Baguio Midland Courier Website

Save the Planet Earth

The onset of the summer time hasn’t dried up the memories of the typhoon that brought large volumes of water that washed out the properties and even lives of several people. We then had more than enough water that even flooded the lowland part of our country. Many had been wishing that the rains would soon stop pouring.

Yes, it totally stopped now, but it left the farmlands dried that crops are dying due to lack of water. Sayote plantations aren’t supplied with water and no longer bear fruit that would be sold to the public market. Even the creeks that used to produce water for irrigation are dried up. The media keeps on airing to the public that El Niño is now affecting our country. There could be shortage of electricity since dams would not have enough water.

The saddest part of the ongoing problem are the forest fires caused by humans. If we try to view the mountain part of our place; fires devour the trees that should be helping in the cooling effect of the environment. Furthermore, if trees are gone, water sources would also be affected.

Humans really find ways to destroy their environment for temporary needs. Maybe, even if thousands of disasters would come into our life, humans would still be the cause of the problem. Our government prepares many plans for these problems and we constituents are hopeful that the laws and plans would soon be fairly implemented. Our only earth may already be old and tired of bearing the illnesses we cause. Everyone is hopeful that this planet we live in would last longer.

Public consultation on the La Trinidad mall

The voice of the people is the voice of God. This indispensable doctrine is often ignored by wannabe public servants for various reasons. Be it attributed to self and hollow interest in the public service, the people must forever be vigilant if only to cherish sovereignty.

Previously, the La Trinidad council under the Build and Operate Transfer scheme enacted a resolution for the establishment of a mall by Jarco in the busy business district of the town. Against various oppositions, the mayor carried the resolution contending further that under the BOT law public consultation is unwarranted.

Conveniently suppressed by the mayor and the council, the project is actually under the confirmation of NEDA. Truly, one cannot find the word “public consultation” directly in the BOT law, especially for an ordinary public servant. However a quick scan of its implementing rules and regulation, one will notice that projects costing above P200 million need the confirmation of the Investment Coordination Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority (section 2.7). The ICC guidelines for the review of projects before confirmation, states that the LGU may submit a report on the conduct of public consultations for information and reference (section e). It appears then, that the mayor and the LT council have reason to celebrate because the guidelines indicate that they may or may not submit a report on public consultation.

But, if I were the public servant I would rather give a public consultation. Because, in the absence of it, NEDA is again mandated under the Local Government Code, not under the BOT law, to conduct periodic consultation with non-governmental and people’s organizations, and other concerned sectors of the community before any project or program is implemented in their respective jurisdictions.

Since, public officers are mere agents of the people’s will, the power to approve rebounds to the discretion of the community as an essence of the sovereign rule. This must always be remembered by anyone who wants to enter public service.

Indeed, the problem arises when the public servants think that the office is their own palace where they are the King and Queens and their words are the law. At this point, the people are again being reminded of their sovereign rights.