On Baciwa and Bredco

Historians have made a prediction. The future world war will be fought over water. Not over the sea but over the possession of water supply. We have seen the start with the conflict between our own water system and a family.

Latest report is that Manila is sinking. And it is because of a conflict over water. Many big businesses and families, reported Max Soliven, are using water illegally.

I talked to BACIWA Chairmen Pompeyo Querubin and I was happy to hear that Baciwa, and now with the help of City Mayor Bing Leonardia, is addressing the problem.

I agree with Pompey that water is owned by the state. And its flow must not be impeded.

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I support Baciwa because, as the city grows by leaps and bounds, our need for water is also tremendous. And if we do not look out, the problem can be far greater in the future.

And the solutions must be now. Let us promote the planting of trees. It was a welcome news that, before he stepped down as DENR Secretary, Michael Defensor cancelled more than 8,000 logging permits.

Let people howl. We need environment protection. We need water.

Trees are the sanctuary of water. Wrote Thomas Eliot in 1942, "Water and fire shall rot,/ The marred foundations we forgot;/ Of sanctuary and choir,/ This is the death of water and fire."

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Negotiations over Bredco are ongoing between it and the city. I am confident of an advantageous outcome to both the city and Bredco.

I agree with the mayor's stand of negotiating. I believe the port can be run with efficiency only by Bredco. The city cannot run it well. It will just become a dumping ground of casuals making the operation inefficient.

And Bredco will become not a port but employment agency.

Where else can we find a government office run efficiently than one by a private office? That's why we have the laissez faire doctrine.

This means effective governance with the least interference by government in private businesses. In the principle of free enterprise and the free play of market forces, businesses should be left to plan their course and implement them that will, in the end, result to efficiency in the free competition.

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Laissez faire is a French term and the principle was originated by Jean Baptist Colbert, finance minister to French King Louis XIV.

This was picked up by Adam Smith who made it also a part of his advocacy of free enterprise.

Many French scholars even believe free enterprise system should not be attributed to Adam Smith but to Colbert.

Later laissez faire was eroded by collectivist policies which increasingly limits the freedom and activities of the individuals in the name of the public good.

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I was there at L'Fisher Hotel invited by Mayor Bing Leonardia to join him to listen to the presentation of a business group planning to open a call center here in Bacolod.

That's true. It can hire as much as 800 people here.

Let us have more enterprises opening in Bacolod. For 2006, said three people, I forgot their names, interviewed last December over television in Manila on the prospects of 2006, said the best prospects are in communication, entertainment, and media.

We just don't know what are in store in the information highway. That's why the magic word is "IT" or Information Technology.

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It pays to have a good lawyer. Hinoba-an Mayor Paking Bilbao breezed through a court case where he faced the charge of illegal logging. Willy Mirano studied his case well.

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Considering his track record, it will be welcome if Supt. Ifor Magbanua is named provincial director for Negros Occidental of Internal Affairs Service.

Napolcom has recommended the appointment of Magbanua. IAS has the power to investigate complaints and recommend sanctions against erring policemen.

Only officers with unblemished record are given this appointment.

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Finance Secretary Gary Teves and BIR Commissioner Mario Buñag will spearhead the launching of the tax campaign on Friday afternoon at the Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel.

Locally it is organized by BIR Region 12 Director Esmeralda Tabule and Bacolod RDO Mansueta "Sweet" Rios.

The purpose is to make people understand the expanded value-added tax.

People cannot be expected to support a government program they do not understand.

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The National Food Authority has assured Negrenses of sufficient rice supply. Yes, because government will import heavily to meet the needs.

A few days ago, former NFA Administrator Tanchanco complained that government has been importing rice very heavily to the detriment of local rice producers.

What we are actually doing, Tanchanco said, is subsidizing foreign rice producers.

Ever since we have known that officials make killings in the importation of rice. What do they care if local farmers do not have the incentive to produce?

In many countries, their first concern are their own producers. That is why they even go to the extent of subsidizing their own farmers. We, on the other hand, subsidize foreign producers because of corruption.*

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