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Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Razon: Proposed NRDC takeover of quarrying in Pampanga
By Rollie R. Razon
RETIRED general Victor Corpus, newly-installed head of the Natural Resources Development Corporation (NRDC), the financial arm of the natural resources department, has proposed to the Pampanga Provincial Board (PB) that his agency take control an operation of quarry activities in province.
The proposal stirred a hornet's nest apparently because Corpus promised to triple the current annual income of P8.5 million from sand and gravel and, yes, lahar. Corpus claimed that he can do this for the province and at the same time would look after the 30 percent share of municipalities and the other 40 percent share of barangays. He even assured the PB members he would do all these and free the province from worry over operational burden.
At first glance, Corpus proposal appears to be in order. However, when we take a careful look at the proposition it would seem that the vice governor - now acting governor of Pampanga -- Joseller "Yeng" Guiao was a principal player in the yet-to-be-consummated transaction.
Corpus said he and Guiao talked about the matter and hence the proposal.
In the presentation of the idea before the PB, Guiao appeared to be in full support of Corpus's business proposal. He backed Corpus all the way by justifying the idea and repeatedly said if the PB would accede to the deal, the NRDC will do all the work and that what the province has to do is just wait for the agency to remit the promised share.
We look at the proposal as something illegal if not immoral.
The NRDC still owes the province several millions of pesos after it took over operation and control of quarry activities in Pampanga. Up until now, NRDC has yet to remit Pampanga's share of an amount, I cannot now remember. Corpus claimed that whatever amount the NRDC would realize as its share will be used in its reforestation project. As to exactly where, Corpus would not say.
Some years ago, then President Joseph Estrada took over control of mining and transporting of mineral resources from Pampanga and the rest of Central Luzon thru a presidential proclamation. Then Governor Manuel "Lito" Lapid filed in court a protest against the takeover, citing among others, a proviso of the 1991 Local Government Code that says the governor of the province has the sole right to control, manage and issue permit in the mining of mineral resources in his province.
While the case was pending in court, Estrada was kicked out of Malacañang. And when President Arroyo took over, she revoked Estrada's proclamation even as the court ruled in favor of then Governor Lapid.
We now wonder if a memorandum of agreement (MOA) could effectively transfer operation and control of quarrying in Pampanga. This is granting that the PB can effectively persuade Governor Mark Lapid -- now on-leave and vacationing in the United States - to sign the MOA. And for one thing: will the MOA be legal?
We feel that for whatever reason even the 25-year-old incumbent Governor Lapid cannot transfer or surrender the patrimony of Pampanga to another agency. This so even when such agency is a government-owned-and-controlled corporation like the NRDC.
Certainly, there may be some lapses in the manner the Pampanga government is handling quarry operation. But if these were so, a review of such lapses can be effectively corrected if the legislative and executive branches of the government there could sit down and thresh out the quarry problems.
* * * * *
There is strong need for our country to assist in the rehabilitation of countries hit by the tsunami spawned by the 9.0-Magnitude temblor off Sumatra late last month. Whenever the Philippines is hit by calamity, whether natural or man-made, our neighbors would always come for our aid.
We discussed this matter with Luchi Gutierrez, head of Pampanga's social welfare department, and she said while Governor Lapid and her office are willing to send their own small humanitarian contingent to Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, this matter is really something that only the National Government can decide. Luchi said "Kung tayo ay natutulungang madalas kapag tayo ay sinasalanta ng kalamidad, wala akong nakikitang dahilan upang tayo ay magmaramot ng tulong sa mga kapwa natin Asyano na sinalanta ng higit na mapaminsalang kalamidad."
* * * * *
There are talks that because of the deteriorating popularity of President Arroyo, there is a possibility that some political figures -- who are deemed to be for the best interest of the masses of our people -- would most likely emerge as her replacement. My barber, Berong, hinted that there is a chance that Susan Roces, Senators Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla would be possible replacements should President Arroyo is removed from Malacañang.
This is a chilling scenario. But the President really has to wake up and shape up. She has been leading the country for about four years now and nothing much can be said of her administration. Perhaps, she should stop listening to the rich and affluent and instead lend an ear to the other leaders of the country who are really for the masses. Revilla and Lapid are Arroyo's party mates. It is just too bad if these two would one day align themselves with the opposition.
Lapid was specifically tapped by President Arroyo to run for the Senate because of his mass appeal. And so was Revilla. The two closely identify with the "bakya (poor)" crowd and like it or not, the "bakya" crowd outnumber the affluent.
(January 19, 2005 issue)
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