed to be reformed.  Besides, does it take 18 years to institute reforms?  If she can’t do it in five to seven years, then she’s not the right person to institute reforms.

                ***

               

In another front, the Philippine Senate, things are different over there.  Senate President Enrile called for a caucus last July 30 to discuss their position on the JBC composition and other issues relative to the selection process.

               

In a resolution adopted, the Senate asked the JBC to defer deliberations on the selection and also for the Supreme Court to hold oral arguments on the issue of JBC composition.   The Court agreed and scheduled the oral arguments on August 2.

               

Another Senate resolution reiterated the position taken by both chambers of Congress that “representation to the JBC by Congress must be one for the House with one vote, and one for the Senate with one vote,” which is in direct contrast to the Supreme Court’s 7-2 ruling two weeks ago that Congress should only have one representative in the JBC.

               

But Enrile raised another issue, which could throw a monkey wrench on the whole Chief Justice selection process.  In a media interview, Enrile was quoted as saying that whoever is appointed Chief Justice by the President based on the list submitted by the JBC may still be questioned because of the status of the council’s membership.  He also pointed out that the Constitution provides that only the Chief Justice can preside as ex officio chair of the JBC; thus, an acting Chief Justice or an associate justice cannot preside over the deliberations of the council.

               

If Enrile’s line of thinking is pursued, it could trigger a constitutional crisis.  In essence, what Enrile was saying is that since an acting Chief Justice or an associate justice could not preside over the JBC and since the position of Chief Justice is vacant; therefore, nobody can preside over the JBC.  In that event, the JBC would be functionally incapacitated and unable to produce the mandated shortlist of the final three nominees for the position of Chief Justice.

               

But notwithstanding this which-comes-first-the-chicken-or-the-egg problem, the President is required by the Constitution to appoint a new Chief Justice within 90 days of a vacancy. But whom would he appoint if no shortlist were produced?

               

Someone suggested that perhaps P-Noy should appoint anyone of his choice in the absence of a shortlist.  But that would be dangerous and P-Noy should – nay, must! – exercise utmost restraint from doing that.  If he did that, it could trigger a constitutional crisis.  And if the person he appointed is De Lima, then the people would think that the crisis was man-made, induced to pave the way for De Lima’s ascension to the High Court.

                ***

In the 25 years that the present Constitution has been in place, there were two major constitutional crises.  The first was in 2001 when then Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was sworn in as President by then Chief Justice HilarioDavide Jr. while Joseph Estrada was still the sitting President.  To fix the looming constitutional crisis, the Supreme Court issued its controversial “constructive resignation” ruling that deemed Estrada resigned from office. 

               

The second was in 2010 when Gloria appointed Renato Corona as Chief Justice in defiance of the constitutional ban on “midnight” appointments during a short period of time before and after a presidential election.  The Supreme Court legitimized Corona’s illegal appointment by ruling that appointing the Chief Justice was not covered by the constitutional ban. 

               

Both crises took a heavy toll on the government and caused political instability for more than a decade, which culminated with the impeachment of Corona last May.

               

Now that the government is recovering from those contentious years, it’s time for our political leaders to do what is right for the country and let the Supreme Court perform its constitutional mandate to produce the shortlist in a fashion that is fair, transparent, and objective.  The people deserve no less. (PerryDiaz@gmail.com)

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Looking up the patch of blue

BENCHWARMER

Ramon Dacawi

Something’s being cooked up for the city jail, something as sweet as freshly baked bread. The ingredients got stirred when members of Rotary, the international service organization, visited while typhoon Gener was pouring  lastThurday morning.

The Rotarians, all from the Baguio Summer Capital chapter, had escorted to prison visiting Rotarian Stanley Tokigawa of AlaMoana District 5000 in Honolulu and Prof. David McQuittey of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary based in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tokigawa and McQuittey brought three boxes of rubber sandals they wanted the prisoners to try on. The two arrived here in stormy weather Wednesday night, from Alaminos, Pangasinan where they delivered a container van of medical supplies for the town, courtesy of Tokigawa’sShiraki Memorial Foundation and the Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation.

They were received at the city jail chapel by 65 female inmates and several coordinators of the male cells. All dressed in yellow T-shirts, the inmates were ready with a program they interspersed with hymns and folksongs. After the turn-over and the messages, a female inmate was ready to air a collective plea.

Later, over lunch at the Venus Park Hotel hosted by former Rotary District 3790 Governor Rolando Villanueva, the Rotarians began figuring out how an oven could fit inside the city jail.

Tokigawa and McQuittey themselves reopened the topic, asking if Villanueva, a businessman, had any idea what it would take to purchase an oven and baking paraphernalia. So the prisoners can bake their own morning bread, they agreed.  

In her response at the turn-over of the slippers, a resident of women’s section of the jail had mentioned the need to also slip inside  a bread oven. That was before female wardress, Chief Insp. Mary Anne Tresmanio, could deliver her closing remarks.

The suggestion ignited the imagination of the Rotarians led by Summer Capital co-founder and  charter president Virgilio Bautista, incumbent president Joris Karl Dacawi and incoming president Edward Dogui-es.

“Why not?,” muttered past club president Eric Picart. “With them baking their own  bread, inmates could afford to have four instead of two pieces of ‘pandesal’ for breakfast.”

With him were past president Albert Atiwag, Rommel Alcid,PaulFajardo, Perfecto Lopez Darius Ramos and Manuel Solis Jr.

Wards of the jail used to bake their own bread in the 1970s, after the inmates, under the direction of the late Baguio journalist Frederic Mayo and then warden Dennen,  organized their drama guild and presented three one-act plays.

The plays, also staged at the University of the Philippines here, helped the city jail earn the title as the best urban detention center in the country.

Part of the prize was a bread oven that the prisoners used in baking pandesal, They baked extra  they sold to health buffs dropping by on their way home from their early morning jogs at the Burnham Park.

The prisoners’ appeal for help to be able to bake again hardly reflects a one-way process. Over the years, they have been reaching out to the community at large with their own service and humanitarian projects – within the confines.  

On Mother’s Day last year, they submitted to warden, Chief Insp. SeverinoKhita P4,000 they raised for two months. The following morning, Khita had the amount coursed through the account of the Philippine Red Cross as the inmates’ contribution to the drive for the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan.

In June, 2009, they pooled P360 for TrinalynMangisel, a 21-month old baby who was born with a hole in her heart. Their support, and that of Aira and Rhea Estepa, then five-year old twins who broke their piggy bank to have their dad deliver P476.25 in coins to the toddler, inspired other Samaritans of all walks. Trinalyn eventually went under the knife, thanks to Swiss expatriate Peter Ernst who bankrolled the cost of surgery at the Philippine Heart Center.  

In March that year, the inmates joined the rest of the world in marking “Earth Hour”, and since then had gone to as long as three hours in observing the annual energy switch-off that underscores the need to lower carbon footprint as a means of addressing climate change.

Since then, they have been observing Earth Day and World Environment Day, events they tried to record in the maiden and only issue so far of their in-house newsletter, “The Baguio Insider”. (e-mail:mondaxbench@yahoo.com for comments.)

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‘BLISTTing’ the basura

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

The BLIST acronym for “Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba” was a derivative from a previous concept of an urban plan that Baguio “thinkers” resorted to after Benguet officials expressed doubts about their city counterparts who initially talked about a “Metro-Baguio.” I still can freshly recall the facial expression of a city official who gave his instant reply saying, “okay then, let’s not call it Metro-Baguio” when that opposition was raised in the Benguet provincial board in the 90s. The BLIST concept was revisited a few years ago, adding another letter “T” to the acronym which stood for “Tublay.” They say “all is well that ends well.” And so with the BLISTT concept, it should work well if the intentions of the proponents are pure.

It was also in the 90s when the Northwestern Luzon Growth Quadrangle of President Ramos took off. But there was a lot of difference between the two designs. The NWLGQ simply identified possible growth areas out of the existing map of central business hubs from La Union to Ilocos Norte and the Cordillera region (Northwestern Luzon) where infrastructure development such as diversion roads and airports would be built. It consisted of a plan to smoothen flow of trade and level the income opportunities of the LGUs without necessarily bothering them with conditions or problems that may arise as a result of the projects to be infused.

On the other hand, the planners of “Metro-Baguio” thought of the concept as a solution to the city’s uncontrolled increase in population that carried with it problems on squatting and housing, lack of water supply, unstoppable increase in garbage, and the worsening traffic. The “Metro-Baguio” concept was also seen as a solution to the city’s overdevelopment characterized by too much concrete infrastructure. This was so because of the mindset of one politician who has said over and over that notorious line, “aramid tipakakitaan.” When I heard him say that, I thought he must have calculatedly missed the letter “G.” He should have said: “aramid tipagkakitaan.”

Squatting and housing were problems in the city that have been known to elected politicians, but were the least of the problems that were included in their election campaign menu that needed solutions. In fact, squatting has become a fundamental part of a  candidate’s strategy to winning an election. The more you court squatters, the more chances of winning. Added to that, the politically tainted processing of Townsite Sale Applications for public lands, as if there are still public lands, has not helped solve any of these problems but has complicated them.

In-migration and squatting contributed to population explosion in the city which relatively gave rise to the problem on lack of water supply. There was a time in the 70s when water to every kitchen was not rationed and water flowed out of every house’s tap 24/7. That makes one conclude that there was enough water supply for Baguio residents. But just like water that flowed, illegal occupants to all kinds of lands in the city were unstoppable too. Naturally, a water supply that is enough for a certain population is no longer enough when the number of water users increases. A glassful of water for one is not enough for two.

Lack of water supply has been unjustly and selectively blamed on ancestral land owners of forested areas too. This, even while city officials worked out plans to segregate portions of forest parks for the benefit of illegal settlers. In addition, lack of water has not been faulted to the issuance of hundreds of tree-cutting permits for thousands of trees that have lowered the level of underground water. The truth is that in Baguio, a selected bunch of officials favor and allows the cutting of trees to put up housing subdivisions, access roads, parking lots and private commercial buildings.

Traffic problem has worsened because those concerned do not want to seriously face it. They know that this is not a problem that directly affects them or the man on the street. True, if you don’t drive, the traffic mess is the least of your worries. If I am not rushing, I leave the car and walk leisurely to town, or ride a taxi and let the driver worry about the traffic. Maybe, it is good to have a carless day in Baguio and let every car owner park somewhere on the outskirts. I wish to see everyone walking one of these days, including the mayor.

Sometimes I also think like some officials. I close all the road intersections and leave no breathing sections for motorists in a traffic jam to maneuver. I close road intersections and do not care about what the riding public says as long as all motor vehicles pass by my favorite mall. I remember well, this scheme was done on Naguillan road so that all motorists would pass by Cooyeesan that was then losing business. The result was a bumper to bumper traffic that became a real nightmare for whoever concocted the plan. That is the same plan our traffic managers are implementing now, so that we will all be directed to that monster on the hill. Remove all the intersection barricades and I assure you 101 per cent that we will have a free road with less traffic.

Another problem brought about by an increasing population is an equally increasing volume of garbage. We have heard how the garbage problem became the topic between opposing candidates in the last election. We have heard how a politician said he can solve the problem on basura and we have seen what he did when the basura spilled over to the other side of the city’s boundary in Tuba, killing at least six, destroying houses and burial grounds. Despite all the tragedy, concerned officials act like nothing serious happened. Napuskolunayrupadan.   

            

Lately, Mayor Mauricio Domogan of Baguio and Mayors Greg Abalos, Oscar Camantiles, Arthur Baldo, FlorBentres, and Ruben Paoad of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay, respectively, signed a document creating the BLISTT Development Council. I am confident that while the Benguet chief executives want to fast-track development in their municipalities, they know which kind of development should be entertained. I have known them before they became mayors. I know them as young and determined chief executives who would not allow squatters to enter their lands through the BLISTT program. I know that they would find out and eventually oppose any plan to centralize water supply under BLISTT because there is not enough water supply in the city. By the way, the water aquifer of the Busol forest is located inside La Trinidad, not inside Baguio, as many of us have been misinformed all the while. I am convinced that the Benguet mayors would put up a fight if BLISTT meant sharing Baguio’s development, including thebasura. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com

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Epalness, jabberwocks and the anti-epal bill

HAPPY WEEKEND

By Gina Dizon

In my 40s’ and cooped up in my  world  of  babysitting and shuffling  through this age-old scribbling work-hobby that enveloped my existence for years, I never knew there is such a word as “epal”. Not until I chatted with friends at the Baguio Chronicle page of Facebook.

So the bantering and the pussyfooting about a certain  ‘epal’  went on with ‘epal’ pointed out in a number of postings.

So what the hell does ‘epal’ mean, ignoring this at first as it seems to be a word which does not catch my interest.

Well. Not for long. This “epalness” of a certain member in BC’s facebook page  got me asking my 20 year old niece what “epal” means. My niece said  ‘epal’ is the propensity to make grand entrances. It also means  ‘aginlala-ing’. Ahuh. Pretending to be  intelligent. Wahaaa! Ok. What a pathetic  existence .  Similar like ‘aginpopogi outside’ or agin-pipintashehehhe. And one more, epal means ‘agraramaan’ or ‘agrarapiiit’ as in  ‘feeling’ to be  someone but not truly one.

This word must either be a noun or an adjective.

As Facebook’s BC page  implies, an ‘epal’  found  in negative mode annoying people around, refer to one who wants to  appear clever, demeaning those around  him/her,  and appearing authoritative but is not.  Precisely. ‘epal’  comes from a Filipino word “mapapel”. It’s  slang for  scene stealers, attention grabbers  and refer to people who get in the  scene and grab a role  not necessarily theirs to  handle or discuss. 

Berlin McIntosh, a friend from Bontoc and now based in the US with her daughter and husband  says an ‘epal’ is a jabberwock. So what’s a jabberwock.. A jabberwock is an 'epal' hahahaha.

A jabberwock is a visionary character  in Lewis Carroll's  "What Alice Found There" and "Through the Looking Glass". The jabberwock-dragon has eyes that burn, with a horn and long spikes from his head to his neck and yellow wings, has four legs and two wings frightening and  terrorizing everyone.

A real ‘epal’ if you ask me. An ‘epal’ who unnecessarily grabs attention and intimidates or rather  irritates those around him/her with pompous and annoying language.

There are  epals and jabberwocks in  this whole wide world  from the north pole to the south pole. You can also find them in your wide or small circles. And if you have one near or far from you, irritates and annoys you, the best way to deal with an ‘epal’ is to ignore one as arguing with a difficult person will wear you out unnecessarily. Lewis Carroll says, "Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!...”

Otherwise, Lewis Carroll goes through his poem “to slay” the jabberwock instead,  or as a  friend advised, ‘destroy’ them  as they could be irritating and make life as nasty as their epalness.

Comes now  Senator Mirriam Defensor’s  anti-epal bill, “An Act Prohibiting Public Officers from Claiming Credit through Signage Announcing a Public Works Project.”The proposed law penalizes  public officials who put on tarpaulins and posters their smug and smiling faces  a public work they are doing, or claiming credit  for another’s  work.  President Pnoy  earlier campaigned against this annoying practise. Being ‘epal’ in the political scene breeds corruption and political patronage, clearly a case of being trapo.  

 One thing is sure. From  street language to  the halls of  Senate to  Facebook, an ‘epal’ is annoying.

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