SELDOM, even in national periodicals, magazines, television and radio shows that population issues are discussed. (May I inquire if Population Commission is still extant?) Population growth in our country over the years was never a concern of the government. (Okay lang. magpakarami kayo hanggang gusto ninyo) The Philippine Statistics Authority says in 2022 the number will reach 10.9 million. No wonder there are so many poor people below the poverty line. If not only for the overseas Filipino workers, Philippines may be poorer than Bangladesh. Thanks and no thanks for the corruption, which defines our government. It is only the dollar remittances that keep the Philippine economy afloat.
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There is a downside to progress. There’s traffic everywhere. I went to Tagaytay during the holidays, and OMG I have never seen so many people lining up for a ride at the Sky Ranch, which is adjacent to the iconic Taal Vista Lodge. The main arteries of the city were jam-packed with vehicles and as if there was long funeral procession. I heard from friends that it was the same in Baguio City. Every mall in every cities were filled beyond capacity. Almost all slots in the parking areas were taken.
In Angeles City, motorists passing the Friendship road are already too disgusted on the unfinished, or abandoned flyover project. In March this year, all fund releases are already prohibited like appointments and transfers of government workers, then we have to wait for the next administration. Why March? That’s because under the law 45 days before the elections there will be no more awarding of infrastructure projects.
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Years ago, the Angeles City Council passed an ordinance containing the Comprehensive Land Use Program (Clup). It defined the areas of the more than 6,000 hectares of land of the city, which are agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial. A small area with some thousands of square meters only bounded by few roads in the Barangay Sto. Rosario area was carved and declared as a heritage district. And within that heritage district, they plotted some spaces fronting the Holy Rosary Parish Church as Plaza Angel, in honor of the founder of the city, Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda. It is a good area for a night stroll, particularly because of the humidity and warm evenings. May I suggest that the few hundred meters of Sto. Entierro street, and that is from the corner of the former city hall building up to Pamintuan Mansion should be further lighted. Suggesting further that the cobblestone section be improved.
Nearby, the Nepo Mall area which in the sixties was a place for bargain hunters of Post Exchanges (PX) items morphed into Eastwood type district with the multi-level Northpoint mall. Heavy traffic is developing there during rush hours. The Nepomucenos and are now in partnership of the Lopezes of Meralco and wil co-develop further the area.