I’VE met Retired Police General Manuel Gaerlan few times and I am I always impressed with his disposition. He is cool as a cucumber, if I may so. He has more gray matter between the ears than most former police officers I know and I can sense his competency. He is a multi-functional individual.
He is currently the president of the Clark Development Corporation. Last Thursday he was the resource person of the weekly forum of the Capampangan in Media Inc. (CAMI) at Bale Balita in Clark Freeport. Several issues and concerns were tackled, but my interest was focused on a new regulation the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) wanted to implement inside Clark Freeport.
I strongly believe that the order of EMB regional office is so oppressive and quite alarming. I think the order was not rationally studied and there is a lack of understanding by DENR officials of how investors inside the Freeport struggled as the pandemic kicked in March last year. Here, now comes an EMB directive signed by Regional Director Wilson Trajeco henceforth warning that Clark Water Corporation’s Temporary Discharge Permit (TDP) will only be renewed if his directive will be followed. If not the Clark Waste Water Plant will be closed. The new technology comes with an atrocious price tag which may result increase in payment of fees ultimately be paid by locators, which for sure CWC will pass it on.
It’s always my joke. Hey Director Trajeco “study your lesson please.” Yes, I know “dura lex, sed lex.” The law maybe harsh, but it’s the law. And if you wish to tackle the law as a subject of argument, then let’s revisit Republic Act 7227. The law was enacted and enforced in 1993 as a reaction to the Mt. Pinatubo’s destructive eruption in 1991 and resulted to the sudden departure of the Americans which he hosted since 1902. The whole of Clark Air Force was desolate and covered with ash.
The eruption caused the lahar flows and destroyed so many communities. Aside from the thousands of employees working with the former the US military installations who were thrown out jobs and left in the cold so to speak, economies of adjacent communities like Porac, Angeles, Mabalacat, Bamban, Capas were adversely affected.
The president then was Fidel Ramos and one of the senators was Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Them and other members of congress passed the law designed for the rehabilitation caused by the damage, and thus the conversion of Clark as an economic zone. It took years, rolled sleeves and trade missions in several countries abroad in enticing investors to put in their money. Slowly but surely the locators came and the seemingly irreparable damages inflicted by the closure of the military camp once again came to life. And now here comes this Trajeco and his directive who wants to kill the Freeport by going to the jugular. God forbids.