By Anthony A. Araos
Banaue Rice Terraces’ rehabilitation difficulties are likely to be resolved at the soonest time. All thanks to the diligent and all-out efforts of Mayor Jerry Dalipog and other officials of this scenic town.
Mayor Dalipog and some officials of the Sangguniang Bayan (to include Councilor Chester Bahatan) were invited by a Chinese firm to visit Bali, Indonesia for an in-depth study of the country’s rice terraces. Indeed, they went back to Banaue enriched with valuable knowledge. Earlier, they studied the rice terraces in Vietnam. Visits to Japan and China are also scheduled. This is a very good time to finally come up with a genuine, comprehensive and long-lasting solution to the longstanding problems of the world-famous terraces of Banaue.
Are the damage within these man-made terraces beyond repair or, simply put, rehabilitation is impossible? I found that simply absurd.
Not with the timely interventions planned by a strong-willed local chief executive.
The aforementioned trips are indeed essential in addressing the Banaue rice terraces’ woes. The just-concluded Indonesian trip, to my mind, was a step in the right direction. It will be increasingly important to adopt a forward-looking attitude and formulate a bold strategy in order to once and for all restore the grandeur of the Banaue rice terraces. According to Mayor Dalipog, one way to do this is to push for the passage of appropriate measures at the Sangguniang Bayan. For instance, rice planting and harvest cycle practices are to be considered in crafting one such law. I see no reason why the Sangguniang Bayan will not consider enacting this.
Anyhow, Banaue provides a great variety of recreational opportunities and places to visit including museums, waterfalls, the public market and even the Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel.
There are a million and one reasons in the world to visit Banaue in the remaining months of 2016 and beyond. Truly, you’ve got to see this wonderful and picturesque town.
My unsolicited advice and recommendations to Mayor Dalipog: Mountain biking is becoming very popular in places such as Baguio City, Sagada in Mtn. Province and Tagaytay City. So why not hold a competition in Banaue.
Various groups from the town’s 18 barangays (villages) should showcase the beauty and abundance of Banaue through a cultural presentation competition.
Both activities are surely to attract more local and foreign tourists. I am most ready and willing to extend a helping hand for the fruition of these noteworthy undertakings. Consequently, I will be forwarding two proposals to Mayor Dalipog and the Sangguniang Bayan at the soonest.
-o0o-
When Governor Pedro Mayam-o delivers his State-of-the-Province Address (SOPA) on August 10 in Lagawe, thousands of farmers will be expecting his plans on how his administration is going to address the problems in the agriculture sector.
Much depends on the assistance to be extended by the provincial government on these cash-strapped farmers. It is also very important to have a full grasp and understanding of the present-day conditions of Ifugao farmers. Backwardness of practices used to till the soil is still very evident. Certainly, it is not that hopeless to make a turn-around.
Farmers are essential in ensuring that the food security program of the government is well in place. They play a crucial role in guaranteeing that there is rice on the table. Being front liners in rice production, they are integral players in providing the people’s food (to include vegetables) at all times.
Enhancement of linkages between farmers’ organizations and the provincial government is a key strategy to improving the outputs of the agriculture sector thus, spur the economy of the province.
Farmers (as well as fisher folks) and their dependents undeniably should be among those in the primary focus list of the Mayam-o administration.
It is high time to modernize Ifugao’s agriculture. That is why tractors, dryers, threshers, farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems and post-harvest facilities are so important to ensure better production. It is also a fact government subsidy on fertilizers and seeds would be most helpful to farmers.
Recognizing the contributions of farmers in the task of nation-building, there is also a pressing need to provide them crop insurance and conduct intensive research on high-yield crops.
Whenever there is a problem at hand besetting a farmer, let us say, in a purok of remote barangay Tupaya in Lagawe, who is willing to assist him immediately when he is at the provincial capitol building? The harsh reality is that there is not even a farmers’ desk there for him to lodge a complaint in or seek information from.. It is for this reason that I will be forwarding a proposal for this purpose to the Office of the Governor- through Provincial Administrator Atty. Albert Pawingi at the soonest.
The basic “industry” of Ifugao has always been agriculture. For what is true in Alfonso Lista or Aguinaldo is also the same in Hingyon or Kiangan, and in the seven other towns. Thus, provision of farm goods such as rice seeds for members of irrigators associations in Ifugao shall surely go a very long way in alleviating the plight of farmers.
Henceforth, the provincial government should do everything it can to make sure all the anxieties of farmers will be addressed in the next three years. If realized, I’m so sure that the members of Bunog-Payawan Irrigators’ Association, for example, will be very happy. I met some of them last year. They are poor but hardworking, law-abiding and God fearing peasants. Above all, they are supportive of the Mayam-o administration’s pro-poor programs.
So why pin the hopes of bailing out Ifugao’s agriculture sector on Governor Mayam-o? He loves agriculture. He has a keen interest on it even several years back, long before he entered the world of public service. He obtained a bachelors’ degree in agriculture (Major in Agricultural Economics and Minor in Agricultural Extension) in 1982 from Benguet State University (then Mt. State Agricutural College) in La Trinidad, Benguet. Of course, he went on to become a lawyer. But I dare say that farming is his first love.
Knowledge is important and passion too. Governor Mayam-o has both. Fortunately, he is in a positon to help achieve significant growth in agriculture.
In this connection, I am not only praying for his good health and continuing success but commend him for upholding excellence and integrity in the service.
-o0o-
This is one for the Guinness Book of World Records. Seven is greater than Eight. Only at the House of Representatives. During the elections for the Speaker of the House, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. got eight votes, while Quezon Rep. Danny Suarez obtained seven votes. Today, Rep. Suarez is the minority leader at the lower chamber of Congress. Admittedly, I am not good in mathematics. But how did this happen?
The minority leader is one who loses in the race for speaker and minority or opposition block are lawmakers for the losing candidate. Well, Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez won the speakership race. Easily, you may draw your conclusion.
A friend of mine argued that Rep. Suarez should not be the minority leader since he even voted for Rep. Alvarez. Somehow, I agreed.
To my mind, there is an even bigger and more compelling issue. The Liberal Party of which Rep. Baguilat is a member, has 30 members at the House of Representatives. Where are the 22 others when he needed their votes most? Shades of the saying “Walang iwanan.” (No matter what, let’s stick together.”)
On the other hand, Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiangco who earlier expressed his plan to contest the minority leader post, resigned from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) after failing to get the support of 14 members of his party. He is now an independent. Needless to say, you may draw a similar conclusion.
President Rodrigo Duterte said recently that he wanted the party list representation at the House be abolished. Well, how about going a little bit further. Abolish the political parties. The Liberal Party is now the Lipat Party. The Nationalista Party is now the Nailipat Party. The ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP)- Laban is now the Punta Dito Party and so forth. Well, if you’ll ask me, I’ll just settle for one party: Birthday Party! We all are bonafide lifetime members.
Think sensibly, seven is not greater than eight. Ask any mathematician!**
