Focus on the
local problems

Neither BacoLaodiat nor the ZTE Senate hearing has succeeded in directing locals from their focus on local problems that have been hounding them for sometime.

For all it was worth, there were a lot of diversions in BacoLaodiat. And some of them were really worth attending. But therein somehow discouraged many who could otherwise have provided overflow crowds for these affairs.

And while most found themselves riveted to their television screens listening to Rodolfo Lozada Jr. give his sensational exposes on the ZTE broadband deal as well as his “kidnapping”, there was no gainsaying that ANC apparently had overblown the whole thing by playing and replaying the Senate hearing several times.

That gave the impression of an overblown event. And it could impact on as nauseatingly too much.

Usually, local talk shows and broadcasters pick up sensational stories in the news and dwell on them lengthily. But yesterday many of them also shoved aside the Lozada incident and took up local problems. An indicator that shows — whether as impressive as Bacolaodiat could distinct them from their concentration on some of the long problems that have plagued Bacolodnons.

Most local TV commentators found themselves riveted to the traditional issue of flood control of the city. I listened to the claims by the Bantay Baha and the protestations by Councilor Bobby Rojas that his team had been doing things. Slowly, but at least, they are moving.

But, later, I found myself listening interestingly to Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. talking to two Bantay Bayan personalities. The most candid on the mess of Bonifacio Street . And the complaints by merchants and businessmen.

The most startling thing that small businesses claimed was the fact that they had to go out too as they could not generate sales inside the buildings of Bonifacio Street .

And there were findings by Abello and company that the bulk of the vendors along the street are not from Bacolod . Several of them were reportedly from Cauayan, etc. Out-of-towners who have been tolerated by the city officials to vend their products there.

Interjected another member – the same with other squatters in the Banago area. Many of them reportedly are from Bantayan and other areas from outside of Bacolod .

That, pointed out Abello belies the claim by city officials that these are “botantes”. In short, voters. Even if they are, so what? They are tolerated by simply because they are sure to vote the administration bets in the next polls!

Then, there was the video of Sitio Kimara settlers. One of them claim that they had transferred there from Barangay Handumanan way back in 2002. And they still have to get the promised assistance from city officials.

And that resettlement area is supposed to solve the problem of illegal occupants from Banago.

Councilor Gamboa also complained that he had been subjected to a lot of criticisms including from his colleagues in Sangguniang Panlalawigan for allegedly slow-handling of traffic problem.

But, instead of throwing the towel, Gamboa said he is willing to handle the critics provided the accusation is doing something positive rather for not having done anything.

I wanted to phone Councilor Gamboa about the sight of “komisyonistas” and the jeepneys along Lacson Street in front of Robinsons and the absence of traffic enforcers. These public vehicles are not supposed to stay along in the place. But instead enforcers, barkers have taken over the place and supposedly getting the loot every hour of the day.

Later, Tony and Ellen Yap were in the vehicle driven by Barangay chair Rocky Lizares and waited against the jeepneys parked three-deep at the corner of Ninoy Aquino Drive and the street leading from behind the Bob's place. And one of them virtually closed off traffic by simply arrogantly putting the hood of his jeep in the middle of the road and refusing to heed horns of other vehicles.

Again, there was no enforcer around.

The problem, when you have people talking about local issues other than sensational national development, what can you make of it? Only that the situation had reached gargantuan proportions and they simply want something and intend to be embarrassed.

But one thing, that cannot be denied. Lozada was asked to sign his request for police protection only after a fait accompli. And the police are still trying to come up with all possible stories to the government officials claim that he had been kidnapped.

The CCTV shows that he was brusquely taken in by his alleged protective escorts and brought to a waiting car at the tarmac.

In short, why?*

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