To me, the most breath-taking among the natural attractions of Pangasinan is the Hundred Islands. Everytime I go there, I am always enthralled by its splendor and mystery, and its unique ambience that soothes and relaxes a weary mind. It’s a perfect weekend getaway.
But unlike the other natural tourist attractions in the country, a trip to the Hundred Islands should offer more than the beaches of its islands and the calm waters surrounding them. For instance, in Puerto Princesa City, a trip to its famous underground river becomes very memorable because a trained guide accompanies every group of visitors, making their visit very educational and making them realize the benefits of taking care of the environment.
This is also true when one visits the Subic Free Port. A guide is assigned to accompany visitors, making the visit very organized and educational.
Why this scheme is not being done by the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), the agency which has jurisdiction over these islands, we don’t know. Maybe, they have tried it in the past, did not make it work, got tired of it and simply forgot about it. Or maybe, they did not try it at all.
But as we race against time to preserve the Hundred Islands from further physical degradation and keep it as the province’s premier tourist destination, Alaminos City Mayor Nani Braganza should no longer wait on the PTA to make its move. He should act now. And fast.
With former tourism regional director Jinggoy Malay as city administrator, there is no reason why the Hundred Islands could not be repackaged to keep tourists coming back for it, at the same time, creating higher awareness on the need to protect and preserve it.
This means that we should go beyond the idea of deploying floating souvenir and food shops on the waters near the islands. More than this, tourists must be educated on the islands’ legend, their history, their names, their attractions, their contributions to ecology, the need to preserve them and the people’s and government efforts to maintain them. This way, tourists will better appreciate the islands and make them develop a sense of attachment and responsibility to make them feel that they, too, are co-owners and stakeholders that they are obliged to take care of them.
A tall order? I guess not. It’s simple management. And a little imagination.
*****
The greatest obstacles to a smooth traffic flow in Dagupan City are still the tricycles. And their drivers are the most undisciplined bunch. This makes me wonder if at all, these drivers are given actual driving tests by the Land Transportation Office before they are issued their licenses.
This is why defensive driving around Dagupan City is a must. Otherwise, you end up sideswiping or being sideswiped by tricycles that suddenly appear in front of you during traffic stops. If you are following a tricycle on a road, better have a sharp eye. Chances are these vehicles do not have signal and stop lights and they usually make a left or right turn using their hands, feet and worse, their snouts.
They also overtake you on the right and many times, you see them coming using the wrong side of the road. They also have this bad habit of stopping in the middle of the road to pick up passengers. They simply do not care that they delaying other motorists.
But what makes these tricycle drivers bold and daring in violating traffic rules is the fact that many of them do not get traffic citation tickets for these “minor” infractions. Or if they do, the penalty is very affordable.
The city government has succeeded in giving a day off to all tricycles in Dagupan City. It should now start considering their gradual phase-out as a public transportation.
And this could be done by imposing heavier penalties, including cancellation of franchise, to recalcitrant tricycle drivers. And as franchises are cancelled, issuance of new ones should be stopped.
At least, this way, if we do not succeed in totally phasing out the tricycles, we will have safer streets with more disciplined drivers.
ENDNOTES: Congratulations to former Dagupan City administrator Joven Maramba, for his election as president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Pangasinan Chapter last Saturday. Also to his runningmate, my buloy, Jing Viray of Asingan town, for winning as vice president… The Pangasinan-Washington Sister State Association (Pawassa) has been appointed by a US-based agency as its agent in Pangasinan in the recruitment of teachers for US schools. Interested applicants should attend the Jobs Fair at the Dagupan City Library on March 3 and 4.
QUOTE: Well, it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together... and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known... I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like... magic. – Tom Hanks, as Sam Baldwin in the movie Sleepless in Seattle, when asked what was special about his departed wife.
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