Mercado: Gone with the wind

SEVERAL events have transpired, though unwittingly, in ushering an economic downturn in Pampanga.

END OF GMA'S TERM. The province has lost its top resource asset in the person of the former president, now Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The grievous loss of a Kapampangan presidency, which has been our cabalens claim to prominence and opportunities, translates to a "major major" loss of economic power.

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The era of "happy days are here again" have ended for many of us. Gone with the President is our priority status in the scheme of national resource dispensation. Swept with her is the official preference for Pampanga in development initiatives.

The province had lost incalculable advantage, tremendous funding, and intangible benefits after PGMA's nine-year administration.

LOST OPPORTUNITIES. The impasse caused allegedly by Lucky Luciano et al at the Clark International Airport Corp in the Terminal 2 project is causing untold loss of opportunities for economic growth in this area.

CIAC Chair Nestor Mangio, in a press meeting, lamented the loss of some P900-billion in potential investment from a foreign entity which proposed entry to the Airport expansion had been thwarted by the usual suspect and cohorts.

Having succeeded in aborting the Mangio-endorsed investors for the project, the usual suspect, again, had succeeded in preventing official action on the proposal of a Malaysian group to undertake Terminal 2 construction. What is Lucky Luciano up to?

The internal troubles at the CIAC had been causing embarrassment to the Aquino administration merely by the demonstrated fact of unstable government policies at CIAC and the absence of rules for a level a playing field for foreign direct investments or joint venture undertakings.

The paralysis at CIAC is President Noy's second biggest headache in Region 3. The first is the stalemate of talks at the troubled Hacienda Luisita.

GLOBE ASSIATIQUE IN CRISIS. The virtual monkey wrench thrown at the GA house building machinery in Pampanga will cause a rippling negative effect in the local economy.

A halt or a reduction in GA's investment activities (worth estimated at P7 Billion since 2007 to date) will put thousands of cabalen out of job. A massive retrenchment of the realty firm's work force is imminent, along with losses in the economic chain from contractors, suppliers, transportation to the quarry industry among others.

Undeniably Delfin Lee is the largest single real estate developer in the province who has changed the countryside landscape with his low-priced, affordable, and model community homes.

If Lee had not been creative and innovative enough, many low-income earners could not have afforded to own their own houses in an environment conducive to human dignity, with peace of mind, plus the educational development for their young children. His concept of OWG (Other Working Group) portfolio at Pag-Ibig Fund was a brilliant innovation to beat government's red tape and the corrupt layers of bureaucratic requirements for housing loan applicants.

CANCELLED LOCAL PROJECTS. The cancellation of certain big ticket infra projects in Pampanga will deprive the local economy of hundreds of millions of pesos for their construction. The stoppage of the awarded projects will also deprive the communities of urgent and necessary infrastructures to improve quality of life and advance socio-economic growth in their locations.

While we cannot bring back GMA to the presidency, let's just mourn our loss - we had our time with her and our major major opportunities under her patronage.

The Airport development agenda can be pursued by President Noy by appointing a new CIAC president come October. There is no immediate solution to the snafu for as long as Lucky Luciano is perceived to be partial to and is protecting a dubious proponent for the Terminal 2 project at the cost of driving away a qualified bidder with ready capital and dependable track record. Chairman Nestor Mangio expressed his woe as he cited his experience with the first investor's disappointment and frustration as the start of debilitating paralysis of initiative which continues to stifle the airport development.

During this depressing moment Delfin Lee's life, his local friends and beneficiaries should encourage, comfort, and encourage the investor-developer.

This act of support, from Mabalacat or Boking Morales and Angeles City Mayor ED Pamintuan, especially, can come by way of Sanggunian Resolutions extending gratitude and support to, while confirming, Globe Asiatique's outstanding performance in the housing program in their respective communities.

Mayor Jomar Hizon of Bacolor can do likewise in recognition of Mr. Lee's bold and timely investment at Xevera Bacolor where a beautiful town hall and church along with a school, now stand. Xevera, in that lahar-ravaged area, has inspired even cautious investors to come to Bacolor, which has began its journey to full rehabilitation.

The Good News

Amidst all the gloom and bad news that shroud our province is the refreshing news that Gov. Lilia Pineda has notched a record P2.4 million in a month's collection of quarry revenues.

The astounding figure eclipsed former Governor Panlilio's best efforts for the same period at the height of his popularity and public acceptance. The governor seems to have preempted Panlilio of the bragging right to quarry collection performance

His record for quarry collections , being his outstanding political asset and highlight of his performance, will not quite sell anymore as a campaign issue in case Among Ed is nursing thoughts of a comeback fight.

Magaling talaga si Nanay Baby. Malalim na ang bulsa, malayo pa ang paningin!

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The government has announced that it is launching a Pantawid Program para sa Mahirap. This will extend a monthly cash aid of some P1,400. per indigent family from the poorest of the poor.

At the same time I learned that CIAC head Lucky Luciano enjoys a "pantawid" basic monthly salary of over P187,000. That's makes him the top earner, surpassing even the two highest salary grossers now being House-probed for their fantastic emolument.