|
Friday, June 23, 2006
Severino: Death threatening silence
By Gil Alfredo Severino
Think Economics
I AM looking at studies done in the late 90s, correlating open trade policies, exogenous structural-technological and demand factors (tastes and preferences), and its positive correlation impact to urban environment. These studies took Engel's law as theoretical framework stating, raising per capita income through open trade motivating families to fund environmental cleanliness or transfer to subdivisions where canal systems are in place.
Eventually, environmentally problematic areas are decongested enabling urban governance better and cost-effective management. Engel's Law works best if, first, there is open trade policy. This is the reason why I am shouting for a simple amendment and localization of the Constitution's Article 12 rather than this CHA CHA politicking, as foreign investments can close the present dismal gap between undercapitalization, under-savings and employment generating investments.
Second, policy must be legislated to eliminate arbitrariness of inviting environment-degrading investments.
We will leave open trade policy to Constitutional amendment and national government, but urban environment policy and the political will to implement is evidently local governance. I started looking at a local legislative milestone authored by SP Environment Committee Chairman, Councilor Lyndon Caña and cannot help offering him the highest regard. His silence however, on the City's waste disposal system, dead river systems due to garbage disposal, disappearance of swamps and creeks (reported by social observers), slaughterhouse river degradation and there could be more.
From the economics viewpoint, urban environment is primarily survival resource-based indicated by investments in potable water, waste disposal management, industrial and motor emission control, population management, modified urban agricultural and forest management. There is a serious underinvestment in water, population, waste management, slaughterhouse and urban rivers and yet we see the Chairman of the Environment Committee ranting and raging over the BREDCO takeover. Councilor Caña demanded an engineering study for the government center. I demand a feasibility study for the BREDCO takeover, the same study propounded when the Senate killed the Base Treaty in favor of Subic economic growth.
A little digression, perhaps, is in order. Councilor Caña was very vocal in questioning a number of casuals during the time of Mayor Joy Valdez. He is silent about the reported (repeat, reported) 3,000 casuals of Mayor Bing Leonardia. The most painful of all, when Dr. Norma Juarez shed tears at the SP hearing due to the Mayor's assault of City Ordinance 175 s. 1997 (Charter of Bacolod City College), those victimized where expecting that the likes of independent Christ like thinker and lawyer Councilor Caña will stand for the law. The same puzzling and deafening silence ruled. Together with the main proponent of City Ordinance 175 itself, Vice Mayor Renecito Novero, no position statement was heard except intermittent radio interviews. Councilor Sigue proposed mediation; she never reported her efforts to the public, if there indeed was. Councilor Greg Gasataya fought windmills then, fought mayoral prerogative over Ordinance 175.
The Development Team of Mayor Joy stood for Ordinance 175 and did not concur Dr. Mario Tajanlangit as BCC Administrator; Councilor Gasataya did not stop writing the Civil Service Commission inquiring Dr. Tajanlangit's status.
It is not because today is the Provincial Environment Week; I am even questioning the scientific accuracy of the theme. It is rather that people die if the environment remained unchecked. From the way you project convictions, it is in the best interest of Bacolod that Councilor Caña persuade, lobby, pressure Mayor Leonardia to implement milestone legislation, the Environment Code of Bacolod City.
For questions and comments, please e-mail gil_severino@yahoo.com
(June 23, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
