THIS CHRISTMAS 2019 up until the start of New Year 2020 while I am in Bohol – yes, I am still here, I have heard of several complaints about the high cost of fish most particularly, vegetables, fruits, and related products.
Looking back, when I stayed in Bohol (Tagbilaran City, to be precise) for over a year from 2012 to 2013, I was aghast when while doing my marketing errand at Manga Public Market, I saw that a piece of calamansi (lemonsito) was sold at one peso! Goodness gracious! In General Santos City, calamansi is sold by kilos (not by piece) at sometimes P16.00 per kilo. It was shocking to me then. But I needed the calamansi so I expressed my dismay to the vendor, gritted my teeth, and bought grudgingly.
Moving forward to 2019-2020 and it’s still the same problem! However, people have gotten used to it. They don’t complain anymore. They have become callous and cynical. To borrow my nephew’s line: “What’s the point?”!
I must tell you moreover, gasoline prices here are higher than the prices in General Santos City. Pray tell why!
Whose job is it really to undertake a commodity price scanning in Bohol? In Tagbilaran City? The national government? I think not! Since the Boholanos are the most affected themselves, it behooves upon our local leaders to act on the problem. After all, aren’t they elected to serve that very purpose? To promote and protect public interest and address the pressing problems of the community? Isn’t that the essence of public service? Isn’t that what genuine leadership is all about?
What have become of our leaders? I wonder. Piece meal solution won’t hack it. Bohol is not lacking in research groups; in experts who can undertake the work to obtain the data. Data that will become the basis for a holistic approach to address the problem. Yes, problem, since exorbitant prices are a pain in the ass! Forgive the language.
Even the hospitality industry rates are pricey! It’s designed for foreign tourists! What about the local tourists? We’re paying the same price as they do but we’re not earning like they do! The irony of it all.
And naturally, the power situation is still the same since I left in December 2013 – after the debilitating blackouts brought about by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake and typhoon Yolanda.
Bohol is still very vulnerable up to now. Anything that happens in Leyte will cut off our power supply – just like that –since we’re too dependent on the Leyte-Bohol power route. Of course, 9 years of leadership under the previous administration did not eradicate the power problem. It’s all tourism, tourism, and more tourism, and yet the economic backbone of consistent power supply is left to planning, planning, and more planning for what? Nine expensive years?
But well, the bright guys will always say, the Cebu-Bohol interconnection project is expected to be completed in December 2021 (estimated time of completion)! Of course, we Boholanos will wait again after suffering the blackout horrors of 2013. After all, aren’t we a very patient people? Oh yes, we are.
In the meantime, the vulnerability continues. But hey, who are we to complain? Didn’t we elect the same leaders over and over again? That’s life, my friend. We are so dependent on the crumbs of leadership that we deserve. Oppps! I don’t deserve it. I am just an outsider looking in.
But seriously, who’s speaking for the power situation in Bohol? Where’s the business sector? Aren’t they the most affected because their businesses are the first to suffer when a blackout occurs? Where’s civil society? But we all go back to the question: Where’s leadership from elected public servants? Where are you people? Show us the stuff you are truly made of. Enough with all the embellishments, the photo shoots, the pogi and pretty points, ad infinitum. Go back to the drawing boards, brass tacks, and show us the stuff you are made of – or is that the real stuff already? Pathetic.
If we can’t choose the leaders we need because of the influence of money; at least show us that you are worth that paper bill.
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Food for Thought
We know the lack of leadership and incompetence you try so much to hide: Kick people out of their jobs; being vindictive; prevent the promotion of people; intimidate; threaten; and so on. You truly, truly suck! You don’t deserve to sit on your lofty chairs.
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For comments, you may reach the writer at belca.87@gmail.com/PN
