Bulakenyos preparing for ‘clear and present danger’

By: James Sebastian U. Bendijo

Over 12,000 Bulakenyos, mostly students from several colleges in Bulacan, joined the Angat Dam Break Drill as they prepare for danger that the earthquake might bring to the 44 year old Angat Dam. Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado did not hesitate to discuss the situation that the Bulakenyos might face.

The Governor stated that a 7.2 magnitude of earthquake can cause serious damage to the Angat Dam which contains 815 million metric tons of water. This earthquake could be possible due to the active Marikina Fault Line lying underneath the Angat Dam itself. Since 2009, Alvarado has raised the issue to the national government as experts have said that the Fault Line is approaching its 200 year-cycle which presents clear danger.

“The danger of movement of soil is near within a period of three years, but 2009 nang ako’y magdeliver ng privilege speech, it was already four years ago, hinog na hinog na,” added Alvarado.

“Kung ang lupa sa ilalim ay gagalaw, it will induce an tremor, an earthquake of 7.2 magnitude, kaya ba ito ng Angat Dam?” stated Alvarado. This has been the question that looms over Bulakenyos.

“Ayon sa pag-aaral, ang ating Dam which is carrying 815 million metric tons of water, ay magdadala ng 30 metrong lalim ng tubig sa lalawigan ng Bulacan, Pampanga at Metro Manila,” Alvarado explained. According to him, as the father of Bulacan, it is only right that he organized the drill to make Bulakenyos ready.

Rehabilitation for Angat Dam inevitable

Governor Alvarado also said the repair for Angat Dam is inevitable. There is a possibility that the Dam could withstand the earthquake if repaired and rehabilitated. President Benigno Aquino III has already released 5.7 billion last year to be use for the operation.

But the Governor lamented that up until now, the fund has not been used and it is not known who will rehabilitate the Dam. “Bakit hanggang ngayon, hindi pa ginagastos kahit ni isang sentimo, para patibayin ang istruktura ng Angat Dam,” said Alvarado. He cited that due to technicalities, the plan to repair the Dam has not pushed through.

“Dinedebate pa nila hanggang ngayon kung sino ba ang magpapagawa, ang national government ba o ang K-Water na Koreano, hindi tayo pagmamalasakitan ng mga Koreano, nandito lamang sila para magnegosyo,” expressed Alvarado. He said that it is up to the Bulakenyos and also Filipinos to repair the Dam.

“Prevention is better than cure, para maiwasan ang pagdating ng sakuna, dulot ng Angat Dam, may pera naman, gastusin na, nang gayo’y makatulog na ang mga Bulakenyo,” urged Alvarado.

Back in 2009, Alvarado has already expressed disgust that the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) have been ignoring the Dam’s situation and is only concern of water supply for Metro Manila residents.

“Inilihim nila sa ating mga taga-Bulacan sa loob ng matagal na panahon ang tunay na kondisyon ng Angat Dam kahit ito ay parang bibitin-biting tabak ni Damocles na maaaring bumagsak anumang oras sa ating mga leeg at mangahulugan ng tuluyang paglalipol n gating lipi sa balat ng lupang Bulacan,” lamented Alvarado.

“At ngayon, sa halip na pagtuunan ng pansin ang bagay na ito at paglaanan ng pondo ang pagkukumpuni at restorasyon ng Angat Dam upang mailigtas ang libu-libong mga naninirahan sa lalawigan mula sa kapahamakan, ay pagtatayo ng isang bagong Dam ang kanilang inaatupag at pingkakaabalahan. At ang kanilang ikinababahala ay ang inumin ng mga taga-Metro Manila sa 2015!” added Alvarado.

Those were the statements of Governor Alvarado back in 2009 as for years he continued to push the rehabilitation.

Preparing for worst-case scenario

As a result of endless debate on who will repair the aging Angat Dam, Governor Alvarado along with Bulacan officials, volunteers, NGOs have organized the Angat Dam Break Drill in Malolos.

“Iba pa rin yung nakapag-handa tayo, para alam natin kung saan tayo pupwesto, saan tayo pupunta, ano yung mga magiging pangngailangan natin kung sakaling may ganitong klase ng sakuna,” said Jem Castro, captain of Malolos Rescue.

In case any disasters such as storm or earthquake happen aside from the feared Dam Break, the Bulacan Sports Complex in Sta. Isabel will be the permanent evacuation site according to Castro. “Ayon kasi sa ginawang pag-aaral ng mga government officials natin, itong lugar na ito ang medyo mataas, ito yung pinaka-safe na area dito sa lugar ng Bulacan na kung saan pwede tayong magdala ng thousands of evacuees na pwedeng magkasya dito,” explained Castro.

“Ito yung pinaka safe na lugar, siguro kung may ibang evacuation site, outside Bulacan na,” added Castro.

He indicated that as the captain of Malolos Rescue, he assured that come disaster, their unit along with other rescue units will be prepared to rescue those who are in need. He said that they are well-trained and has government’s full support in terms of equipment.

Concerning disaster drills, Governor Alvarado has indicated that starting 2014, he will use an executive order to bring down this kind of drills to municipality, further preparing Bulakenyos for the worst to come.

De Jesus: “Servants shouldn’t be materialistic”

By: James Sebastian Bendijo

Yesterday at the Loyalty Awards, Dr. Mariano De Jesus, President of Bulacan State University honored long-tenured members of the university while sending a message on what it really means to become loyal.

Addressing the issue concerning the incentive issue, De Jesus insisted that he would not be able to give incentives to part-timers this year unlike his first six years in his tenure as President.

On his speech, even though he is willing to give incentives to all of the servants of BulSU, by virtue of law, it won’t be possible. But he stressed that incentives should not be the reason why they serve the university.

“Yung pong mga part-timers, I hope you are not loyal because of the money equivalent of your services,” said De Jesus.

“Ang gusto ko lang po makita sa inyo ay yung loyalty hindi sa mga bagay na material kundi yung loyalty sa satisfaction because you are serving the people,” added De Jesus.

He thanked the loyalty awardees for staying loyal to the university while not thinking for their own materialistic need. According to him, that truly is the meaning of true loyalty.

He also apologized for he had to discuss that matter in front of his long-tenured faculty.

“Appropriate ba na i-discuss ko ngayon, with the presence of our retirees, sabi nila there’s nothing wrong, kasi ngayon lang tayo magkakasama ng buong-buo na halos 100 percent ang attendance ng ating faculty at personnel,” stated De Jesus.

For his last message, De Jesus stated, “I hope that you will be loyal to the university kamukha ng ipinakita kong loyalty for the past 44 years of my life sa university.” 

Justice still far away for victims of Maguindanao Massacre

By: James Sebastian U. Bendijo

(originally posted at November 21,2013)

 Student and veteran Journalists gathered in front of Bulacan Provincial Capitol to commemorate and remember the 2009 Maguindanao Massacre in which 32 journalists were killed brutally. Up to this point, no justice has been served to those who were killed, drawing the ire of their fellow journalists here in Bulacan.

They are all united in their claim that the government, headed by President Benigno Aquino III, is not doing its best to serve justice to those 32 killed journalists. They reiterated that the verdict should be handed down before 2016, the year PNOY will end his term.

Mr. Dino Balabo, president of National Union of Journalist of the Philippines-Bulacan and also a correspondent at Philippine Star, lamented on the fact that the case is going on a slow process despite holding hearings, three times a week. He pointed out that there has been so many delaying tactics, ruining the case in the process.

Balabo also called out PNP for their weak effort in collecting evidence. “Hinuhukay yung mga bangkay, backhoe ang ginagamit nila, ang daming nacontaminate, nadamage na evidence dun,” Balabo cited.

Balabo also did not hesitated to express doubt on whether Aquino and the government can get it done before 2016. “Pinangako niya nung 2010 na aasikasuhin niya at bibigyan ng katarungan yan, sa nakikita natin, the rate the case is going, medyo mabagal, so maaaring sumobra ng 2016,” said Balabo.

Cecilio Franista, President of Bulacan Press Club, also expressed frustation on government not being able to give justice to the victims and not being able to give safety to media practitioners.

“Sa ganitong kalagayan, ang mala-piyudal at mala-colonial na pamamaraan, kaisipan sa mga bulok na sistema umiiral pa rin hanggang ngayon, gawa ng mga ibang utak pulbura na namamahala sa ating  pamahalaan, lubhang nakapangangamba ngayon sa mga Journalist practitioner sa bansa,” said Franista.

“Ganito ba ang bansang mayroong demokrasya?, mayroon kinikilingan pag may malaking pulitiko ang nasasangkot, mabagal pa sa pagong ang pag-usad ng hustisya, parang gagamba na binebentot muna sa kapwa gagamba, pinagtatagal hanggang isinasantabi ang kaso sa korte,” lamented Franista.

They all could only hope that justice will soon be given to the murdered victims and their message be overheard by the government.

Alvarado, Fermin praise BPC for job well done

By: James Sebastian Bendijo

Celebrating its 60th anniversary of foundation, the Bulacan Press Club got recognitions from none other than Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado and Board Member Michael Fermin.

Governor Alvarado praised BPC for continuing the legacy of its forefathers and staying true to its motto: ‘Hindi nabubusalan ang katotohanan.’ “Salamat sa lahat ng bumubuo ng Bulacan Press Club Inc. Lalong lalo na sa mga nagpasimula nito. Bagaman ang founder nito na si Mr. Emilio Bautista, kasama sina Fred Rozas, Ben Gamos, Rod Reyes at dalawang hindi ko pa matukoy ay namayapa na subalit ang legasi na pinasimulan nila ay magpapatuloy sa pamamagitan ng mga bagong nanunungkulan sa inyong samahan,” said Alvarado.

“Nagpupugay ako sa inyong katapangan at kadakilaan sa pagtupad ng inyong sinumpaang tungkulin para sa bayan. Buhay man ay maaaring manganib subalit kailanman hindi ito naging hadlang upang pigilan at igapos ang inyong mga kamay o busalan man ang inyong mga bibig upang ihatid ang katotohanan sa taumbayan,” added Alvarado.

Alvarado further challenged BPC to to continue what they have done for the past 60 years. He said that the BPC, with its newly elected leader Mr. Cecilio Franista, should tackle and overcome the challenges that they will face in the upcoming future so they will continue to reveal and expose the truth as media practitioners.

Board Member Michael Fermin reiterated the importance of Media to the lives of people spanning from different generations, citing Marcelo H. Del Pilar’s work that awakened the revolution against Spanish colonizers. He praised BPC for using this as a guide for them to expose the truth.

Fermin explained  the importance of the role of BPC and other Journalistic institutions by stating them as the fourth estate. “Ang Media ay sinasabing pinakamakapangyarihang institusyon pagdating sa pagtuturo, pagpapaalam at paghuhubog ng isang kamalayang panlipunan, hindi mahihiwalay ang Media sa pulitika. Ito ang dahilan kung kaya’y ito ay tinaguriang ika-apat na bahagi ng Estado, kahanay ng tatlong sangay ng Gobyerno-Executive, Legislative at Judiciary,” said Fermin.