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Bacolod City, PhilippinesWednesday, August 1, 2012
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From the Center
with Rolly Espina
OPINIONS

Sea surges and
their dangers

Rolly Espina

What has happened to Valladolid and Hinoba-an towns simply typifies the damage that sea surges can wreak on coastal localities.

Especially during the habagat, when sea surges are expected. They are actually not recent phenomena. They have been going on for years, even decades.

The problem is not a periodic phenomena but the influx of illegal settlers. Some of these build their houses just nearby the affected areas and just hoping against hope that God will spare them from the anticipated destructive sea surge visits.

To a certain extent, some of these can be averted. For example, Valladolid has its seawall guarding the stretch of the South National Highway from Pulupandan to Valladolid.

The sea wall, up to a certain extent, has managed to protect the highway. Thus, the link between the south and Bacolod has yet to be cut.

But the time may come when the seawall may no longer be able to withstand the steady pounding of the Guimaras Strait, especially with the stronger habagat from the south doubling the sea surge strength.

The same with the barangays of Bacuyanagan, Alim, Culipapa, and Asia in Hinobaan. Asia, in particular, is the most appealing area because it is one of the few places in the south which boast of white beaches, the equal of Boracay's.

The most important thing is for the local government units to come out with development plans that will take into consideration preventing settlers from putting up their homes in areas adjacent to where sea surges normally hit. So also with river banks.

The problem is that local government authorities hardly have the will to prevent illegal settlers putting up their homes in dangerous places. But, then again the fundamental problem seems to be that they are also voters and local authorities are loath to stop them with prospects of losing captive voters.

For the meantime, however, the only thing that local governments can do is to provide its local disaster management councils with the wherewithal to extend assistance to displaced homeowners.

But, you know, that that is an expensive thing to do. The better is to really map out steps designed to avert precisely these preventable incidents that are actually expensive and unfair to law-abiding citizens of a locality.

But then, who listens to these advices?

****

It seems strange that the DOJ has unilaterally transferred the trial of the case against the accused in the killing of Kabankalan RTC Judge Henry Arles to Manila.

When was that decision made? Were the accused asked their opinion about the move?

True, the three principal suspects had asked for DOJ protection, but did that include a request to transfer the site of the hearing and trial to Manila . Understandably the Sandiganbayan is there. Still, there must be due process before a decision on the site of the trial.

Another thing, since the case involved Arles, former RTC Judge of Kabankalan City it is understandable that the trio have reason to fear their possible liquation by their former comrades, or revenge by Arles supporters.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is correct. An accused is considered innocent until proven otherwise.

That also means that his relatives, even father, cannot be accused of anything to do with the killing. He is presumed just as innocent as the accused.

But, I think Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez still will have to weather the public reaction to the indictment of Ilog Mayor John Paul Alvarez, his son. And another possible flak is that it will also affect his sister, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, a re-electionist.

Luckily, it seems nobody with sufficient status has until now come out against Rep. Alvarez. But who knows?

While the opposition still has to show its voice and shout out their plans to contest the UNA coalition bets, it is sure that sooner or later, somebody from the opposite group is bound to take up the cudgels against the UNA. That means they will go to town with the issue, even if it remains independent on the outcome of the trial of the case.

In fairness to Marañon, despite the efforts to rile him, he remains committed to his vice governor. He has not raised any adverse comment against Lim-ao. This time, he may have a hard time trying to justify his choice as possible vice-gubernatorial bet still during the coming UNA coalition meet.

Well, the only thing we can do now is just to wait for further developments on the case. All eyes will be focused on the coming battle for the mayoralty in Ilog. The Gequillanas may have lost their best bet for the post with the gunning down of Councilor Antonio “Karem” Gequillana last year at the East View Hotel along Bacolod's Circumferential Road, still the Gequillana clan must be acknowledged in that town.*


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