How long can we pay
through the nose?

While we are crying to high heavens to be able to make both ends meet, it seems that the government and the private sector are raising prices of commodities without care on when we can outlive our ability to pay.

That's the case in point when I ask when Secretary Almendras will come up with the explanation on why the price of fuel in Bacolod is higher by P5 from that of Metro Manila.

The problem is that it has been almost more than one year that the issue had been brought to his attention. So far, however, there has been no explanation whatsoever. In short, we are allowed to continue accepting the inevitable until we finally give up and just slide with the situation.

And, then, we have the Central Negros Electric Cooperative announcing the next round of increases in our electric bills. Until when will these raises continue?

Soon, I myself, admit, I shall not be able to any longer pay the ever growing bills. Worse, I have not had any increase in my pension payments.

But I am better off than a lot of Bacolodnons and Negrenses. Most of them can hardly afford the price of basic commodities.

***

Lately, there has been an alarm from health authorities on the increase in the number of suicides. Perhaps it may have escaped their notice that one reason is the despair of the poor that they can no longer cope with the problems of their lives?

If you notice, there has been an increase in the number of akyat bahay incidents as well as hold-ups and snatchings. Tigkiriwi, the police cry. That is not an excuse. Actually, it's mostly because people simply have gotten desperate over their plight. When rates of commodities go up, they earn virtually nothing to tide them over for their basic needs.

You know, our neighborhood in Kalamansi Street, of Capitol Heights in Villamonte, has suddenly become a better place to live in. There are the two-storey houses built by the MIGS corporation.

But that also signaled in the increase in the akyat bahay incidents. The latest was the attempt by one to get into one of the two-storey houses but was foiled because of the alert household help. But Toto Plagata, who lives near our house found his windows opened by the use of a pole with which the thieves managed to get out of his household items, including cell phones, etc.

Later, I learned that a late night resident was held up at knife point at the corner of Kalamansi and Avocado. The victim just meekly gave up his things, including, of course, his cash.

Right in our subdivision, I have heard reports of several break ins. Which reason prompted me to ask the Paghidaet group to send some of their men in the area to discourage thieves and robbers as well as hold-uppers.

The reason for my decision is because I hardly have not seen any policeman in the area. I even think that I may call on Tom Martir, Talisay City's police chief, to scout the area. He knows more or less who are the ones operating in subdivision. Most likely, people from nearby – Fortune Towne and Villamonte.

Just make them aware that the law will not allow such transgressions to go unabated. And countenanced.

***

I guess the hope of Rep. Albee Benitez for an acceptable compromise on the 2013 gubernatorial race between Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez may be headed toward the declaration of a free zone.

That will allow both Marañon and Alvarez to run against each other. A not so welcome news. But it will definitely still result in maintaining the UNA or what is left of it to retain their hold over the province since there is no appreciable opponent from any other group.

Marañon had already announced his reelection bid. So with Alvarez who claims he has the blessing of former Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco.

So, the only way the problem can be settled is for both of them to run against each other. Very unlikely as this stage of anybody surfacing to run against either of the two or against both.

Based on the outcome of last week's meeting in Manila by the House representatives and the UNA leaders, largely NPC actually, there seems to be no consensus that could be reached as to which of the two should be the official candidate of the United Negros Alliance.

So, why not just go ahead and declare Negros a free zone? And let the best man win.

Unfortunately, with the Arles case hanging as a sword of Damocles over the heads of Vice Governor Alvarez and his daughter, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, it seems that this is an issue that may refuse to go away even with the election campaign ongoing.

Whom will it hurt? That remains to be seen. Since the death of the late Negros Governor Rafael Lacson, Negros had never had a political scandal of such magnitude, even if we judge it on the basis of the presumption of the innocence of the accused.

But the memory of Negrenses just don't fade away so easily. That will be a shadow that will haunt the UNA or the NPC bets.*

back to top