Blast fishing

Blast fishing remains rampant in the Lingayen Gulf. We even heard that even within the Hundred Islands National Park, this illegal and destructive fishing method is taking place and that explosions could be heard by tourists visiting the islands.

As it is, the Lingayen Gulf is already an environmentally-critical area. It has been found to be heavily silted and over-fished and no less than former President Fidel Ramos declared it through an executive order. In fact, the Lingayen Gulf Coastal Area Management Commission, which was primarily tasked to protect the gulf, was even created. LGCAMC, of course, was abolished when ousted President Joseph Estrada assumed office.

We do not understand why dynamite fishing could still happen despite the presence of the Maritime Police, Coast Guard and the Navy along our provincial coastline. Volunteer groups, such as Bantay Dagat, have also been organized and mobilized to help stop blast fishing.

In the past, whenever these water-borne troops were asked why they have not caught any dynamite fisher, their excuse was that these illegal fishers were heavily armed at that they had more superior boats than what our troops used.

I do hope they do not use the same reasons now. If they do, then we cannot continue to hope that this blatant destruction of the sea will ever stop. We will just have to watch helplessly the death of the Lingayen Gulf sooner than expected.

But if we believe we can still do something about it, and I believe we can, then we should now start reassessing our anti-blast fishing campaign. Here, we should not forget to involve our people, especially in coastal communities, to give them a share of responsibility in protecting the sea.

The apprehension by the police in the past few days of “dynamited” fish in different checkpoints in the province would not do much to stop blast fishing if there is no similar effort by the authorities in the open seas.

We hope we start those concerned should start moving now, before it’s too late.

*****

Aside from the Kris-Joey separation, what caught the attention of coffee shop habitués in Dagupan City last week was the launching of the Freedom for Peace and Justice or FPJ in San Carlos City. From the initials alone, it is obvious that the group is the prime mover in launching the presidential bid of action star Fernando Poe Jr.

Among the prominent personalities in the movement were businessman Manny Roy, lawyer Pol Tulagan, former Bugallon Mayor Johnny Jose and other former municipal officials.

Last Sunday, leading newspapers reported that Da King himself is launching his presidential candidacy in the first week of October in San Carlos City, hometown of Da King. This, of course, remains to be seen.

From what we have gathered, people close to Da King, were saying the Da King does not know of the scheduled launching, nor he really intends to run.

Showbiz? Maybe. Or maybe there’s a new action movie that Da King will shoot in San Carlos and those who launched FPJ will be there as extra.

ENDNOTES: The Samahan ng mga Kawani ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Dagupan successfully held its induction ceremonies at the Pinkie’s Restaurant last Saturday. Congratulations to Engr. Ogie Ventenilla, president… Last Sunday was Family Day for city government employees. Everybody enjoyed that activity, which was attended by Mayor Benjie Lim and Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez.

QUOTE: “Behold the turtle. He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out.” -- James Bryant Conant

Mark and Tim

The reported teaming up of fifth district Rep. Mark Cojuangco and Tim Orbos in next year’s gubernatorial race seems to be gaining support from local political leaders in the province. From what we have gathered, a group of incumbent politicians are already pushing for the support of the tandem by beginning to organize in the grassroots to ensure their victory against Gov. Victor Agbayani and Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino, who will also probably team up to defend their bid for their third and final term.

But even with this development, speculations that Mark will not run for governor still persist. Many, especially politicians, are of the opinion that Mark will not run for governor because Victor has already openly declared his support to the presidential bid of Mark’s father, business tycoon Danding Cojuangco. And so did all the mayors in the province.

But then again, this is politics, and as they say, in politics, there are “no permanent friends, only permanent interests.”

Objectively, I believe that Mark and Tim will make a good team because they come from the east and the west. They are also easy to sell to the people, considering that they are both from big political families, who have proven track record in public service. They are both young and self-driven and certainly, they can make things happen for a better Pangasinan.

I have been informed that the Urduja House is unfazed by this political development. An insider told me that Victor believes that he is invincible, that anybody who will dare face him will surely lose, like what happened to his opponents in his past gubernatorial fights. Besides, Victor is now reportedly more prepared to run in an election because he has apparently been able to put up an election arsenal, where he can easily muster “enough cash at any given time” for his last gubernatorial bid.

Then, of course, we were also informed that his PR office, the Provincial Information Office, has already prepared advertorials guaranteed to project Victor’s visions and actions in the last six years and we will be hearing and seeing all these in the next few days in local radio and television.

There is only one problem: news reports have mentioned Victor’s provincial information officer, Ruel Camba, as a “jueteng bagman” and that these jueteng money are regularly distributed to some members of the local media to buy their silence in the unabated proliferation of the illegal numbers game in the province and most likely, to shield the provincial government from negative publicity.

We can only wonder why Kuya Ruel has chosen to be silent about the issue until now.

*****

It is a sweet victory for Nestor Pulido, whose victory as board member in the province’s first district has been affirmed by the Commission on Elections en banc last September 11. He won by only 73 votes.

I am happy for Manong Nestor. Certainly, when he finally sits in the provincial board, he will make a big difference. Manong Nestor and I share many experiences and interests. He is a journalist, just like us and a street parliamentarian detained by Marcos when Martial Law was declared.

Congratulations, Manong.

ENDNOTES: In Windows last Sunday, I inadvertently missed the name of former Board Member Alfonso Bince as among the local prime movers in the presidential bid of former Sen. Raul Roco. I sincerely apologize for it. I hope this will disabuse the minds of those who may have perceived that I have “conveniently and intentionally” deleted his name from among the local political leaders supportive of Roco’s bid.

QUOTE: “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” --Seneca