Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Asphalt Overlay at C. Laserna Is Still Incomplete

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo held a flying visit to Kalibo on Saturday, January 14. She proceeded to the Kalibo Cathedral and prayed for the success of her campaign to amend the Philippines Constitution to suit to her needs, for economic take off and victory against terrorism.
In the cathedral, she submitted to a “paeapak”, a traditional healing, remedy beyond medical science wherein the image of the Sr. Sto. Niño is rubbed on the head, shoulders and head of the believers.
In Aklan National High School For Arts and Trades, Kalibo, Arroyo distributed few volumes of books, land titles, PhilHealth cards, and inaugurated a school building.
She partook a sumptuous lunch with Kalibo Mayor Raymar S. Rebaldo, Cong. Florencio T. Miraflores and Governor Carlito S. Marquez among others. She also held a few minutes interaction with the media at Capt. Gil Mijares Memorial Bldg. Kalibo.
The government must have spent close to a million pesos for the two hour trip of Ms. Arroyo to Kalibo only to distribute land titles, books and PhilHealth cards. This job of distribution can be easily done by a releasing clerk of the offices concerned. She is just wasting the people’s money. She could have devoted that time to solve the more pressing national problems.
What good will media interaction brings to the state when journalists are hard pressed for time and the subjects to be asked are pre screened? Ms. Arroyo could have devoted a part of her time to ask the farmers if they still get a margin of profit at P10 per kilogram NFA buying price of palay. Or ask the farmers if the P3 billion farm modernization has reached them last year?
The Council of State meeting held in Malacañang, Manila on January 24 appeared to be a political party meeting where the agenda consisted of two matters addressed to strengthen the members’ hold on positions and power. The agenda distributed during the meeting consisted of Constitutional Amendments and No Election. Sen. Edgardo Angara managed to insert socio economic development. Former President Fidel V. Ramos pointed out, “ no election in 2007 is a waiting national disaster.

-o-

Detract, according to the dictionary, means to take or draw away; to belittle; to disparage; or to take something desirable away from.
Mr. Renato Albar, General Manager of the MKWD used the term “detractors” as he called those persons who analyzed the actions of the MKWD Board of Directors and Management. He used this term during his interview with Kaibahang Lynette Mendoza, DYRU in the morning of Wednesday, January 25. Mr. Albar may remember that MKWD is a public institution where the members of BOD and management are trustees who may come and go. The MKWD as a public institution has a purpose for its being and must stay as far as it functions according to the purpose for which it is built. The analysis of some interested individuals is not to disparage Mr. Albar but to point out the strength and weaknesses of their actions for the consideration of the trustees, for the common public good.
Mr. Albar, few years ago, denied some irregular matters to have happen regarding the purchase of P25 million materials until the truth came. He was meted a token penalties of 15 days suspension. Mr. Albar will be highly


appreciated by the concessionaires when he reveals to the public the result of the investigation surrounding the transaction of the P25 million controversial pipes.

-o-

The Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati Atihan festival 2006 has long passed. However, the asphalt overlay at C. Laserna Street is still not completed. Cong. Florencio T. Miraflores pledged to complete the asphalt overlay on that street but until this writing, the asphalting is yet to happen. Cong. Miraflores ,has pledged to asphalt the street during the launching of the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati Atihan Festival 2006 held at Capt. Gil Mijares Bldg., Kalibo on December 28, 2005. Maybe, he can do it now.

-o-

At 7:00 A.M. January 24, Ms. Alma Lamahan Reyes was walking by the roadside on her way to the Numancia Integrated School, Numancia. After crossing the road at the left front corner of the Numancia Municipal Hall, a jeepney just suddenly came running fast and sideswiped her. She dropped her head, face down on the road. Some good samaritan brought her to the hospital where she was pronounced “dead on arrival”.
The sudden death of Ms. Alma Lamahan Reyes was not only due to the ill maintained vehicle but due to the planting or fencing of sidewalks thereby closing it to pedestrians. As a consequence, pedestrians has no choice but walk on the road making them more vulnerable to traffic accidents. The jeepney that bumped Ms. Reyes appeared dilapidated with no right front headlight. /MP