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And Now ...The Hard Part Antonio M. Reyes

By Antonio M. Reyes

After their landslide victory in the last election the Lakas-Kampi winners should now settle down and confront the horrific problems that now plague Southern Leyte.

The most pressing among them is the Brontispa Longissima beetle infestation. Swarms of these voracious coconut eating machines are already feasting on the young fronds of coconut trees in the 19 local government units of the province and devouring Southern Leyte’s number one agricultural crop.

Current efforts of the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Provincial and Municipal Agricultural Offices to contain the pestilence are totally inadequate.

Since there is no budget for the massive campaign that the containment project will entail, our newly elected legislators must decide whether to declare a State of Calamity, so we could qualify for financial assistance from the national government. Or they could cut-down on none essential expenses and channel the savings to the provincial beetle eradication program. In either case, they must act quickly, for time is running out and the beetle swarms are getting larger.

There is also the education problem they must deal with. For the public education system is in crisis and has been deteriorating for the past 25 years. We simply have too many students and not enough teachers or school facilities. To further complicate matters with have a runaway population growth rate of 2.3 percent and are adding 1.7 million people to our population each year.

Our elected leaders must decide whether they are for or against family planning. And whether they are the servants of the people who voted for them or the servants of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Another urgent matter that needs attention is the Total Log Ban Bill sponsored by Congressman Roger Mercado which was signed into law last November 14. Although the law is clear on its coverage it still needs Implementing Guidelines which the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office should prepare in coordination with the DENR Field offices here and the Congressional District Office.

Other problems they should confront are the ailing abaca industry which the Fiber Industry Development Authority has already given-up on, the acute city water crisis, the undermanned and poorly trained provincial and city police force, our huge public debt and of course global warming.

These are tough problems and it will take time before they can be resolved. But our local legislators must take the initiative and sponsor legislation that will set the stage for our deliverance.