A SIGNIFICANT though less publicized event in recent days was the assumption of Ms. Gladys Rosales as the new PDEA regional director.
She replaces the hardworking but efficient Region 3 director Jeoffrey Tacio whose anti-drug operations had netted a number of arrested drug personalities in the region.
PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac has special reasons in designating Ms. Rosales as Central Luzon chief anti-drug operative. Like other low-key but doggedly determined regional directors, she has outstanding achievements in her line of duty. Pampangos welcome the new director and touted wonder girl. We hope she succeeds in going after Chinese drug producers and suppliers and their local lackeys.
Ms. Rosales can make a difference if she cracks down on rogue policemen who are involved in illegal drugs, either as marketing and recycling conduits and or protectors of the pushers.
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A newly opened world class hotel and resort inside Clark was recently inaugurated. Instead of national tourism officials as honored guests, an executive of the PDEA was the hotel's distinguished honoree. Why a drug enforcement authority occupied center stage instead of local and national tourism officials whose job is to promote and regulate the tourism industry raises doubt on the motive of the resort owners.
Also a Filipino-Japanese Resto Bar along 1st Street, Balibago had an official of the Dangerous Drug Board as its opening day's special guest. Something of special interest seems to attract hotel, resort and bar owners to drug enforcement officials.
That most of anti-drug raids were conducted on the above joints is an indication of rampant drug use, mostly by foreign guests in these establishments. The patrons feel safe with an assurance of protection.
By befriending and honoring anti drug enforcers from the top level, the hotel, resort, bar owners are sending a message to local officials and the police that their establishments enjoy the goodwill, if not the protection, of their sponsors.
Dir. General Cacdac must be aware of this situation in Angeles and Clark. Ms. Rosales is forewarned and advised to be careful in socializing with those 'friends' with ulterior motives.
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The Phivolcs chief, a recent guest of the PamCham, has become the foremost promoter and ally of proponents in dispersing government agencies and certain industries outside Metro Manila.
Dubbed the Big Bang, the specter of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake projects a loss of 37,000 fatalities, l40,000 severe injuries, and an economic loss of P2.5 trillion.
Bulacan and Pampanga are natural catch basins of the mass exodus of the Metro Manila populace who would evacuate to safer places.
This eventuality is what our provincial and local officials should prepare for instead of occupying their time with earthquake drills and disaster preparedness. The Big Bang is the tsunami of evacuees to Pampanga.
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Asked my two-cent's worth on the Capillon project at Clark, I am not sure of my opinion. But I am certain "tiyak may kikita d'yan." It is the same animal with the then proposed SM City Clark project. Heated debates, street protests, ferocious opposition to the plan became futile after the SM City owners responded with power play. It was the age-old "trick Isik" that overcame greedy CDC officials, local politicians and corrupt brokers.
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The CDC appears to be right in its stand at the Calumpang affair. The barangay captain is wrong in seeking protection in the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act. A sewerage and septic disposal project is the subject of the dispute. The villagers do not want CDC to interfere in the transaction because the site belongs to ancestral domain. If the residents accept any commercial enterprise- say, a marijuana farm, even those sponsored by terrorist groups- the CDC has no right to look into, review, and regulate the activity on the ground Calumpang belongs to ancestral domain. What the Calumpang officials want is pure autonomy with no desire to be regulated and supervised by a state agency.
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The Kalangitan landfill, with the support of the DENR through its environmental compliance certificate, may now accept and accommodate imported garbage of whatever kind. I had watched my multi-talented friend Sonny Dobles ably defend the dumping of Canada garbage in the site in a CLTV 36 newscast. Mr. Rufo Colayco could find no better protector and advocate than Sonny.