From the Centerwith Rolly Espina
Very rarely do I attend press conferences. Yesterday was one which I did not want to miss. The press conference at the residence of Rep. Monico Puentevella. And it was an enlightening one that could have lifted up the spirits of the frustrated manners of BAHA. I understand from the mediamen who had attended the meeting between BAHA leaders and the members of Bacolod 's officialdom, that it was marked by a bitter exchange of words with Agnes Jalandoni and Jean Trebol reportedly telling the councilors that they are fed up with promises. We are already fed up with promises, was how they reportedly put it across the city dads. But the irate housewives and their husbands could have had their spirits lifted up a bit when Newks produced the letters from DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane pointing out that the DPWH will conduct the comprehensive study of the Bacolod drainage system and construction of a citywide flood control system for the city. Ebdane said the agency will start the study using its fiscal year 2008 preliminary detailed engineering funds. In short, as Newks pointed out, this study will then be submitted to the National Economic Development Administration and then submitted to either the Japan or South Korean banks for loans to undertake the comprehensive citywide flood control system. DPWH engineers, whoever, also reported that while they are about to start the cleaning up and dredging of the Mandalagan River , only 10 homeowners had agreed to remove their homes out of a total of 50. The city council however, solved this problem by declaring the illegal squatters along Banago as nuisance per se and thus paving the way for their relocation elsewhere. Puentevella pointed out that only the city has the police power to remove squatters, not a congressman nor the DPWH. But what caught my attention was the point raised by former Barangay chairman El Cid Familiaran who said that the city could stimulate barangay-wide enthusiasm to keep their communities clean by reviving the green and clean ordinance of former Councilor Lyndon Caña. That was the key that prompted the city's barangay captains to embark on a competition to keep villages clean and sparkling because they were given plaques by former Mayor Joy Valdez, Familiaran said. Its revival, he said, could serve as an incentive for barangay officials to embark on solid waste management that could rid their communities of clogged canals and litter, especially plastics, he added. I shall write later about other encouraging developments as reported by Newks. But one must admit that the congressman evaded efforts by some mediamen to bait him into taking issue with city officials. I'll just do what I have to do. And, if necessary, I shall coordinate and cooperate with city officials. Not roil what they are already doing,” was how Puentevella put it. The Anti-Baha alliance members and officers must reach the limit of their patience when they refused to listen to plans by the city to address the problem of floods in the city. Agnes Jalandoni, for example, is the “epitome of courtesy and civilized behavior”, but she reportedly lost her composure Wednesday and refused to listen to the explanations by SP members. In short, when she served notice that it was payback time, she virtually told city officials that should they fail to act on the problem of floodings in the city, many are going to feel the fury of the Anti-Baha Alliance. That serves as a major warning to all city officials. Visayan Daily Star
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