COOPERATION is not just working together to attain a common end.
Cooperation is also give and take. It could also mean to give way for the welfare of the majority. It could even mean to die so that others may live. The 10.12-kilometer Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road (BSAAR) is perceived to be a shining symbol of cooperation and friendship between the Philippines and Korea.
It could be normally perceived as that because Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund provided the amount (P415.893 million) for the construction and completion of the said project. Earlier I was told by Atty. Helen Catalbas, director of Department of Tourism Region VI, that the budget did not come from the pork of the politicians but through the initiative of DOT and Department of Public Works and Highways and our congressmen made good follow-up at Department of Budget and Management. We are made to understand also that this “symbol” was started by Rep. Kako Lacson, given follow-up by Rep. Monico Puentevella, and Rep. Albee Benitez had it finished.
I believe it is true. Therefore, we give kudos to the three of them… Kako, Monico and Albee (KaMoAl). I just don’t know if Rep. Anthony Golez had a foot print on this also. The road is good. There is no doubt about it. Probably, the cooperation could provide highway posts with lights to give commuters traveling at night that feeling of security. Those traveling from Bacolod to Silay may have two options, to take the coastal road or BSAAR. I hope that BSAAR will not be heavily pounded by our giant transformer-looking sugarcane trucks.
Investors and business tycoons are already looking forward that the left and the right sides of BSAAR will become economic zones. Mayor Oti, Mayor Eric and Mayor Monico should make good additional zoning ordinance giving details on the future economic growth areas. Conservative “hacendados” may now say goodbye to their haciendas. Time will come that those haciendas will be converted into residential, commercial or industrial lots. We would like to suggest to our planners that whatever physical structure will rise, we should not forget that agriculture should always be there. Only farming can sustain our physical survival.
Cooperation and friendship will be pushing the leaders of three LGUs (Silay, Talisay and Bacolod) to consider the establishment of Metro Central. Probably, Mayor Ramon Torres of Bago can join the triumvirate if he wants his city to be included in the Big Bang Plan for Negros Occidental. In BSAAR, we need bright and active policemen to patrol the stretch. If government has good plans, hold uppers have also their strategy on how to make a romantic highway robbery. The children of the neo-rich may have a plan also to do car race in the evening to the style of “The Fast and the Furious.” Our traffic czar should be like “Mad Max” also.
When there is economic growth, there is “shanty growth also.” Expect for “barong-barongs” to mushroom along the road shoulder. We hope that the “encargados” of the haciendas will be alert in monitoring. The shanties will start as “convenient stores” for the drivers, then there will be vulcanizing shop with oil for sale in soda bottles. Coffee shops will spire under the mango tree, and later in the evening there will be sing-along attraction. Reports said that there are five bridges there and this would mean another opportunity to have residents under the bridges.
Talisay Bridge has “under the bridge residents.” If this could happen in Talisay Bridge, there is no reason why BSAAR bridges cannot have them. Probably, they are voters also.
Since the highway is 10.12 kilometers, some business-minded residents may entertain the idea of having a late afternoon fish market there. They would always say, “If fish vendors in Bacolod can sell fish in the middle of the road without being apprehended, there is no reason why we cannot have our fish market here.” Near the fish market, there will be “Su-Tu-Kil” (sugba, tula, kilaw) carinderia. If this becomes sustainable, there will be “Tap-Si-Log” in the morning where jeepneys can stop for tapa, sinangag, and itlog. If everything is okay, there will be “Kap-Log” for the late evening and very early morning (kaping mainit at nilagang itlog). Drivers will like it. Their wives don’t need to wake up early to cook for them.
I know that this is not good for our BSAAR image. The Metro Central mayors should start planning now. We do not want to be overtaken by the planners of our underground economy. In our Metro Central plan, we create opportunities for our brothers and sisters who are hacienda workers. Let us have special business venture for the children of the farm workers who have finished high school, college, and technical-vocational courses. This is our Big Bang Dream for BSAAR.
Public officials should give us faith. Faith allows impossible things to happen. It is the force that comes from a fearless heart. When a fearless heart believes, miracles happen. Let miracles happen in BSAAR!*