Sangil: Kudos to the Pinedas and Buddy Dungca

A COLLECTION of P1 billion, repeat one billion pesos, on quarry operations in Pampanga is telling us a story. This hasn't not happened in the years when the Lapids, father and son, Lito and Mark and including those times when Among Ed Panlilio were presiding at the capitol. In fairness to to the governor-priest, when he assumed the governorship, the quarry collections dramatically increased. It was more than double of the previous administrations. I am not accusing anyone of corruption here but it is up to the readers to do the math and digest their senses. This is a statement of facts. Previous to the Pinedas' administrations there wasn't even a moderate success in quarry collections compared to what is being collected now.

I recall a banner story in this paper sometime back when it reported a P290-million collection over a short period of time. This is despite the pandemic when business all over the country made a slowdown, including construction. The five month revenues, that's from May to September 2020 reached P730 million. Wow. A congratulation is in order. Thank God there is now honesty in the governance of the province. A firm handshake is also in order for former Bacolor Mayor Buddy Dungca, the Kalam head and who is now in charge on quarry operations all over the province. The treasury of the provincial Capitol is now beefed up with these collections and which are put into good use, particularly now that the pandemic is taking its toll.

Governor Dennis Pineda is on top of situation. He is putting the money into good use. He was able to get the vaccines, though in limited number. Front liners are the priorities. It is a good thing that he is still young and there's much energy in his person. Recently, there was a surge on the spread of the virus. He issued an executive order that will limit movements of people. Curfews in all towns of the province including Angeles City are currently imposed. Thank God we can still communicate with one another via MSMs on celfone's messengers and text messages. My interviews with mayors, the likes of Mayors Carmelo'Pogi' Lazatin, Crisostomo Garbo, Teddy Tumang, Gloria Ninang Ronquillo, Diman Datu, Rene Maglanque and Jing Capil gives me and our cabalens the confidence that we can survive this pandemic if we will cooperate with the authorities.

All of these local officials are seemingly walking on a tight rope in their governance. They have to create a happy balance, a happy situation between health and economic issues. It is actually known to all that many of us are "pasaways" (stubborn), and it is the main reason why chief executives of local government units are issuing circulars after circulars. Despite that, the scene on malls, on restaurants and on the streets are flatly defied. There are still a good number of people not adhering to the health protocols.

It has been a worrisome one year. Remember when in March imposition of controls were in place like lockdown. Everyone was hoping that the vaccines will be made available and inoculation will get started and slowly we resume our normal lives. Seemingly, there's so much delays. Either the government is inept, or by designed are foot dragging due to hidden motives. Kickback, maybe? Just asking.