Vol 3 No 65.pmd

P 8.00
VOLUME 3
NUMBER 65
FRIDAY
JULY 17, 2009
VICE MAYOR SSUSPECTS
Bankruptcy preventing Nepo
to declare state of calamity
‘MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS.’ A clump of Accacia trees lies
fallen by the wayside, more victims of the chainsaw massacre of
the Department of Public Works and Highways. PHOTO BY BONG LACSON
Cabigting
Nepomuceno
BY DING CERVANTES
A
NGELES CITY- Vice Mayor
Vicky Vega-Cabigting said
yesterday she suspected
bankruptcy of the city government
as the real reason why Mayor
Francis Nepomuceno has refused
to recognize a state of calamity the
city council declared here last
Tuesday.
PAGE 6 PLEASE
SIDEBAR
Dad hits mayor for
flying to Bangkok
amid calamity
BY JOEY PAVIA
Rivera
ANGELES CITY – “If the
mayor cares, he should
not have left for abroad
amid the disaster in the
city.”
Thus said yesterday
Councilor Willie Rivera
assailing Mayor Francis
“Blueboy” Nepomuceno
for going to Bangkok,
Thailand after President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joined the mayor in
an ocular inspection of
the Balibago creek on
PAGE 6 PLEASE
Lapid, Capitol execs probed for roles in IT project
BY TONETTE T. OREJAS
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Former Pampanga
Gov. Mark Lapid is covered
by the investigation ordered by the provincial
board on Capitol officials
who were involved in the
release of P47 million as
payment to a P49.33-million geographic information system (GIS) project
that was allegedly overpriced and not fully ac-
complished, Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao told Punto
Central Luzon on Thursday.
“Our instruction to the
provincial administration
and legal officer is to investigate and file appropriate charges against Capitol officials who released
the money [to the contractor, Geodata Solutions
Inc.) without proof of accomplishments. Mark
Lapid should be included
because he was the one
in control at that time,”
said Guiao, the board’s
presiding officer.
Aside from ordering a
probe on the liabilities of
officials during the Lapid
administration, the board
also approved an ordinance realigning P1.2 million to be used as filing fee
for the lawsuit that Gov.
Eddie Panlilio is set to file
against Geodata.
PAGE 6 PLEASE
Lapid
Two-headed calf dies
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—A
two-headed calf died eight hours
after birth in Magalang, Pampanga
on Wednesday and was taken by
the Department of Agriculture for a
study on the defects of inbreeding.
The unnamed calf, the second
offspring of a six-year-old carabao
named Marimar, is owned by farmer Ernie Mercado of Sitio Cabayung
Sarul Malati in Barangay San Ildefonso, some 50 kms northeast of this
Pampanga capital city.
Mercado was sad for the loss,
expecting the female calf to help
in his rice farming and produce
offspring in its mature age.
PAGE 6 PLEASE
DPWH no direct handle
on building officials
BY TONETTE T. OREJAS
Tourism café, trading center of local goods to rise in Clark
CLARK FREEPORT – The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the Philippine Exporters Foundation, Region III,
Inc. signed a lease agreement for the
establishment of a facility that would
showcase locally made export-quality
products.
CDC President Benigno N. Ricafort
and Philippine Exports Foundation President Randy G. Viray signed the agreement that has a lease term of 15 years
with an expected P3.7 million investments.
Ricafort said the CDC and Philippine
Exports Foundation’s collaboration aims
to establish a tourism café, lifestyle
showroom; trading house and pasalubong center for manufactured products
in Central Luzon.
He added that the project would rise
in a 1,543-square meter area along C.M.
Recto Highway here.
Ricafort said the showroom will display furniture, home accessories, lanterns, and food products, among others.
“Central Luzon, specifically Pampanga, is the home to the country’s finest
furniture makers whose products found
their niche in equally finest stores in the
world,” Ricafort said.
But Ricafort lamented that locallymade products seem to lack a showcase
center where hotels and owners of residential establishments can scout for topand world-class merchandise.
“There is a lost of opportunity for local traders since there is nowhere to see
a collective presentation or showroom of
their products,” Ricafort said.
“Even foreign buyers who want to take
a look at these products will have to go
to factories in different areas where they
are located and this poses inconvenience
to them especially if they are under a
tight schedule,” he added.
Ricafort said establishing a tradehouse inside the Clark Freeport “would
be a boost to our ailing exports and
assist manufacturers in riding this tide
of recession and uncompetitiveness
out.”
He added that the showroom can run
parallel to the Department of Trade and
Industry’s (DTI) “One town, one product”
(OTOP) program and the Pasalubong
Center and Tourism Café.
“As a matter of principle and in support of the flagship program of President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on providing
employment, this project hopes to retain
and even generate more jobs for the Kapampangans,” Ricafort said.
“By helping exporters, we help create jobs,” the CDC president stressed.
Bayan sa Ecija, P100,000 reward offered for killers of ABC secretary
‘drug-free’ na
NI ROMMEL RAMOS
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 17, 2009 • FRIDAY
NI ARMAND GALANG
2
LAUR, Nueva Ecija - Itinuturing na ngayong malinis
sa operasyon ng sindikato ng ipinagbabawal na
gamot ang bayang ito matapos magpalabas ng katibayan ang mga lider ng barangay, simbahan at mga
samahang sibiko.
Ayon kay Senior Insp. Danilo Eduardo, hepe ng
pulisya, ang pagpapalabas ng sertipikasyon ng mga
opisyal, lider sibiko at simbahan mula sa 17 barangay na nasasakop ng bayan ay resulta ng pinaigting
na kampanya laban sa droga.
“Ito ay batay sa malakas na kampanya sa pangunguna ni Gov. (Aurelio) Umali at ng ating provincial director Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez,” ani
Eduardo.
Batay sa sertipikasyon, walang drug pusher at
sindikato ng ipinagbabawal na gamot ang naitala ng
Barangay Anti-Drugs Abuse Council (Badac) hanggang noong mga buwan ng Abril at Mayo.
“Hindi basta-basta ang pagpapalabas ng certification dahil may mga NGOs at simbahan na kasama rito,” paliwanang ng hepe ng pulisya.
Ang bayan ng Laur na matatagpuan sa silangang bahagi ng Nueva Ecija ay agrikultura sa pangkalahatan.
“Generally peaceful ngayon,” ayon kay Eduardo.
Samantala, inamin niya na sa kasalakuyan ay
mga usapin sa pagmamay-ari ng lupa ang nangungunang isyu sa kaayusan ng bayan.
Matatandaan na isang grupo ng magsasaka sa
Barangay Sagana, Laur ang nakikipaglaban para sa
pagmamay-ari ng mahigit 100 ektaryang lupain na
dating pagmamay-ari ng isang mayamang pamilya.
Ilan sa mga magsasakang kasapi ng grupo ay
nagtirik na ng bahay sa gitna ng bukid at hindi umaalis
doon upang matiyak na hindi mapapasok ng mga
tauhan ng pamilya ng dating may-ari ang kanilang
lupang sinasaka.
Ngunit maliban dito, ani Eduardo, ay matagumpay ang pagpapatupad ng kaayusan at kapayapaan.
Kamakailan lamang, dagdag niya, ay may sampung
suspek sa iba’t ibang krimen ang nasakote ng mga
elemnto ng lokal na pulisya. Ang apat sa mga ito,
aniya, ay nakatala sa most wanted list ng kanilang
bayan.
STA. MARIA, Bulacan—
Local officials of this town
offered a P100,000 reward
to anyone who can pinpoint the suspect and the
mastermind in the killing
of a municipal employee
here last week.
Mayor Bartolome Ramos of this town said they
will give P100,000 reward
for the resolution of the killing of Cynthia Calo, 43,
secretary at the office of
the league of the association of barangay captains
(ABC)who was shot dead
while on her way home
last July 7.
Ramos said the killing
of Calo could be politically
motivated as the victim is
known as one of his close
supporters.
He said the victim has
been helping in facilitating
registration of new voters
in different barangays of
this town.
According to Ramos,
he might request the Commission on Election to
place Barangay Pulong
Buhangin under Comelec
control in next year’s election.
He said that during the
2007 election, there had
been eight to nine cases
of killings related to politics in the said village, but
all remain unsolved.
A barangay secretary
of Pulong Buhangin for 13
years, Calo was recently
assigned at the Association of Barangay Captains’s (ABC) league office
at this town’s municipal
hall.
Police said the victim
who had just come from
her work at the municipal building in Poblacion,
alighted from a passenger jeep and was walking bound to her house
when an armed man suddenly approached her,
wrapped his arm around
her and shot her on her
body.
When she fell on the
ground, the suspect fired
on her again.
Police have yet to rule
out robbery in the incident
as not all the valuables of
the victim were taken from
her.
Ebdane
this set-up has resulted to
“argumentation between
my office and the local
government executive as
to who will be designated.”
He did not elaborate but
Punto Central Luzon
sources in the agency and
local governments said
the conflicts stemmed
from loyalty issues or corrupt practices at the local
level.
Ebdane said that on
his part, political endorsement does not weigh
heavily. “The practice is to
ask the mayor of his recommendee but for as long
as his recommendee qualifies for the position,” he
said.
Not only are there conflicts. There is also confusion in terms of accountability or responsibility.
Some DPWH officials said
building officials are “not
under us.” But the DPWH
provides them training related to civil engineering.
Two building officials
reached for this report said
they are directly accountable to the mayor and coordinates only with the
DPWH.
NO INVENTORY
Again for lack of funds,
building officials attending
‘Save the Trees’ concert,
art jam in CSF today
BY JOEY PAVIA
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – An art jam
and concert will be held here today in
support of some 1,200 Acacia trees
along MacArthur Highway threatened to
be cut by the Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH) within
the next 120 days.
“It’s mass murder of the
innocent. Together we can save the
trees, or what’s left of them,” said the
organizers of the concert dubbed “Save
the Trees” which will be held at the Kalinangan, Barangay Telabastagan starting at 7 p.m.
“Eighty two trees have been killed
so far,” they disclosed. They added that
at least 1,211 trees from this city to
Apalit town will be cut.
They said some 370 trees with diameters of 25 centimeters or less will
be balled out.
Installation of art, musical performances and a signature campaign
against the cutting of trees along MacArthur Highway will be part of the
event.
Participating groups include Kalinangan Telabastagan, Pampanga Arts
Guild, Notes and Rhythm, Kalalangan
Kamaru, Sining Kapampangan, Teatro
Fernandino, Aslag Kapampangan, OK
Musica, Etniktronika, Discrepancies,
More than Linda, Friday Prayers,
among others.
Musicians, artists and advocates
include Deng Lingat, Don de Dios, Ces
Yumul, Oji Salamat, Benny Guinto, Bin
Bondoc, Harvey Quiwa, Nash David,
Dindi Guzon, Vernon Nuguid, Dennis
Lalata, Kenneth Macapugay, Robert
Odejar, Edille Paras, Jake Abella, Jason Laxamana, Jeffrey Yutuc, Gary
Salas, Bong Punzalan, Krishna Muli,
Mel Araneta and Ara Muna.
The event is supported by Pacla
Hydraulics, Life Long Agua Mineral
Water, Zesto Philippines, Aling Conching’s Delicacies, Councilor Jon Juico
of Minalin, Councilors Reden Halili,
Ruping Dumlao and Jimmy Lazatinof
this city and Myrna Manabat of the city
agriculture and veterinary office.
(For more details please contact
Ching Pangilinan at 09216371707.)
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 17, 2009 • FRIDAY
EXPORTERS’ HAVEN. CDC President Benigno N. Ricafort (center) and Philippine Exporters Foundation, Region III, Inc. President Randy Viray shake
hands after signing a lease agreement for the establishment of a facility that would showcase locally-made products inside the Clark Freeport. Also
in photo are (from left) Willand Kabigting, treasurer; CDC Executive Vice President Philip JB Panlilio; and Reggie Lastimoso, director; Alex Lastimoso,
director. PHOTO COURTESY OF CDC-PRD
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The enforcement of
standards and policies in
constructing private
homes and buildings as
well as local bridges,
roads, dikes and canals
that are resistant to natural hazards including
earthquakes boil down
also to how building officials are designated and
who oversees them.
In disaster-prone Philippines, they go through
the recommendation first
of the mayors before they
get to be appointed by the
secretary of the Department of Public Works and
Highways.
Building officials are
considered frontline personnel in disaster reduction measures because
like the DPWH does for
national projects, they enforce the National Building
Code which was last updated in 2005. It carried a
single chapter on seismicity after the DPWH adopted new structural concepts following the destructive July 16, 1990
earthquake.
“Building officials by
law should be appointed by
me. But since the provision does not include the
corresponding salary and
allowances that come with
the designation, we coordinate with the respective
local executives…to submit their recommendees
for me to designate as
building officials,” Public
Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said in
an interview in Porac last
Monday.
In short, building officials are paid by the local
government and supervised by the DPWH.
Ebdane admitted that
a disaster mitigation training last year reported not
being able to conduct annual inspection or inventory of structures in their respective areas, according
to Albin Carreon, chief of
the DPWH regional planning and design division.
“Third and fourth class
towns have only one building official. Most of the
time, the building official is
also the town or city engineer,” Carreon said.
Ebdane said building
officials should watch out
for private contractors who
cheat on projects by using substandard materials
or lesser cement content
or deviating from the approved design.
Ebdane said building
officials face administrative, civil or criminal liabilities if private and public
structures that they certified to be ready for occupancy or use later proved
to have caused deaths or
injuries
The DPWH, he said,
has started doing structure
examination of national
bridges and roads and
public school buildings
since 2005.
“In rural areas, we don’t
have problems with our
schools because most of
these are one-storey buildings,” he said.
Highways, according
to him, were built to specifications. “But we cannot
discount that these may be
damaged when the faults
move,” he said.
Ebdane said in Central
Luzon, the Carranglan
(Nueva Ecija) portion of the
Maharlika Road Network
sits on a fault. The eastern side of that portion rose
by four meters when the
1990 earthquake, of 7.8magnitude, struck Central
and Northern Luzon areas.
3
Amnesty to anarchy
SO IT has been proposed that for peace to finally
settle in Mindanao, general amnesty be given to
the Abu Sayyaf.
A brilliant idea there, the key to solve all the
unpeace and disorder in this benighted land,
hence:
To solve kidnapping-for-ransom, grant amnesty
to kidnappers.
To end carnapping and carjacking, give amnesty
to carnappers and carjackers.
To eradicate cases of rape, give amnesty to
rapists.
To put a finis to robbery and hold-up, give
amnesty to robbers and hold-uppers.
To end smuggling, give amnesty to smugglers.
To end killings, give amnesty to murderers.
Amnesty, the fool-proof solution to every crime.
Amnesty here is spelled a-n-a-r-c-h-y.
Brilliant idea there, really.
Calamitous
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 17, 2009 • FRIDAY
“THE CITY Council has declared the city is now
in a state of calamity so that we can use the fund
to help in the rehabilitation of the creek.”
So announced Angeles City Vice Mayor Vicky
Vega-Cabigting over station dwRW 95.1 Tuesday.
Not so fast there now, Madame.
“The majority councilors did not vote for such a
declaration. The city government is not against
such a move, but it is our stand to wait for the final
plan of the Department of Public Works and
Highways before we declare a state of calamity
so that the money could be utilized practically.”
So countered City Administrator Mark Allen
Sison, clarifying that there was not enough vote
at the city council to effect a declaration of a state
of calamity.
Councilor Willie Rivera said the council took it
upon itself to declare the state of calamity as “public
safety is a major concern as of the moment.”
Sison interjected: “The declaration of the state
of calamity should undergo the proper process to
make sure that it would yield the best possible
results. We are closely helping our residents on
this problem.”
We don’t know which is the worse calamity the
people of Angeles City are saddled with: the
erosion at Balibago Creek, or their warring city
officials?
4
EDGAR V. MOVIDO
Founder
LLL Trimedia Coordinators
Publisher
General Manager Atty. Gener C. Endona
Editor Joey R. Aguilar
Editorial Consultant Caesar “Bong” Lacson
Marketing Manager Joanna Niña V. Cordero
Administrative Staff Ma. Teresa U. Villanueva
Layout Dondie B. Ventura
Circulation Gilbert Mendoza
Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,
McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando
Tel. No. (45) 636•6327 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416
e-mail address: [email protected]
pdf file at http://www.punto.com.ph
Punto! Central Luzon is a proud member of
The Philippine Press Institute
O p i n i o n
Save the trees
“DIMONYO YUNG pulis na nakasabay ko sa isang videoke,” bungad
ng kuwento sa akin ni kasamang Ashley Manabat. “Aba’y sukat
ba namang tinutukan niya ng baril sa bunganga ang GRO na itinitable niya nang ibigay na nito ang chit ng mga nainom niya.”
“Matapos magmura, bigla pa nitong pinaharurot ang kotse niya
at hindi nagbayad ng chit. Ang matindi dito, pangalawang beses
na raw niyang ginawa yun doon,” dagdag pa ni Ashley.
Abusadong pulis sa videoke, sa kuwento ni Ashley. “Hold-upper”
na pulis naman sa Fields Avenue ang walang katapusang
kasaysayang nakalahad sa centralluzoncorruption.com.
Ano ang bago rito? Ito rin ang buod ng isang sanaysay na sinulat
ko sa Angeles Sun isyu ng Mayo 14-20, 1989 o higit na
dalawampung taon na ang nakararaan.
acaesar.blogspot.com
Zona Libre
Bong Z. Lacson
Huwag lang pulis!
ISANG SAPA ang pinamumugaran ng kawan ng buwaya. Lahat ng
magdaan dito ay kanilang nilalapa. Minsa’y isang pulis ang
tumawid. Sa pagtataka ng marami ay di man lang siya pinansin ng
kawan. Ani ng mga buwaya: “Di kami kumakain ng aming kauri.
Ano kami, kanibal?”
Isang namamalimos ang humihingi sa Diyos
ng P100 habang nakalugod sa simbahan. Sa awa
ng pulis na humihingi naman ng kapatawaran sa
tabi niya ay inaubtan ang pulubi ng natitirang P80
sa kanyang piyaka. Sabin g pulubi: “Salamat po
Diyos ko sa inyong tulong, pero sa susunod
marapatin ninyong huwag nang idaan ito sa pulis
para wala nang kaltas.”
Sa isang komiks sa Inquirer, inilarawan ang
bungangerang maybahay ng isang sundalo na
walang tigil sa kamumura sa di kumikibong
kabiyak. Tanggap lang ni sarhento ang lahat ng
mura, hanggang sabihan siya ni babae nang “Para
kang pulis!” Bigla kamong pinitseryahan ng
sundalo ang kanyang asawa sabay sabing:
“Tawagin mo na akong dimonyo, Hudas, Hestas
o Barrabas; tawagin mo na ako ng kahit ano,
huwag lang pulis!”
Maaaring hilaw na mais ang dating ng mga
salaysayin sa itaas subali’t ang mga ito ay
malinaw na direktahang pagkundena sa ating
pulisya. Ito ay insulto sa pulis.
Alam nating hindi lahat ng buwitre ay pulis na
naninibasib sa mga tindera sa palengke, sa
sidewalk at sa mga kalsada, sa mga drayber ng
dyipni, sa mga bahay aliwan, pati na sa mga
nagbebenta ng aliw. Mas matindi pa nga raw ang
pangingikil ng mga diumano’y alagad ng bisyo
(vice squad) ng kung sinong sira-ulo.
Mulat din tayo sa kalagayang hindi lahat
ng buwaya ay mga pulis na lawit ang dila, tulolaway, bukas palad, bulsa at bunganga sa mga
inihahagis ng mga nagpapa-jueteng, nagpapamonte at nagpapa-sakla. Ang teritoryong ito
ay bukas din sa mga bataan ng mga pulitiko,
iba pang mga armado, at – masakit man – sa
mga manghuhuthot na anila’y mga
mamamahayag.
Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito e bakit pulis ang
pinagdidikitahan ng mga puna’t hagupit?
Dahil sa bondat ang tiyan ng pulis? Dahil
mahilig sa borloloy sa katawan ang mga liderpulis na para bagang mga galing ng Saudi? Dahil
mahilig ba sa Octagon at iba pang bahay aliwan
ang mga lahing-pikutin at maraming tsiks (kuno)
na pulis?
O baka naman wala lang tinatawag na finesse
sa pakikipagpa-lagayan ang mga pulis? Masyado
lamang silang garapal?
Anu’t ano pa man, ay atin sanang isaisip na
hindi lahat ng pulis ay masiba. Nguni’t dahil sa
kasalanan ng iilan at kapabayaan ng marami,
buwaya’t buwitre ang nagiging larawan ng pulis
sa madla.
Gawan sana naman ng paraan ng kinauukulan
na linisin ang hanay ng pulisya upang ang mga
kasapi dito ay muling matagurian na mga alagad
ng batas. Hindi kampon ni Satanas.
In
Retrospect
by Jade Pangilinan
PROGRESS comes with a great price.
In the case of Pampanga, that price is 1211 innocent lives. As
of yesterday, 82 trees have already been cut along MacArthur
Highway in the City of San Fernando. Within the span of 120 days,
the entire stretch of Apalit to San Fernando will be rid of 1211
trees. Those which have a diameter of 25 centimeters or less,
about 370 trees, will be earth balled.
Atsing Ces Yumul has this to say:
“With that data, multiply each tree at the minimum value of
Php1.5 million.
It takes ten (10) adult trees to produce oxygen to burn 3.7 liters
of gasoline (carbon monoxide) spewed by a vehicle daily.
When all these trees are slaughtered, what will DENR and
DPWH use in replacement to counter the fumes from their projected
thousands of vehicles to come our local roads? In the name
of progress!”
If you’ve seen Punto Central Luzon lately, photos taken by Tito
Bong Lacson of the sad and hapless state of our trees in the
community have been making the front page.
But I do hope that our shared lament will not render us inactive
and hopeless.
If you’ve passed by Baliti lately our local artists
have painted human figures on the tree trunks to
remind us, especially DPWH, that they are killing
living things.
In spite of the efforts of our city officials to
save these trees from mass murder, the national
government has pushed on with their plans to
widen our roads. As if we all need more air pollution
from vehicles at this moment when carbon dioxide
absorbing-trees have been cut off.
As a collective stand against this monstrous
atrocity, our local community of artists, musicians,
cultural workers and advocates will be gathering
on July 17, 2009, 7 o’clock in the evening, at the
Kalinangan Telabastagan along MacArthur
Highway in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga,
for an art jam and concert.
Various individuals will share their talent and
lend their voices to the silent witnesses of our
community’s past, the trees, which we strive to
save not for our selves but for the future
generations.
Thank you so much to those who have been
very generous with their time, effort and resources:
Bin Bondoc, Harvey Quiwa, Cecille Yumul, Don
De Dios, Oji Salamt, Benny Guintu, Nash David,
Rey Pineda, Robert Odejar, Kenneth Macapugay,
Dindi Guzon, Jake Abella, Francis David of Istukas
Over Disneyland, Vernon Nuguid, Gary Salas,
Jason Laxamana, Ara Muna, Noe Fernando,
Krishna Mae Muli, Discrepancies (Eliver Sicat,
James Cayanan, Jonas Domingo, Alvin Condes),
Friday Prayers (Jaybee, Jude, Botong, Paul,
Chester), More Than Linda (Ox, Yay, Alvin,
Jentsen), Bong Punzalan, Edille Paras, Poy
Acervo and Sindalan Artists, Kalinangan
Telabastagan and countless other artists and
advocates who have been very supportive of this
endeavor!
Thank you so much to Coun. Jimmy Lazatin,
Coun. Reden Halili, and Coun. Ruping Dumlao of
San Fernando, tita Jeng Bonifacio of Life Long
Agua, tito Boy Pacla of Pacla Hydraulics, Coun.
Jon Juico of Minalin, tito Tom Pangilinan of Zesto
Cola, Tita Conching David of Aling Conching’s
Delicacies, tita Deng and tito Ben Escasa of Aslag
Kapampangan, tita Myrna Manabat of the CSFP
Agriculture Office, tito Fer Caylao, tito Jovi De
Leon and Ria Navarro of Sunstar Pampanga, Joey
Pavia and Joey Aguilar of Punto Central Luzon.
We hope to see you all on Friday at
Kalinangan Telabastagan! Together we could still
save some of our trees, the last ones standing,
for our future if not for ourselves.
Regarding Henry
BY HENRYLITO D. TACIO
AMERICAN POET Edwin
Markham was approaching his
retirement years when he discovered that the man to whom he
had entrusted his wealth had
squandered all the money. His
dream of a comfortable retirement
vanished. He started to brood over
the injustice and the loss. His
anger deepened. Over time, his
bitterness grew more intensely.
One day, while sitting at his
table, Markham found himself
drawing circles as he tried to
soothe the turmoil he felt within.
Finally, he concluded: “I must forgive him, and I will forgive him.”
Looking again at the circles
he had drawn on the paper before, Markham wrote these famous lines: “He drew a circle to
shut me out – heretic, rebel, a
thing to flout. / But Love and I had
the wit to win: we drew a circle
that took him in!”
Forgive, as define by the Webster’s New World Dictionary, is
“to give up resentment against or
the desire to punish; pardon; to
overlook an offense; to cancel a
debt.” Thus, the goal of forgiveness
is to let go of a hurt and move
ahead with life.
The Holy Bible has taught us
why we should forgive and how we
should do it. The Lord’s Prayer told
us: “Forgive s our debts, as we also
have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew
6:12). Also in the same vein, “For
if you forgive men when they sin
against you, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you” (Matthew
6:14).
“Forgiveness is our command,”
C. Neil Strait said. “Judgment is
not.” Remember the story of the
woman who was caught in adultery, as chronicled in the book of
John (8:1-11)? She was brought by
the teachers of the law and the
Pharisees before Jesus and asked
what they need to do for the Law
of Moses commanded them to
stone adulteress.
Although indirectly, he told the
group: “If any one of you is without
sin, let him be the first to throw a
stone at her.” No one dared; in fact,
they went away one at a time until
only Jesus was left and the wom-
Forgive and forget
(COURTESY OF MABUHAY NEWS)
an. “Woman, where are they? Has
no one condemned you?” Jesus
asked.
“No one, sir,” the woman replied.
“Then neither do I condemn you,”
Jesus declared. “Go now and leave
your life of sin.”
This reminds me an anecdote
that took place during a Sunday
school among children. The teacher had just concluded her lesson
and wanted to make sure she had
made her point. She inquired, “Can
anyone tell me what you must do
before you can obtain forgiveness
of sin?”
There was a short interval of silence and then, from the back of
the room, a five-year-old girl spoke
up. “Sin,” she said.
That may be funny, but forgiving someone is one of the hardest
things to do. If someone has committed something against you,
don’t allow the hatred overpower
you. “Withholding forgiveness and
nursing resentment simply allow
another person to have control over
your well-being,” wrote Victor M.
Parachin in an article, The Big F.
“It is always a mistake to allow
such negative emotions to influence your living. Forgive, and you
will be able to direct your life in
positive thoughts and actions.”
Six months ago, Bill was fired
from his work. Today, he is back
working in the same company. But
his boss is totally surprised when
Bill is turning in a superior work.
“What happened to make such a
difference in you?” the boss asked.
Bill shared: “When I was in college, I was part of a fraternity initiation committee. We placed the new
members in the middle of a long
stretch of road. I was to drive my
car at a great a speed as possible
straight at them. The challenge was
for them to stand firm until a signal
was given to jump out of the way. It
was a dark night. I had reached 120
kilometers an hour and saw their
looks of terror in the headlights. The
signal was given and everyone
jumped clear – except one boy.
“I left college after that. I later
married and have two children. The
look on that boy’s face as I passed
over him at 120 kilometers an hour
stayed in my mind. I became hopelessly inconsistent, moody, and finally became a problem drinker.
My wife had to work to bring in the
only income we had.
“I was drinking at home one
morning when someone knocked
at the door. I opened it to find myself facing a woman who seemed
strangely familiar. She told me she
was the mother of the boy I had
killed years before. She said that
she had hated me and spent agonizing nights rehearsing ways to
get revenge. I then listened as she
told me of the love and forgiveness
that had come when she gave her
heart to Christ.
“She said, ‘I have come to let
you know that I forgive you and I
want you to forgive me.’ I looked
deep into her eyes that morning,
and there I saw the permission to
be the kind of man I might have
been had I never killed that boy.
That forgiveness changed my
whole life.”
“If you have a thing to pardon,
pardon it quickly,” Arthur W. Pinero once points out. “Slow forgiveness is little better than no forgiveness.”
But how many times should
you forgive a person? The Bible
told us of Peter asking Jesus
Christ how many times a he
should forgive a person who
sinned against him. Was seven
time enough? Jesus answered, “I
tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
To forgive is not enough; you
should also forget all the wrongdoings the person has committed
against you. “Forgiveness ought to
be like a cancelled note, torn in
two and burned up, so that it never can be shown against the man.”
For comments, write me at
[email protected]
Napaguusapan
lang
Ni Felix M. Garcia
Istorya e
mikumpletu
nung e la miyabe
ri Edna at Cicero
KING AGIANG katlu neng besis ini bali
Karing sinulat ku king bage mesabi,
Ipaintulut yu pu ing isugsug ku ini
Bilang karagdagan inggil pu kaniti.
Mekapangalkal ya karing makalele
Kasulatan ining kabalen yung tune,
A nu’ na malino abasa, alawe
Ing tungkul king keyang minunang siglawe.
Kamumulan palang meging gubernador,
Ing lagyu niti Mariano Alimurung;
Pero bista’t atlu yang bulan king tungkul
Inabe re karing tinalan posisyon;
A nu’ ing lagyu na malino misulat
King istorya na ning beitan nang labuad;
Bilang pun probinsya – waman na’karitak,
Ing panaun a nu’ migsilbi ya’t sukat;
Antimurin naman y Eligio Lagman
A meging governor mung apat a bulan,
Baket den atilu keng kasalesayan
At makayabe la karing menungkulan;
Bilang gubernador keti king Pampanga
Bista’t kumpara kang Cicer ilang Edna,
Mas makuyad dili ing pangalukluk da
Di Alimurung at Lagman keng bili ra?
Dakal la pa’t kabud mu petsa ning banua
Ing makabili keng pamanungkulan da,
Inia e ta’ balung sabian nung pabanua
O pabulan mu ing panga-posisyon na,
Ning metung at metung karening aliwa,
A’yalang malino bulan at/o kaya
Nung nanung petsa ya king puesto migmula,
Uling alang malino rekord bitasa.
Male tamu nung ding mapilan kareni
E la man migluat keng pangalukluk deti;
O kaya anti la mu ping mig-OIC
Pero oren makalto la lagyu ngeni.
(At kayabe karing mapuri nang anak
Ning lalawigan tang’ ibat pa king ibat,
Yang meging sale na ning gintung paninap
Ding king upaya ring daywan e sinuklab!)
E king kukuestyunan tamu a nung bakit
Asabi ko’ lagyu ding aduang mebanggit
Kayabe la karing meging opisyales
A maki-litratu’t ngeni pakasabit;
Ken king balkonahe na ning Kapitolyu,
(Kaibat nong’ inayus Rafael Maniago),
Nune buri ku mung ipalto kekayu
Ing metung a bage melimbato pihu!
Kalupa namo pin ning kakung asabi
Dane kalibutnan ning kolum kung ini,
Makasiguru tang’ king keraklan deti
Alang mig-“caretaker” mu o mig-OIC?
Inia banting alang lunto argabiadu,
E kaya masampat ampon maka-ustu,
Ing den yabe ta’ la banting mikumpletu
Ing kasalesayan ning probinsya tamu?
Alangan naman ing oras nang gigulan
Cicer king Capitol mibie king pelitan?
Antimurin y Edna, e makatuliran –
Mibie kang Lito ing oras nang liklukan!
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 17, 2009 • FRIDAY
Editorial
5
Freddie Aguilar di pa laos
Bankruptcy preventing Nepo...
Vega-Cabigting and
some members of the city
council insisted that this
city is now under a state
of calamity as they officially declared so last Tuesday amid erosion threat to
some P500-million worth
of properties particularly in
the local tourism district in
Barangay Balibago.
But the P50-million
calamity fund remained on
hold as of yesterday as
Nepomuceno’s camp insisted irregularities in the
declaration.
Vega-Cabigting, presiding officer of the city
council, expressed her
suspicion that the refusal
of Nepomuceno to acknowledge the declaration
was meant to hide the city
government’s bankruptcy.
“I suspect bankruptcy
since the city could not
even pay the P60 million
it owes to the sanitary
landfill in Tarlac that’s why
our local garbage is piling
up,” she said.
Nepomuceno could not
be reached but city government spokesperson
Joven Esteban told Punto
that the mayor questioned
the legitimacy of the calamity declaration, saying
that such a declaration
should not come in the
form of a mere resolution
and not an ordinance. Esteban also questioned the
quorum of councilors when
the resolution was passed.
Vega-Cabigting, however, noted that Republic
Act No. 8185 authorizes
provincial, city or municipal councils to declare a
state of calamity on its
own. She also insisted
there was a quorum in the
city council when the resolution was passed last
Tuesday.
“As for the claim that a
mere resolution is not adequate, I am citing a precedent just last year when
such a similar declaration
was made through a resolution and was honored,”
she added.
Since last month, freak
weather experienced in
this city, including Clark
Freeport, have dislodged
unusual volumes of rain
waters that have seriously eroded the banks of the
Balibago creek. Some
P80-million worth of properties, mostly tourism oriented, have already been
eroded into the creek amid
estimates of barangay
chairman Tony Mamac
that some P500 million
more of properties are now
under threat.
Pres. Arroyo visited the
threatened site last Monday. Office of External Affairs Sec. Edgardo Pamintuan said the President
acted as mediator between conflicting parties
during her visit and asked
Public Works Sec. Hermogenes Ebdane to help
curb the threat.
Pamintuan cited estimates that some P153
million would be needed for
permanent structures to
prevent further erosion in
the Balibago creek.
Vega-Cabigting recalled that during the President’s visit that Nepomuceno vowed to use the
P50-million calamity fund
as its contribution to the
amount needed, even as
affected businessmen also
promised to meet and
come out with their own
share.
Esteban said, however,
that Nepomuceno was not
against the use of calamity funds for local emergencies, but that he first wanted a more detailed report
from the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to justify
the use of the funds.
Esteban also noted
that the entire P50-million
calamity fund should not
be used entirely for the
Balibago creek amid demand from other barangay
chairmen affected by the
Abacan River for some
share amid similar erosion
threats in their areas.
Vega-Cabigting said
that she and the city council had inspected the Balibago creek, the damage
its erosion had caused
and assessed the continuing threat before they declared a state of calamity
in this city.
The
Gossipmiller
by Cesar Pambid
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Dad hits mayor...
FROM PAGE 1
Monday.
Rivera expressed disgust because Nepomuceno has yet to convene the Disaster Coordinating Council (DCC)
which is required in declaring a state of calamity, paving the way for the release
of the P50-million calamity fund.
The councilor-lawyer
disclosed that the city
council led by Vice Mayor
Vicky Vega-Cabigting had
declared a state of calamity despite the failure of Nepomuceno to convene the
DCC.
But City Administrator
Mark Allen Sison, in a text
message, said “we didn’t
request the city council for
the declaration.”
“We committed it (calamity fund) but we have
to wait for the final plan of
the DPWH. We are still
surveying all proposed engineering interventions either in Margot or Balibago
or MacArthur Highway
that is more practical, minimal cost, etc,” said Sison, answering the question on why the mayor has
yet to convene the DCC.
He failed to answer the
question on why the mayor left for Thailand earlier
this week.
Sison said the resolution (declaring a state of
calamity) was passed
without a quorum. He added that “according to the
Commisson of Audit
(COA) it should be a citywide declaration not just
one barangay.”
Rivera, for his part,
said he could not “believe
that the mayor should
wait for the DPWH plan
before convening the
DCC.” He added that the
“city is not under the
DPWH.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s
only Balibago that is
threatened but the extent
of the damage and threat
is pervasive. Besides,
Barangays Malabanias
and Sta. Teresita have
also been affected by erosion at the creek,” said
Rivera.
“This is not just a calamity, mayor, but a disaster,” said Rivera.
Some P100 million
worth of private properties
had been destroyed by
the erosion at the Balibago Creek since June 18.
Two-headed calf dies
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 17, 2009 • FRIDAY
FROM PAGE 1
6
The calf drew hundreds
of neighbors and visitors
from the town. Their awe
turned to sadness as they
saw the animal clung to life
and expired at past 4 p.m.
Crisanto Muñoz, a DA
technologist, said the deformed calf was the first of
such case in the province.
He said the abnormality might have been due to
the inferior genetic makeup of the male carabao.
Muñoz said the DA
has introduced an artificial
insemination technology
that ensures a healthy
breed of carabaos.
The calf was brought to
the veterinary medicine department of the Pampanga
Agricultural College, also in
Magalang, to be studied
and preserved there.
Come and join the One-Year Countdown Party for the July 31, 2010 Chevalier
School Grand Reunion & 50th Founding Anniversary on July 31, 2009 (Friday),
6:30 pm at the Angeles City Sports Center, Angeles City.
Dinner and drinks will be served,
sponsored by CS Batch 85.
Admission is FREE!
This event is spearheaded by Chevalier School Batch ‘85 in
collaboration with the Chevalier Alumni Association.
SIKAT PA rin talaga si Freddie Aguilar. Tingnan na lang, konting pasakalye lang niya sa isyung unggoy sina Charice, Arnel Pineda at
Gary Valenciano, nagging malaking kontrobersya ito. Kanya-kanyang taray ang tatlo sa pagsagot kay Freddie na lumabas sila’ng tunay
na insecure at di si Freddie Aguilar.
Well, may katuwiran at may lohika naman ang sinasabi ni Freddie. Gaya–gaya lang at di tunay na magaling ang sinoman sa mga
‘kalaban’ niya.
To prove all these, pakinggan natin ang mga sinasabi at katuwiran ni Ka Freddie.
“Magkita-kita kami nina Charice, Arnel at Gary. Hindi ko sila uurungan. Anong sinasabi nilang insecure ako? Hindi nila alam ang
kanilang ginagawa. Kung naabot na ng mga ‘yan ang naabot ko, puwede pa. Sasabihin ko ngayon, kahit sabihing mayabang ako,
marami na akong tinanggihan sa abroad na malalaking concert dahil ayaw nilang pakantahin ako ng Tagalog,” pasakalye ni Aguilar sa
kanyang Ka Freddie’s Bar sa Malate, Maynila kamakailan.
“Hindi naman ako galit kay Charice, kaya ba’t kami magbabati? Ang sabi ko lang, kung ako siya, Tagalog ang kakantahin ko kay
Oprah Winfrey. Nagpasubali naman ako na okey lang kung hindi siya pinayagan ni Oprah na kumanta ng Tagalog. Kasi, malaki ang
magnitude no’n. Kung Tagalog ang kakantahin niya, lalaganap ang wika natin. Hindi ‘yong nanggaya lang siya,” pahayag ni Ka Freddie.
Ani Freddie, kaya nasasabihan ang mga Filipino singers na “monkey” o unggoy ay dahil sa panggagaya. “Hindi ko naman inaalis na
kumanta sila ng Ingles pero kung may pagkakataon, i-promote natin ang wikang Filipino,” giit ng folk singer.
“Wala rin akong sinasabing monkey o unggoy sina Charice. Ang sabi ko, may mga nagsasabi lalo na sa abroad na mga monkey at
unggoy ang Filipino singers dahil hindi kumakanta ng sariling wika sa ibang bansa,” paglilinaw niya.
“Magagaling sila, oo, pero paano natin maitataguyod ang sariling wika sa musika? Si Florante raw ang tunay na Filipino singer at
nagmamahal sa wikang Filipino at makabansa. Kumpare ko si Pareng Boy (palayaw ni Florante), pero alam ba nilang American citizen
na ‘yon? Hindi ba nila alam na Marcos loyalist si Florante?” tanong ni Ka Freddie.
Iminungkahi rin ni Aguilar na mag-Tagalog si Arnel. “Maanong i-suggest niya sa mga kasama niya sa Journey na kahit isang song,
sa Tagalog. Siya pa ang mas gagayahin,” sabi ni Aguilar.
Bakit aniya si Brandon Vera, isang Fil-Am na martial artist, ay alibata ang naka-tattoo sa katawan?
“Si Gary, no’ng nagsisimula pa siya, sinabihan ko rin ‘yan na ‘wag gayahin si Michael Jackson sa pagsayaw
at si Al Jarreau sa pagkanta. Kasi, malakas na ang dating ni Gary pag inilagay mo siya sa ibabaw ng stage at
hindi na niya kailangang manggaya pa,” katwiran ni Ka Freddie.
Nilinaw din ni Aguilar na mula nang sumikat ang “Anak” ay siya ang hinahanap ng mga record producer mula
sa ibang bansa para pakantahin ng Tagalog version nito. “Paano ako mai-insecure kung 27 languages na ang
version ng ‘Anak’? At 53 countries na ang may gusto nito?”
“Mabuti at binuksan ko ang ganitong diskusyon. Mabuti at sumagot sila. Kasi, para lumiwanag ang isip
nating mga Filipino,” wika ni Freddie.
Siya aniya ang lumalabas na kontrabida dahil pag-asenso sa pera ang nakabuntot kina Charice at Arnel kaya
maraming kampi sa mga ito.
“Okey lang na kontrabida ako kung makakatulong na lumiwanag ang isip nating mga Filipino,” katwiran niya.
Sa totoo lang, walang nalalaos na artista—tumatanda lang at dahil sa marketing at paniniwala na mas sariwa
ang bata—kaya ang tulad ni Freddie ay hindi malalaos lalo na at matalento.
Tunay na may mga bagong dugo pero ang pagsisilbi sa taumbayan ang mas mahalaga at ang pagkamakabayan, pagkamaka-Diyos at pagka-makatao ay walang pagkalaos.
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Paloma sexy star na rated A
HINDI RAW inakala ni Paloma na makakukuha ng A rating sa Film RatingBboard ang pekikula niyang Pitik-Bulag.” I really want to thank all those who
liked my acting considering it’s just my first movie,” pasasalamat niya.
“Mabuti naman at nagustuhan nila ang performance ko. But when I saw
myself sa nude scenes ko with my boobs na parang ang laki-laki sa big
screen, ngiii! I had mixed feelings na natutuwa akong excited na nahihiya ako kasi ang laki-laki.”
Nagsisisi ba siya at idinispley niya’ng hubad
na katawan? “No. I’d like to thank Direk
Gil Portes kasi mahusay siya magmotivate.”
Hubo’t huhad na ba siya sa susunod? Ipakikita na ba niya ang kanyang pagkababae? “I can’t say. I’m willing to do it pero depende siguro sa script.
Kasi si Kate Winslet, nag-frontal sa ‘The
Reader’, hindi naman malaswa, nanalo pa siya
ng Oscar best actress award. Kung ganun kaganda, I’ll do it.”
What’s her next project? “My manager, Arnold Vegafria, told me I’d sign a contract with Regal, para daw sa
remake ng ‘Temptation Island’. Sa GMA-7, after ‘Zorro’, may next
project daw ako. I just don’t know if it’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ ni
Dingdong Dantes or ‘Full House’ ni Richard Gutierrez. Sa coming
book na ‘FHM Ladies Confession’, I’m on the cover. Tinalbugan ko
‘yung pose ni Aubrey Miles. Siya, may drawing pang kamay sa boobs,
ako wala. Basta hubad kung hubad. Jewelry lang ang suot ko.”
Aga sobrang taba
Lapid, Capitol execs probed...
FROM PAGE 1
The provincial government is suing Geodata for
breach of contract and
asking compensation for
damages, according to
provincial administrator
Vivian Dabu.
In the contract, the
project should install a
GIS linked to several towns
to be able to improve the
Capitol’s collection of real
property taxes there.
Speaking on behalf of
Lapid, now the general
manager of the Philippine
Tourism Authority, former
provincial administrator
Fidel Arcenas urged the
investigating panel to go
over the project documents.
“They have all the
records there. There had
been a review of the project
several times by the Com-
mission on Audit and an
Ateneo group. We didn’t
receive notices for adverse
findings,” Arcenas said in
a phone interview.
According to him, the
project also “underwent
due process” and payments were made after
Geodata “showed milestones at every step of the
project.”
Arcenas said Lapid
also wondered why it took
the Panlilio administration
more than two years to be
taking legal actions.
Dabu cited due process for the time being
taken before Panlilio officially sought the board’s
approval to proceed with
the case.
Rem Patco, Geodata
vice president, said the
company will not issue a
statement for now at the
advice of its lawyer.
In January, Geodata
said it has delivered the
project but it was “discontinued” under Panlilio.
Dabu said some of the
programs did not have licenses and no existing
linkage program was actually established despite
payments of P47 million in
Lapid’s time.
Guiao had opposed
the project in 2006 due to
alleged overpricing. Except for him, the rest of the
board gave Lapid an authority to negotiate the
contract.
Dabu said a consultant
estimated that the project
should have cost only P10
million.
Guiao said the “failure
of the Geodata project is
also a problem of the people in government who
should have made sure the
project was above board.”
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LUMALABAS NA alibi lang pala ni Angel Locsin yung sinasabi niya kayMother Lily na kahit gustuhin man niya, di na nito magagawa ang Sharon
Cuneta Mano Po movie dahil nga bukod sa exclusive contract star na
siya ng Star Cinema, may nakatakda na siyang gawin na movie with
Aga Muhlach. Kumbaga, mas gusting unahin ni Angel ang sinasabi
niyang movie. Bukod pa raw sa iba pa niyang naunang commitment.
When asked, sumagot naman si Mother Lily na hindi naman
siya galit kay Angel Locsin dahil lang sa pagtanggi nito sa
kanyang offer. Hinsi rin daw siya galit kay Malou Santos ng
Star Cinema.
“I love Angel, parang anak ko na siya, ganyan din si
Malou Santos, I love her. Kaya lang, ang sinasabi ko lang,
dapat alalahanin nila yung commitment nila sa akin, mahalaga yun. But if they cant do it, I understand. Okey
lang,”sarcastic na sagot nga ni Mother Lily.
But did you know na imposible palang magawa ni
Aga yung pelikulang earmarked para sa kanila ni Angel. Sobrang taba raw ni Aga at ngayon ay kasalukuyang pang nagpapapayat. May nauna raw commitment
si Aga sa ibang company pero di raw talaga puwede
dahil sobrang taba ng alaga ni Manay Ethel Ramos.
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Paloma
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 17, 2009 • FRIDAY
FROM PAGE 1
7
Rason ng Plaridel Airport sa plane crash
hindi kinagat ng mga opisyal ng Bulacan
NI ROMMEL RAMOS
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • JULY 17, 2009 • FRIDAY
PLARIDEL, Bulacan—Hindi pa
rin kumbinsido ang pamahalaang lokal sa Bulacan matapos makipagdayalogo at inspeksyunin ang paliparan ng
eroplano sa Barangay Agnaya
sa bayang ito kaugnay ng imbestigasyon dahil sa patuloy
na pagtaas ng bilang ng mga
insidente ng pagbagsak ng
mga eroplano sa loob ng nakaraang tatlong taon.
Nagsagawa ng ocular inspection at dayalogo sina Vice
Governor Willy Alvarado, Board
Members Christian Natividad,
Monet Posadas, at Asac Viudes sa pagitan ng pamunuan
ng Plaridel Airport at mga flying school instructors, kamakailan.
Ayon kay Natividad, 1st District Board Member, nangangamba na ang mga residente
sa ibat-ibang bayan sa Bulacan sa posibilidad na mabagsakan ang kanilang kabahayan ng mga eroplanong bumabagsak na nagmumula sa Plaridel Airport.
Paliwanag naman ng ilan sa
flying schools na dumalo sa
dayalogo, ligtas ang kanilang
pagpapalipad ng eroplano.
Anila, dumadaan sa mga inspection routine ang kanilang
mga eroplano at ang mga piloto ay physically at mentally fit
para sa pagpapalipad.
Ipinaliwanag din ng pamunuan ng naturang paliparan na
matapos ang insidente ng
banggaan ng dalawang eroplano noong Hulyo 2007 sa bahagi ng Barangay Ligas sa
Malolos ay binawasan na nila
ang bilang ng mga eroplano sa
air traffic.
8
Anila, mula sa bilang na
siyam bago ang malagim na
insidente ay ibinaba na lamang
nila sa apat ang bilang ng mga
training aircraft na gumagamit
ng air traffic.
Aminado rin ang Plaridel
Airport at mga flying schools
na ang mga pagkakataon tulad ng human error, equipment
failure at weather condition ay
mga pangunahing dahilan na
hindi maiiwasan upang bumagsak ang isang eroplano.
Ngunit anila, sa mga
pagkakataong nakararanas ng
ganitong sitwasyon sa himpapawid ay nai-gigiya naman ang
mga training aircraft upang
makapagsagawa ng emergency landing sa ligtas na lugar.
Ngunit sa kabila nito, ay
hindi pa rin kumbinsido ang
mga lokal na opisyal saBulacan sa paliwanag ng mga opisyal ng paliparan at magpapatuloy pa rin sila sa kanilang
imbestigasyon.
Ayon kay Natividad, isa sa
kanilang tututukan ay ang
umaabot lamang sa anim na
buwan na flight schooling ng
mga estudyante sa Plaridel
kumpara sa apat na taong flight
schooling sa ibang bansa.
Binigyang diin pa ni Natividad na kahit glider type pa
ang mga ginagamit na eroplano sa Plaridel ay hindi na nito
maigigiya pa ang mga eroplano sa ligtas na lugar kung ito
ay nagbanggaan na sa himpapawid.
Para sa mga lokal na opisyal sa Bulacan, ang insidente
ng banggaan sa himpapawid
noong 2007 ang isa sa pinakakontrobersyal na crash incident
na naitala sa Plaridel na kinakailangang malinawan.
Sa insidenteng ito ay naiulat na namatay ang isang flight
instructor at dalawang estudyanteng Indian nationals.
At ayon sa ulat, mula Hunyo 4, 2006 hanggang Mayo 30
ng taong kasalukuyan ay 17
aksidente na kinasangkutan ng
mga eroplanong Cessna 150,
152 at 172 ang naitala.
Ang mga flying schools na
may naitalang insidente ay ang
DeltaAir International Aviation
School, Fliteline Aviation
School, WCC-Master Flying
School, Philippine Pilots Academy, Eagle Air Academy, AviationLink Asia Training Center,
at Yokota Aviation Flying
School.
Lumabas din sa dayalogo
na may naitatatalang “average
of four air accidents” sa naturang paliparan kada taon sa loob
ng 20 taong operasyon nito.
At ito rin ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na nagsagawa ng imbestigasyon ang lokal
na pamahalaan sa Bulacan
para sa naturang paliparan.