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| Vol. XX No. 46 |
January 24, 2001 |
Virac, Catanduanes |
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The Catanduanes Tribune Rawis, Virac Catanduanes, Philippines - 5001 Tel. No.: (052) 811-1267 or 811-2640 Fax No.: (052) 811-1267 E-mail:
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Publisher-Editor Edwin A. Gianan |
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Advertising- Circulation Manager Simeon G. Cueno |
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Web Master: Calgary, Canada |
Briefly Yours
By Joel Son Panti
An
island by himself
The
two huge concrete stairs on both sides outside of the Virac Supermarket
have defaced the market building and yet they don't serve the purpose for
which they were constructed.
That
stairs facing the Citizen Drug remains closed to human traffic while the
one opposite the Dynamega Hardware of Napol Co is used only by one or two
market goers.
Whoever
conceived of that "bright" idea has definitely not conducted a
feasibility study. It was a hit-and-miss affair expressive of a rural
mentality.
That
stairs opposite the Cua-Mendoza drugstore, better known as Citizen drug,
is the sanctuary of sidewalk vendors, thus uglifying the now ugly sidewalk
of the busy major Virac thoroughfare.
The
sidewalk along this line is filled with vendors, thus giving people the
impression that the municipal government is ignorant of sidewalk
management.
Or
it simply has not cared about the orderliness of the town's sidewalk. We
are now on a new millennium, yet our officials seem to act like we still
belong to the Spanish era.
May
we call on Mayor Alberto to put or bring back sanity in our streets and
sidewalks?
Immediately
after Gov. Singson exposed to the whole world the network of corruption
perpetuated by Pres. Erap, Rep. Verceles bolted from the ruling party,
together with other ranking officials.
Not
to be outdone, Gov. Sanchez, in a jiffy, rushed to Malacanang and offered
his full and unconditional support to the then President Erap.
Now
that Erap is out, what would happen to the governor? He was kicked out
from the LAKAS-NUCD when Lakas national headquarters recognized the
election of Vice Gov. Al Aquino as provincial chair. And Lakas National
Chair Alvarez does not even know who Gov. Sanchez is, if ever, only the
name. Verceles, who came from Lakas, may call the shots here in
coordination with Vice Gov. Aquino.
If
so, what political party will Sanchez run under? That is on the assumption
that he will still venture to run for reelection despite his dismal
failure as governor.
Sanchez
tried his best to convince NTC Commissioner Joseph Santiago to take him
in. He was politely rejected.
So,
he went back to Bro. Rene Velarde to convince him not to abandon his
ambition to run for Congress in tandem with him. To no avail.
In
short, he is an island by himself! If he is practical and uses common
sense, he should hang up his political gloves for good.
We
met Palta Small barangay captain Larry Sarmiento and asked him what action
has he undertaken to effect the actual construction of the now forested
barangay road, the one and only barangay road.
Sarmiento
said that the P100,000 given by Rep. Veceles had been used in procuring
sand and gravel. "But this will cover only few meters of gravel
road," he said.
We
asked him if Mayor Cito Alberto has given his barrio some assistance for
the road, he simply smiled.
Residents
claim that the municipal government has already alloted some amounts but
these remain unreleased "because he is a Sarmiento and related to
Ribong Sarmiento."
May
we appeal to Mayor Alberto to help Palta Small realize its only barangay
road? Mr. Mayor, politics is addition. If you help the barrio, kahit
papaano, dadagdag ang boto mo. If you don't, mababawasan pa.
The
illegal transporters of illegal lumber in barangay Buyo here in Virac have
come up with a very novel or unusual way of evading arrest.
Perhaps,
out of the profit they derived from this illegal trade, they purchased a
mini bus that could accommodate some 30 pieces of 2x3x10 sawn lumber
completely unseen or undetected. The seats were custom-built or built
precisely to hide some 12 pieces of lumber while the backrest could hide
three pieces, or a total of 15 for each side-seat and back rest.
In
one trip, the illegal transporters can deliver 30 pieces. "Since mini
bus bearing plate No. EVD743 has much as five trips a day, Lolito Zafe and
Verman Zafe, driver and owner, respectively can deliver some 150 pieces of
illegal lumber daily," says PN Sgt. Bonifacio Robles, the one who
planned the apprehension and confiscation last Jan. 19 of some 18 pieces
of 2x3x10 lumber concealed inside or at the bottom of the seats and
backrests.
A
case has already been filed in court and bail set at P25,000 each. The
mini bus remains impounded at the DENR compound. Robles' team was able to
discover the seats backrests built precisely to conceal lumber.
Gov.
Sanchez offered a compromise with the SP. "I'll monetize the accrued
leave if you will approve the purchase of shotguns and motorcycles,"
he was quoted by Vice Gov. Aquino saying.
Hanggang
ngayon ba gusto mo pa rin bumili ng mga baril? Para sa ano? At mga
motorsiklo, para sa ano? Para gamitin mo para sa election? If you really
care for the provincial employees, you will monetize their leave credits
without any condition.
Kaawa-awa
naman ng mga empleyado.
