Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Greening the Roadsides

Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez with the Aklan Provincial Tourism Office is continuing the re-greening program which is started in the first half of the year 2009. This is a very laudable project worthy of continuing. Better still institutionalize it.

Re-greening has certainly improved the environment particularly the roadsides. Just one thing however. Let it be done not only to beautify the roads, but more importantly to make it safe both to the motorists and the pedestrians.

Promoting safety through re-greening is quite easy. Take care of the two meters side road from the edge of the cemented/asphalted portion. Make this green by planting choice grasses. Allow pedestrians the use of this portion especially in the thickly populated portion of the road. This will minimize if not totally prevent traffic accidents.

Flowers and ornamen-tals plants must be planted two meters away from the edge of the road. Fencing of the roadside and planting it with ornamentals or flowers are no no in road beautification and safety. Leave a portion of the road for pedestrians.

Doing so will compel pedestrians to walk on the road making them vulnerable to traffic accident. They maybe sideswiped or bumped.
Let us re-green and render the road side safe for our people.

Hon. Ramon Gelito

Hon. Ramon Gelito, SP member, West of Aklan is left the lone opposition in the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Hon Daisy Sucro Briones, Hon. Nemesio P. Neron, and Hon. Rodson Mayor filed their respective applications with Tibyog several months ago. Their memberships were formalized after their oath taking in New Washington last week.

But will Hon. Gelito remain opposition? He belongs to Aklan Independent Movement which Ms. Vicky Ramos-Antonino organized. She was heard she approves the program, projects, and activities of Cong. Joeben T. Miraflores and Gov. Carlito S. Marquez. Last month, Gov. Marquez welcomed Ms. Vicky Ramos-Antonino as co-chair of the newly organized Aklan Provincial Tourism Council.

Last week, Hon. Gelito wrote Vice Governor Gabrielle V. Calizo-Quimpo of his intention to be member of all SP committees to represent the opposition.

Will Hon. Gelito get the majority votes so that his intention to be a member of all SP committees is realized? It must be remembered that all the nine (9) regular SP members are now with the United Leadership Coalition (ULC). Also the two ex-officio members are in allegiance with the ULC. Vice Gov. Gabrielle V. Calizo-Quimpo is with ULC.

It is easy to imagine. The Aklan SP Session Hall in Kalibo appears to be the loneliest place for Hon. Ramon Gelito. Who will speak for you?

Trust Automated
Polls System

According to Mr. Recto I. Vidal, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Aklan urged the voters to put their trust in next year’s automated elections. The poll body gave its assurance it has put in place safeguards to ensure May 2010 elections will be clean.

"It’s just having faith on the system," said Lorena Tumbagahan of the Comelec Aklan provincial office.

Tumbagahan told media persons during the Saturday "Kapehan sa Aklan" that the election machines are "equipped with security features designed to frustrate any attempt of hackers to tamper or manipulate the system."

She also revealed that simulation exercises will also be conducted by Smartmatic, a firm tasked to provide the election machines for the 2010 polls. This will give the voters a hands-on experience on the mechanics of the automated elections.

She also allayed fears of failure of elections in remote areas wherein a possible power failure might ensue.

"We have instituted a back-up system with spare batteries in case power outage occurs so we have nothing to worry about," she bared./MP