I CAN remember the gem of an advice that my friend Avelyn Agudon-Marañon gave in column writing. I was a newbie op-ed writer back then.
Then the SunStar Bacolod chief reporter, Avs had a heart-to-heart talk with me. She said, “Diversify, diversify my pieces.” I have become predictable with my write-ups. Ouch!
Proof? I tackled the illegal logging case in Salvador Benedicto and nothing else. Avs did have a point and I loved her for her candor.
As an environmentalist in the local scene, I’m expected to touch on Negrense environmental cases. Since that conversation, I branched out to other green issues. Forest conservation. Non-timber forest product development. Ecological solid waste management. Consumer issues related to organic agriculture, anti-GMOs and the slow food movement.
Then human rights defense and peace issues touching on non-state armed groups in conflict with state armed groups.
Now something close to my heart simply because I’m directly affected, not to mention a thousand other Bacoleños: water – or a lack of it.
Whew, in a Google search of previous SunStar Bacolod issues, I touched on the non-water flowing from our taps.
How can I not touch on these water losses over and over? This is already March 2018. And the situation is getting worse.
Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) made much hay on the bulk water project as the end all, be all solution to the water situation. I was told the situation that the water shortage would ease by November 2017.
Although not the best deal, we in Alijis did have water. At least, for a
time.
Guess what? The situation has worsened. The water utility has been turning off the water from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. That means we have only seven-to-eight hours. Engr. Iden Villaruz told me that we can expect more of the same until April 2018.
More flexidates again? Where is the light at the end of the tunnel? When I requested for a definite timeline, I got a response: silence. I was stonewalled. I want to see their work-financial plan.
What can the Civil Service do to compel the Baciwa management to perform public service? Are these people expecting the state to pay them their salaries and benefits for poor performance? Why work hard when they can expect to be paid the same rates for poor service?
As Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” With the present Baciwa people, I no longer expect them to do something different this coming April. That would be insane.
But there will be let-up with critiques on Baciwa’s poor service delivery.
(bqsanc@yahoo.com)