Tignay Dagiti Mannalon A Mangwayawaya ti Agno (TIMMAWA)
September 23, 2006

Mr. Reynaldo Mencias is hallucinating when he said before the Kapehan sa Dagupan last September 7 that he expects the TIMMAWA members to soften in their opposition to the ARIIP. More than ever, the farmer’s organization is standing firm and consolidating its ranks to oppose the deceptive project. The members would not be tricked into allowing it. They know very well that the project would not serve their interest but would only enhance the monopoly of the San Roque Power Corporation (SRPC) on the water of the Agno River.

ARIIP, an anti-farmer, anti-people, pro foreign companies project, was borne from the plan of SRD-Irrigation Component (SRD-IC) and is part of the plan of the dam builders on how to fully control, monopolize and harness the water of the mighty Agno for the maximum production of electricity of the San Roque Dam thus maximum profit for the SRPC.

In order to get the support of the public especially the farmers, the ARIIP and San Roque Dam proponents are promoting the project as a “grandiose irrigation project which will bring grandiose benefits to the farmers of Pangasinan and nearby provinces of Nueva Ecija and Tarlac.”

But behind this promotion plot is the reality that ARIIP is still a servant of the mega dam and not of the farmers. According to NIA itself, the water which will be stored in the 100 hectares re-regulating pond will have two allocation; for the irrigation of the farmlands and for augmenting the water inside the San Roque dam reservoir when needed. Asked if there are sharing agreement on how much of the water will be allocated for irrigation and for augmentation, they just answered that it will be up to the NIA and the SRPC to deliberate on the matter. This poses the problem for the farmers. Despite the construction of the grandiose irrigation system, lost of approximately 531.28 hectares of productive farmlands, and multi-million peso loan in the name of agriculture development and of the Filipino people, the farmers are still not guaranteed of a steady, efficient and sufficient irrigation water supply.

Under the ARIIP, the local community irrigation systems are to lose their independence since part of the implementation of the ARIIP is the inclusion of all irrigators, association within the project scope, under the administration of NIA. Another risk is the considerable displacement of families from their source of livelihood. This is especially true for tenants and agricultural laborers who may not be properly compensated. The lack of proper consultation of the stakeholders especially of the farmers, will rob the farmers of their rights as water consumer. Not only once did the farmers and their fields suffer lack of water, unnotified, as the water flow was fully blocked by the San Roque Dam operators. The ARIIP’s promises of grandiose benefits for the farmers are at nil with the presence of the San Roque Dam.

In her June 24, 2006 SONA, GMA mentioned of boosting super-regions with priority flagship projects. Region I is to be an Agro-Industry Super Region. Part of the plan it stated is to push through with the completion of the San Roque Dam and its other components, which include ARIIP. After the controversial speech, questions about the fund source were brought up. According to the GMA camp, the funds will be sourced from LGUs and Government revenues and no loans will be incurred to fund her flagship projects. This is not true in the case of the ARIIP. A loan for the project has been pending in the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) since 2003. JBIC is also the main funder of the US$ 1.2 Billion worth San Roque Dam Project. The JBIC did not release funds for the 2003 loan application for the ARIIP due to the lack of counterpart from the Philippine government which back then is being battered by fiscal crisis. From then since now, the Philippine government keeps on renewing the application in dire hope that the project will be funded.

This time, the Japanese government is in limbo in providing the requested fund, especially after the killing of the leader of the dam oppositionists in the area, Mr. Jose Doton. Political killings taking place in the country have something to do with people’s protest against certain development project, government policies and programs detrimental to the people. In the province, the fight against the San Roque dam has led to several harassment cases against the affected people and their leaders. Last May, the leader of TIMMAWA was killed and up until now authorities has not come up with any substantial action despite the creation of the Task Force Doton.

Despite the construction of so called development projects, poverty in the areas affected is escalating. More and more families and communities are suffering physical and economic dislocation in the neglect of the Arroyo government. The San Roque dam has caused several terrible damages and disaster to the province’s and nearby provinces’ population, but the local governments have repeatedly turned a blind eye to the difficulty of the affected people. What the people needs now are effective and genuine development programs which will serve them, not San Roque Dam and ARIIP and anti-people projects.

Nora Luzano
TIMMAWA Finance officer

TIMMAWA
Peasant Movement to Free the Agno River
Apt # 6, Mamalio Apt, Nancayasan Urdaneta City

Ms. Ric
18 Oct 2006

Here we go again, Mr. Pontaoe, finding ourselves on opposite sides of the fence.

These individuals you named are the usual suspects. They had to have paid for these leaked questions. They also stood to benefit from their actions. They ran a scam, and they got caught. They’re also allowing themselves to be the fall guy if they don’t name names. Someone must have sold them these questions to begin with. What these individuals committed is unethical, to say the least. These businesses opened their doors with claims of serving the common need of hapless candidates just needing those extra help reviewing materials just weeks before a huge exam which could ultimate change their lives for the better. These companies advertised their businesses in and around campuses where these candidates spent four or more years of their lives toiling away doing what was expected of them. In my book, they’ve satisfied the requirements set forth by the nursing commission.

Now let’s talk about this nursing commission. If they decide to write off those leak questions, wouldn’t that skew the results even worse? Think about it, those candidates who missed those questions to begin with could ultimately benefit from it. Hey, they could pass the exam by failing it the first time around. What was it you said about idiot nurses?

Edwin
18 Oct 2006

Mr. Eduardo Pontaoe,

I realize that you pride yourself as one who knows everything. First of all the Punch goofed. I did not send anything regarding retirement. Being as astute and one who seems (to think) he knows all I would have thought you would have known that the letter was not from me. Please note that the email address. But since you brought up the subject of retirement; One has a lifetime to plan for retirement. Here in America (the last time I was there Chicago was in America) one has the opportunity to plan for retirement. Social Security was meant to be a SUPPLEMENT to your retirement income.

Also, I do not get bored. I manage to keep busy. To me boredom is a state of mind for one who has no imagination. And, thanks to God, by keeping active I do not have to take a blue pill when the desire arises. Do you?

Ms. Ric
18 Oct 2006

Happy birthday to my dear sister on the 28th. Syl, we’re getting up there and they say with age comes wisdom, charm, and Attitude. Hey, you’re the queen when it comes to the A part, and anyone who knows you will vouch that you’re born with that “charm and wisdom” thing, right? Seriously - you’ve done an excellent job raising your two girls. You make me proud. Congratulations!!!

Ms. Ric
18 Oct 2006

Sorry folks, my fingers got carried away. Here are a couple of corrections on my last post: US population as of today, Oct. 17, 2006, is 300, 000, 000 and California population is 33, 000, 000. (Thanks Jess, for the gentle reminder).

I guess by now, my message has lost its luster, if it even had one to begin with. Again, I apologize for the mis-information.

Edener Benitez Fabella18 Oct 2006

Retirement, population statistics as well as garbage are exemplary views from our esteem kabaleyan from Chicago and the lady professor at UC Berkeley. All issues are germane to a leaky boat named MV Pilipinas.

Who might have known a woman who attended Georgetown University and other prestigious learning institutions, recipient of numerous accolades with a room full of citations and credits - can heap so much ruin to this boat she is steering? If she were a conductor of a symphony orchestra, it will be difficult when to know great passages of an overture as oppose to crescendos of torture. It seems each time she swing the baton, either the nursing industry or constitutionally elected officials get to suffer from the sour notes! She has found a new way to dissipate the ranks of the opposition. She must have suspended few students in her teaching heydays and now effervescently applying the same method against individuals critical of her recreant ways.

I recall one of her rejoinder during the early stage of the war drums against Saddam Hussein and I quote “Either you are a Filipino, or you are a terrorist!” (duh?) end of quote. I guess she must be over calling her critics termites, terrorist, destablizers and others. Today, she made it a lot easier without having to call names - ‘Suspended lahat kayong ayaw lumuhod sa aking harapan’ seemed to be the clear message. This in reality is benchmark of further ruin of institutions congruence of iron fist policies designed to cow Filipinos into total submission.

Question is, will Filipinos find the courage to say; enough is enough time for you to retire? Who was it who coined - “Democracy cannot flourish with uninformed public?” How true it is and for someone who should have hanged her gloves long ago, it is appalling how she continues inflicting pain and damage to the country and people reeling from 5 years of endemic corruption. Talk about garbage she is full of it.

Jess Delfin
18 Oct 2006

Mr. Fabella,

You are far too kind in your words. I would rather say that these particular officials (I guess we all know who they are) should go and see a PSYCHIATRIST. Obviously, they are suffering from combinations of mental disorders. Mr. Ynzon could possibly supply at discounted rates, the anti-psychotic prescription drugs for these officials.

It looks like the whole city government is run by liars and thieves. What do they think of the Dagupan City folks, gullible and stupid?

Eduardo Pontaoe
18 Oct 2006

 

Mr. Edwin Farias:

You absolutely… completely… ambiguously misunderstood what I am trying to say. I did not say retirement is not good. I said, “Retirement is not easy”. Two different things. First of all, if you’re not retired, you have no right of whatsoever to discuss such a thing. What you said are speculations on what you wanna do…the emptiness of your reasoning which belies your carelessness of inexperience.

Let me open your eyes to the uneasy part of retirement. When you retire, the years of your productivity are over. It’s like putting an old horse to pasture when the days of its running comes to an end. Reaching this part of your life when your toils are ended needs some special reaction to what lies ahead or rust sets in. To avoid stagnancy you should be active again. I emphasized part time work to gradually adjust the mental capacity to the changes in a charged environment. Fundraising activities, active church participation, community projects are just the embellishments of seclusion…the involuntary reaction to things that you don’t have to do but have to.

Putting yourself in this position… is it enough to compensate for the years when you are a dynamo of production? I believe you don’t. You should realize…in America…70% of retirees after social security go back to the work force. I meant those people who still have legs to stand on not those on disability.

You know why, Mr. Farias… boredom. How much time you can devote to social activities? None. I have seen retirees let go life. They forgot the humanity of being alive. I hope you would not be one of those.