ZOOMLENS has only four wishes on Southern Leyte’s 50th Anniversary and they concern: drinking water, law enforcement, livelihood and the provincial government’s large public debt.

Water Crisis

We are hoping the provincial board will set aside P10 million from its current 87 million peso loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines for the Maasin City Water District’s (MWD) Water Supply Expansion Program.

Although the computers for classrooms and road improvement projects the loan was incurred for are needed, we believe the city’s water crisis is a more urgent concern. For no matter how smooth our roads are, if we can’t take a bath, or flush our toilets – we are in deep shit.

Law Enforcement

Our local police need training badly because our criminology graduates were taught very little about crime investigation in the schools they attended. At present the provincial PNP is under manned, immobilized, under trained and has no money for the training program it needs. No less than Provincial Director Colonel Pepito Pacada has admitted they only had 2000 pesos a month for office supplies, no funds for target practice (or for bullets for that matter) and had to escort parades and funeral motorcades for gas money. If the provincial board could allocate a small part of its 209 million Land Bank loan for the PNP training and logistical support program we are sure their morale and efficiency would increase significantly.

Livelihood

The most pressing livelihood problem we face today is the Hispine Beetle infestation. Swarms of these voracious coconut eating machines are already feasting on the young fronds of coconut trees in our 19 local government units and destroying our number one cash crop and source of income.

Since there is no budget for the massive campaign that the beetle containment project entails, we hope our newly elected legislators will either declare a State of Calamity, so we can qualify for financial assistance from the national government. Or cut down on non essential expenditures so we can 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.

The Debt Trap

Our fourth anniversary wish concerns the alarming increase in the provincial government’s public debt to (among others) the Land Bank of the Philippines which will reach 358 million pesos when the province’s pending request for an additional P209 million loan is released. We are hoping the Provincial Board will brainstorm the various options they can resort to (to) get out of this debt trap. Fortunately other countries have faced this dilemma and there debts where either written-off or renegotiated under better terms of payment.

Wouldn’t it be nice if our public officials could show a little budgeting discipline, just like we do at home? Maybe if we got a statement every year, we’d demand it. Based on the current provincial debt, the statement would read like this:

To whom it May concern,

Your family’s share of the provincial debt is (say) P100,000. Would you like to pay this amount yourself, or have it deferred to your grandchildren?

Jaimee’s

For those who enjoy mangling hit songs or watching Britney Spears do her thing on a giant screen above a swimming pool check out Jaimee’s Hotel Resort and Restaurant in Barangay Ibarra. The ambience is perfect for a night cap and the service and hospitality is unbeatable. It’s owned by Imelda Mangle who is charming enough to make even the grouchiest customer happy.

We Have Only 6 NPA’s

Here’s another one for Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. The Armed Forces of the Philippines claims there are now only 6 members of the New People’s Army operating in Southern Leyte. Their report also insists there are now only around 356 NPA’s in the entire country. If they “know” there are just 6 NPA’s in the province; why can’t they find them? Its dubious reports like these that make the AFP look bad. Why don’t they just admit that the New People’s Army is here to stay, because without them, the AFP cannot rationalize its existence.

Best Chicharon in Town

As part of our campaign to boost the provincial economy, we will be featuring local products that can compete with (if not surpass) those produced elsewhere. One of the finger-foods we missed when we moved here from Manila was Chicharon; the deep fried pig skin that is always crispy and delicious.
It is also popular in the United States, and is the favorite snack of former Presidents George Bush senior and junior who dip it in vinegar and Tobasco Souce. You’ll be glad to know that we now have the Glensan Chicharon which is manufactured in barangay Pacu, Maasin city. You can buy it for P28:50 a bag. Its outselling the Cebu manufactured item which is displayed along side it at the SLEMCOOP convenience store. Try it. It’s delicious and is better than even the Lapid Chicharon which is so popular in Manila.

Vindictive Public Servant

Have you heard about the local politician who reportedly ordered the dismantling of a reservoir because she lost in that barangay in the last election? We could not believe it ourselves until we saw photos of the former reservoir which the people there depended on for their drinking water. Its acts like these that convince us that some public servants are not only useless - but harmful to society.

Home for the Homeless

Guess what? We now have a “home for the homeless” right here in the heart of the city. It’s called the Maasin City Bus Terminal. Frequent commuters who get their rides there have noticed the growing number of vagrants who are using it as their sleeping quarters. And who can blame them? It’s the best deal in town because it’s free, complete with toilet and bath facilities and the city PNP is just a hundred yards away.

Selective Enforcement Officers

We have received reports that some city traffic enforcement officers are covering only the city plaza and Tomas Opus intersection leading to the seaport. Well these officers are smarter than we think because these are strategic locations which lead to the residences of the city mayor, congressman and governor.
You’ll notice that these traffic enforcers are most visible early morning when Mayor Samaco reports for work and late afternoon when he returns home. These aspiring policemen vanish during the interregnum doing what the city police do best - nothing.

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