WHAT’S the similarity between power and water? Well, for starters, both words end in “er”. But that’s a trivial similarity. The overriding similarity is both are basic services necessary to make the Boholano’s life easy, convenient, and conducive to productivity. Yes, productivity. The state where we are able to render work, produce output, and earn therefrom.
For the homemakers, it’s called reproductive activity: the state where the homemakers – more often, mothers, women – manage the households to enable the productive workers – more often fathers, men – to live comfortably with the end-view of readying and motivating them to go to work and come home to a well-managed home environment. Notice I used “more often”. Because through the years, changes have been happening and both genders are now breaking away from the social construct.
It’s sad to note that before I left Tagbilaran City on the last week of January, water supply in the city was scarce, with many areas experiencing the lack for several days. I should know. I was spending time with my high school classmate who owns a water refilling station. People come and go asking for and buying water whenever available. It’s probably for drinking and bathing at the same time. That kind of need.
I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but a simple time quadrant would have taught us to discern between the essentials and non-essentials: the most urgent and most important needs vis-à-vis the less urgent and less important.
Perhaps it’s also the trouble with the electorate. People tend to measure the so-called accomplishments of leaders by the sheer number of structures they have built. We are infrastructure-oriented. Admit it! We want to see output right away. We are driven by instant gratification.
However, power supply, water supply, and social issues are not seen by our naked eyes, hence we take them for granted until we are confronted by the lack; or the stink of garbage; or the eye sore on the streets resulting from unchecked societal issues. Then we start to complain. But when a “Band-Aid” solution is employed, we immediately revert to our comfortable zones. It’s a never-ending cycle.
I think for most human beings, we do not want to get involved in governance until our individual lives are starkly affected. We leave governance to politicians, some of whom are not even equipped and up to the task. We take stoic, apathetic, jaded stance like we’re just spectators sitting on the bleachers.
Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bohol has approved the acquisition of brand new vehicles for 14 board members including the vice governor. Wow!
It recently passed Resolution No. 2020-070 – “Approving the purchase of fourteen (14) units of brand new vehicles for the use of the Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol and the Office of the Honorable Vice Governor.”
I am not privy to the discussion nor debate – if there ever was one, but by golly! is that really the urgent need of the time? Aren’t we supposed to ready our resources for the more urgent matters such as the public health issue of coronavirus? What about addressing the high cost of prime commodities in the province? Food is another basic need. Shouldn’t that be our priority?
The report says, “There is a need for the purchase of service vehicles for a number of reasons”. One reason given: “Majority of the service vehicles currently being used by the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan have various mechanical issues ranging from the simple to severe”; “Included in the regular tasks of the Members of the SP and Office of the Vice Governor is to visit constituents and barangays in their respective areas of responsibilities.” I don’t know about you. But for me, this is more like a want, rather than a need.
Accordingly, funds have been appropriated for the purchase of the service vehicles.
All I can say is Bohol is awash with money and the province’s legislative priorities seem to contradict the needs of the times.
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Food for Thought
A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody. ― Thomas Paine
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For comments, you may reach the writer at belca.87@gmail.com./PN
