Pressure, Pressure

Why is Tacloban making such a fuss about the proposal to move its airport to Palo, which is also in Leyte? The Department of Transportation and Communication has claimed that this is being proposed because the present airport is located in a low-lying area where it is susceptible to floods or storm surges. This had been demonstrated in the visit of Supertyphoon Yolanda last year when the airport, as media reports described it, was “devastated”.

***

It seems, however, that politics has again gotten into the issue because, of course, Tacloban is the virtual kingdom of the politically entrenched Romualdez family, and it is no secret that there is no love lost between this clan and that of those in the present administration. What they are insisting on is just the improvement of the present airport because, as one of them said, “Storm surges do not come regularly”. I guess the guy has never heard of climate change.

***

But Tacloban is not the only local government that had to give up its airport to another venue which, anyway, is within the province, and is considered safer in the proverbial long run. Note that so many other airports have been moved in the past years. The Manila International Airport had been transferred to Parañaque, where passengers and aircrafts enjoy better facilities. The airport of Iloilo has been moved to Cabatuan, a neighboring town. Even the Bacolod airport is now actually located in Silay. So why should the case of Tacloban be so special?

***

Meanwhile, we have been pestered very regularly by readers who are asking us to do something about the garbage collection in their neighborhoods that has become intolerable. They want to know why the city is not doing something about it. We had to tell them that, as far as we know, the present waste gatherer, called Enviroking, is being paid monthly by the city, so whether they collect or not, they get paid. In the previous administration, the collector – I forgot the name – was paid according to the weight of the garbage collected, which was probably why they were more efficient – the more they collect, the bigger the pay.

***

But another reader claims to know why the present garbage collector seems to be no longer interested to be retained. He said he has heard “whispers”, as in the Iloilo Convention Center claims, that the company can no longer stand the Pressure it keeps getting from so many sides. Pressures here, and Pressures there, this reader claims. Asked what that kind of Pressure means, he would only wink mischievously and tell us not to act as if we were born yesterday. Oh, that kind! OK.

***

Is this good news or bad news? A bill has been passed that will allow foreigners to own banks in the Philippines, or to buy into existing ones by as much as 100 percent. So we may find ourselves choosing whether to patronize a bank that is American-owned, or Chinese and Japanese-owned, or any other country with businessmen interested in making money here. That is good reason for locally-owned banks to perk up and not to be complacent in the way they treat their depositors or borrowers. When the foreigners come in, people will have a choice already.

***

By the way, not only three Pinoy boxers trounced their opponents in this weekend’s fights, but actually five. Aside from Donnie Nietes, Milan Milendo and Prince Albert Pagara, who beat their Mexican foes, AJ Banal also won over Thai Maxsaisaisithong, and Mark Magsayo over Korean Jung Moon-sun. But Merlito Sabillo was TKOd by his Indonesian opponent in the fourth round. Five to one – not bad at all. I bet foreign boxers are now thinking twice before agreeing to fight with Pinoys in the ring.

***

Alas for the Los Angeles Lakers, it looks as if they will get eliminated if their record so far does not make a U-turn. In their last game against the Golden State Warriors, Kobe marked an amazing score of44 points but it was not enough to topple the Warriors. Last week the Cavaliers were gloating over the feat of Lebron James with his 41 points, and Kobe topped that by three, but still no victory. Are the days no more when the team seemed to be in perfect harmony? What a pity.*

back to top