By Anthony A. Araos
Mayoyao town of Ifugao is especially impressive for its panoramic mountain views. UNESCO has already identified a number of villages as “heritage sites.” Barangay Bato-alatbang is a particularly beautiful and scenic place.
Presently, the situation at the vital drainage canal in the barangay is alarming. The damage is enormous. It has come to my attention in a recently interview with Councilor Peter Pinalgan, who chairs the committee on agriculture and health of the Sangguniang Bayan.
It has been a longstanding problem. Repair of the canal is placed at Php 200,000. Inevitably, it didn’t take long for Councilor Pinalgan to act on this pressing concern.
I was drawn to this “endangered” structure because of the way it is sustainably sourced, with the repair at a minimal and reasonable price tag, that makes the project more doable.
Life in the village centered on agricultural pursuits. Here, rice is the main crop. Most of the farmers are poor. The uncertainties of the times plagued them and severely cut into their harvest. It’s hard to say where they are headed.
So, I wrote Governor Jerry Dalipog on August 14 on this matter. “I see the urgency of action from your office on this longstanding problem,” I stressed.
“And when this problem is attended to, it will bring meaningful relief to them,” I added.
We need a better, systematic approach to problems of this nature. This is the reason why I’m vigorously looking for a way to resolve this problem. Nothing less than the quick action of the provincial government is at stake in this case. Give the impoverished villagers what they have been asking for years.
Here’s anticipatory information. Expect production costs in construction works to rise up. So do better to do it and finish it now!
A quick response to a heartfelt appeal as this one reinforces the belief that true leadership is not just on words but in the ability to listen, care and act.
Well, 2026 is not an election year. The point is action does not require political necessity. What then are public funds for? Read the Constitution, law and see. The welfare of the people is priceless.
The dire warnings of the multi-million flood control scandal are a reminder how money is being wasted and stolen by “Honorable” crooks in the government while poor Filipinos practically beg for Php 200,000 for a relatively small-scale farm project.
Folks learn from these experiences and with new learning come necessary changes. Then why is this taking place? Only God knows.
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