OPINION: Pre-SONA piece from the provinces

BLOGISTA

By Cha Monforte

july 24

President Arroyo missed Comval and Davao del Norte in her State of the National Address (SONA) last year. To recall, she did almost mention Comval when she announced of a forthcoming manna from Malacanang for Agusan del Sur. It was about a big, impact project.

Before she did her SONA last year, various regions in the country reeled from typhoon and flood calamity. And to soothe down regional pains, we heard of her claims on dazzling accomplishments from exacting more taxes via the Value Added Tax, while damning the global fuel and food crisis as causes of the country’s ills. For that- she “cared so much for this nation”. Imeldific statements, just like the original who said she cried so much for the country’s poor.

What our provinces now want to hear from the President this coming Monday are her assurances that she would actively work to provide opportunities and investments for mass livelihood and jobs for our people. Without the abundant gold resources and the learned endogenous mining skills of our people, our provinces, most of all Comval, must have been so devastated by crimes against properties, which our local police have nonetheless failed to stump out the way our local bisaya tabloids report about these daily. Likewise, policy statements on the peace and order situation in our provinces particularly with regards to the rising crimes against persons are also much wanting now, and this inevitably relates to the efficacy of police organization in the provinces.

We would not hesitate to listen if the President would also give the Palace’s policy pronouncements, nay even good development intentions on Diwalwal, knowing that there’s now more silence than thunder about what the national government has been doing especially in Level 600 underground since when there was that direct government mining takeover over six years ago. It’s still foolhardy now to expect for government transparency now as even trhe Philippine Mining Development Corp (the NRDC before) keeps to be scarce of its public presence. And corollary to this, her policy statement on people’s mining activities that continue to flourish down in Comval and other mineralized provinces in the region is most wanting. A mere mention on people’s mining in Mindanao provinces could immediately connect the President particularly to the people in Comval, Davao Oriental, Agusan and Surigao provinces. Pa-gwapa points ka naman sa amin Madam President, at least on this score.

BLOGSBITS: Three or four SONAs ago, I was bedazzled by the ostensible gold pendant the President wore while in her dark green gown suit. Seen over ANC, she was sparkling, so presidential. But that was when her rule was not yet smudged by so many issues, ripoffs and scandals of the day…..Word has it that Laak Mayor Rey Navarro is engaged in mining at Pamintaran, Comval’s new gold rush site. Pamintaran is in highland Maragusan. It’s just cool endeavor as the mayor comes also from an upland town…. Last 2 gambling has proliferated in Davao del Norte and Comval. I don’t know what our authorities are doing to stump out this vice. See no evil, hear no evil?…. Until now we still don’t see any financial report on the last liga congress of the Federation of the Association of Barangay Captains in Comval. Paging FABC chair and Boardmember Abundio Cubio. Many Comval barangay officials are wanting to see your FS report…. At the rate there’s deafening silence in Comval District 2 political front, ah that past row between Vice Gov. Ramil Gentugaya and Boardmember Maricar Zamora-Apsay, then we expect no more noise about it til November? But then Atty. Jaime “Jun” Lopoz, oldest brod of Boardmember Dexter Lopoz, is coming his t-shirts that he is kursunada! to run against BM Maricar for the district’s lone congressional post. Well, Atty. Jun was a student and youth leader before of Mindanaowide stature, has a down-to-earth, charismatic, makamasa personality. He first worked with the Ombudsman for Mindanao after passing the bar exams, for which BM/Atty. Dex was challenged to proceed to law after becoming a registered nurse. Why not? In that case, BM Maricar and Cong. Way Kurat could not claim they got the plum and perks-blessed Cong position without a rival, and with all the District 1 Comvalenyos just sitting or lying down in 2010 polls, while grabbing it, proverbially. (For your comments and reactions, text 09069104553 or e-mail chamonforte@yahoo.com)

Filed under: atty. jaime m. lopoz, boardmemeber maricar zamora apsay, Congressman Way Kurat, laak mayor rey navarro, last in davao del norte comval, mt diwalwal, Pamintaran, atty. jaime m. lopoz, boardmemeber maricar zamora apsay, Congressman Way Kurat, laak mayor rey navarro, last in davao del norte comval, mt diwalwal, Pamintaran

NEWS: VG says: “It was definitely not an easy decision on my part”

Ramil issues statement on his backing out from Cong’s bid

april 29

Compostela Valley Vice Governor Ramil Gentugaya issued his formal media statement Monday evening stating the grounds why he opted to seek reelection and to no longer run for the congressional post in District 1 that is also being eyed by Boardmember Maricar Zamora-Apsay, daughter of last-termer Congressman Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora.
In text messages sent to this reporter, Gentugaya’s statement read as follows: “There were talks that I had plans to pursue a congressional post in the 2010 elections. All these were true. This scenario would have been divisive to our party since Board Member Maricar Apsay, daughter of Congressman Way Kurat expressed the same intention, as well.”
“However, recently I had a very long talk with Governor Chiongkee and he personally requested and convinced me to continue to work with him in the province, which would require me to run for the same post as vice governor in 2010.  At the same time, I got an urgent call from Congressman Way Kurat himself earnestly appealing to me to give way to his daughter’s bid.”
“After giving it much thought and after countless consultations with my family and relatives I have finally arrived at a vital decision not to pursue my bid to run for Congress in 2010. It was definitely not an easy decision on my part. But I am willing to rise above my personal ambition and interest to preserve the unity of our party. More importantly, I do not want to disrupt the unity of the province that took quite a long time to achieve. We can prosper only to the extent that we dedicate ourselves for the common good.”
“It must be remembered that at the start of my second term last 2007, I together with Honorable Prospero Amatong, Governor Uy, Congressman Rommel Amatong, Congressman Way Kurat took a conscientious effort to unite the officials of the province.”
Earlier, Apsay pledged she would also be issuing her own statement after the vice governor would have his saying she did not want to preempt him. (Cha Monforte/ Rural Urban News)

Filed under: boardmember maricar zamora-apsay, Compostela Valley Vice Governor Ramil Gentugaya, congressman rommel amatong, Congressman Way Kurat, Governor Uy, Honorable Prospero Amatong, boardmember maricar zamora-apsay, Compostela Valley Vice Governor Ramil Gentugaya, congressman rommel amatong, Congressman Way Kurat, Governor Uy, Honorable Prospero Amatong