Sunday, October 21, 2007

Barangay Election In Mt. Province

Let me relate some of the practices done during elections of the smallest local government unit specially in Mountain Province but usually it's almost the same throughout the Philippines except in highly urbanized places. The more relatives a candidate, he has more chances of winning even though he is a gambler and a drunkard or a petty thief. The usual reason if their integrity is questioned is answered in a very positive way, they would say that if these candidate will win they will stop being a thief because he has some allowance from the government so he won't steal from the civilians anymore.How about the gambler? well, he won't gamble the wife savings because he will have a source to capitalize on his vice. The drunkard will now be ashamed to be pissing on his pants in public places if he is elected because he is now a public figure. The electorates are always forgetful specially when given a small amount or a gift from the politician, or they were invited to his birthday party which usually fall before the election. Pretending to be very helpful a month before the election day is the most common gimmick these politicians do to win the people to their side. Surprisingly these politicians are always back all the time, they have mastered the art of politicking. They are in the government service to buy the people, fool the people and off the people.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Five years ago I was talking to Eric Singson,the Vice Governor of Ilocos Sur that time, I ask him if they have plans to create a lateral road link artery for Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur. He answered by describing a plan to connect Vigan, Sagada and Banaue as a major lateral highway connecting three provinces and three regions.HE said, that the highway will be traversing the famous Tirad Pass at Del Pilar, down to the municipality of Quirino Ilocos Sur then up the municipality of Besao and Sagada then to Bontoc Mountain Province where it will link with an on going road concreting towards Banaue Ifugao.Its a good plan though, Its a short cut to the Cordilleras grunting there is a ferry boat from Manila to Vigan just like those old Spanish days. From Vigan to Ifugao will be a short yet historic and picturesque trip. Well, just like this writer Eric was just dreaming that someday the Highway will soon be realized. Yes because even the bridge connecting the town of Cervantes Ilocos Sur and Tadian Mountain Province Was done halfway across the river towards Mountain province side and up to this day it's still unfinished, the last time I saw the bridge was six years ago and until now the project was abandoned with the construction materials rusting away. The Igorots and Ilocanos who are supposed to benefit from this very important bridge have to wait for eternity maybe for the bridge to be finished, the government should make it a criminal act when a contractor abandons his project, this is an economic sabotage and should be dealt with severely, but many lawmakers will not allow it because they are the men behind these dummy contractors.