by Anthony A. Araos
The rice terraces of Hungduan are major points of interest in Ifugao’s tourism industry. One can have a great view of the town and adjacent areas at these terraces.
These rice terraces, by the way, are listed as World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO.
Indeed, Hungduan is one of the best places for local and foreign tourists to visit during the Christmas season. Its weather is comparable to Baguio City.
Municipal officials led by Mayor Hilario Bumangabang and Vice-Mayor Romeo Haguyayap should now look into the upgrading of tourism-related facilities as well as expansion of tourism development areas in this scenic town. This holds true for Councilors Casan Dumulag, Lucas Bugatti, Evelyn Balenga, Jose Pocdihon, Maura Himmiwat, Arnold Amayuwon, Pablo Cuyahon Sr. and Pedro Binwag. Likewise, ABC President Armando Bimmohya is expected to do the same.
They cannot ignore the fact that increasing (significantly) tourist arrivals in Hungduan would easily translate to more job opportunities and higher revenues for the municipal government.
How can Hungduan improve its fourth-class municipality status in the coming years? Banaue is now enjoying the fruits of its bustling tourism industry. I’m hoping and praying that Hungduan shall be as blessed and fortunate.
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The “Budget Review Orientation and Workshop Course” in Lagawe was a resounding success. My congratulations to the organizers for making this possible!
The Provincial Budget Office of Ifugao is steadily becoming a vital contributor to economic activity in the province. Its involvement and commitment to the realization of the over-all development goals of the Mayam-o administration is very essential. In this spirit, I am delighted to have witnessed how Provincial Budget Officer Virginia Farro and Administrative Officer V Judith Caclini (of the same office) enlightened 18 participants on the significance of the budget process, as well as inspired and motivated them in their upcoming task of assisting the review of municipal budgets. The so-called “Magnificent 18” men and women who took part in the activity are from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. They are working at offices of board members on ja ob-order basis. Hence, they aren’t just expected to be good at numbers, they should be knowledgeable in law, accounting as well as in the budget process (a tedious one at that to include preparation, authorization, review, implementation and accountability, all of which clearly elaborated and explained by the Provincial Budget Office head).
For the first time, the legislative department’s personnel have been tapped and mobilized to beef up the undermanned provincial budget office for this purpose. What a stroke of a genius! Credit it to Board Member Robert Humiwat, chairperson of the Committee on Budget and Appropriations.
Given the positive results that they were able to obtain, Board Member Humiwat is confident that they were able to successfully refocus their efforts to the herculean task ahead of reviewing the budgets of Ifugao’s 11 municipalities.
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If indeed the adage “Health is Wealth” has a special place in the heart of a government official- whether national or local official, how come seven out of 10 Filipinos die without receiving medical attention?
It is a sad reality that health services are still inaccessible to the people, most especially in far-flung barangays, and the Department of Health (DOH) is a mere regulatory and monitoring body without the service provision function.
Equally alarming is the fact that the government increased the payment of health services while slicing the budget for medicines, supplies and other operating budget of public hospitals.
A thorough and no-none-sense inquiry must be conducted by Congress on this matter. It should act now for the stakes are extremely high- the people’s best interest.
To achieve the best results from the foregoing discussion, the people must be given great importance.
For instance, more than one million Filipino senior citizens have no PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.) insurance. The same thing is true with the barangay nutrition scholars (BNSs) and barangay health workers (BHWs), the so-called front-liners in the delivery of basic health care services. Why not expand PhilHealth coverage to include consultations and not just treatment. Health centers with complete facilities and manned by doctors, nurses, dentists and midwives should be established in every barangay. Every center will have barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars who will receive higher honorarium.
Why are barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars being short-changed for so long through the neglect of the powers-that-be? Instead of merely calling them “unsung heroes” in the health sector, the officialdom will do well to improve their plight by increasing their honoraria and providing them more benefits.
Believe it or not, the stipend of the barangay nutrition scholar is close to Php 500 a month. Translated: that’s Php 25 a day, for a 20-day work period. Not even enough to buy a kilo of rice! An antiquated law does not bind. Nowadays, this law does not make any sense at all.
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Finally, some thoughts for our readers. “To whom much is given, much will be expected.” This is a Biblical thought.
“Ang sabi ng gobyerno: Don’t lie. Don’t cheat. Don’t steal. Don’t sell drugs. Don’t kill. Alam ninyo kung bakit? Ayaw ng gobyerno ng competition.” Quoted from the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago
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Life’s oddities: Only in the Philippines!
Husband: Darling, why are you so happy today?
Wife: I have Php1,000 savings and I’m going to the mall right now!
Husband: Darling, but it’s raining hard!
Wife: Exactly, why I’m going to the mall.
Husband: Darling, why not go shopping when it’s not raining?
Wife: You said, I’ll save it for a rainy day
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May I offer my prayers for the eternal repose of the soul of the late Punong Barangay and Pastor George Dominong Sr. of Hingyon. Heartfelt condolence to his bereaved family and loved ones. He is the father of my esteemed friend Godfrey Dominong, manager of the Ifugao Global Entrepreneurs Multi-purpose Cooperative (IGEMCO).**
