Friday, July 10, 2009

Tangible Progress

There has always been a lot of cynicism among the folks in Lianga about the capability and, above all, the sincerity of the the national government to deliver on its promise, given so many times in the past, to address at the soonest possible time the urgent infrastructure needs of the local communities. At the top of the list, of course, is a modern road and highway system linking them to the rest of Mindanao and the nation.

Just over a year ago, I took a picture (with a cellphone camera) of a stretch of road just four kilometers southeast of Lianga that is part of the national highway linking Lianga to the municipality of Barobo and then on to the regional capital in Butuan City. It was at the height of the rainy season and the dirt road clearly shows the ravages of constant rain and recurrent flooding.

Two days ago I took another picture of the same stretch of road as it is actually now, at present, widened and bedecked in all of its paved and concreted glory. One can almost swear, unless one is in the know, that this clean, elevated and smooth ribbon of gray concrete is not the same narrow, muddy and gloomy dirt track depicted unflattering in the first picture.



This is the kind of government assistance the local people need the most, the kind that makes the greatest difference in their daily lives. It is also the help and the beneficial change from their government that really means a lot to them because it is something hard and real, something tangible and visible and unlike the great mass of platitudes, political doublespeak and false promises they usually and regularly get from their great leaders from on high.

18 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:58 AM

    Don't you think Cong Philip Pichay was instrumental on having Malacanang provide the necessary funding for this project? I heard that Cong Pichay even lost in this town but he gave priority to have the project initiated.

    Now that we are nearing election, what do you think of Pichay winning the hearts of Lianga voters? How do you rate him this time?

    regards,

    av

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  2. Philip Pichay does deserve some credit for the current road infrastructure developments in his congressional district together with a number of other groups and persons (they know who they are) who I know also put a lot of pressure on President Arroyo to finally push through with the funding and implementation of this much delayed and often times controversial project.

    Will Rep. Pichay win the votes of the people of Lianga in the next elections? It depends on a lot of things. Is he really running for reelection? Who will be running against him? Will there really be elections next year. Hmmmmmmm. Too many intangibles yet.....

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  3. Anonymous10:42 PM

    philip pichay is a corrupt official who accepts big amount of money to be payed just to win biddings and to help you win elections. he was responsible in hiding Garci (hello Garci) because he is a big aly of GMA. he owns singkopado bar where he stays there every midnight if you want to ask help from him. he is the owner of the abante, the obscene tabloid.

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  4. Anonymous2:04 AM

    I think you are talking about his brother, Butch. Cong Philip is a corporate man, an SGV alumni, CFO of multi-national pharmaceutical companies. You need to make sure you know what you are talking about - little knowledge is very dangerous. Make sure you can backup your claim that Philip is corrupt. I heard he is an opposite of Prospero, personality wise.

    av

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  5. Anonymous3:12 AM

    Hi, Benjie -

    First of all, I would like to say that I am a fan of your blog,
    especially on positive news about Surigao del Sur's progress and
    development, as there is very limited information that we receive here
    in the U.S. on how our home province has progressed throughout the
    years.

    It is indeed positive news that you've highlighted and shown pictures of
    the tangible progress on a stretch of road just four kilometers southeast of Lianga, and we should indeed give credit to where credit is
    due. It is to my understanding that such concreting of roads, although
    they are part of the national highway, are included in the general
    appropriations act of 2007, 2008 and 2009. That means that the budget for the construction of the road was allocated to Cong. Pichay, from the national government and especially not from pressures to the national government from interested parties. Can you kindly check on this from your local government offices? By the way, who are those 'other groups or people' who put pressure on GMA?

    If what I said is true, and that Cong. Pichay even lost in Lianga is considered true, then we should be giving credit where credit is rightfully and completely due. Having to prioritize and allot budget for the concretization of a road in a town where he did not win shows that Cong. Pichay is a true statesman who is really pushing for progress regardless of a town's political preference.

    Speaking of preference in Lianga's traditional politicians, what
    legacy for progress has former Governor and Congressman Murillo and his former Governor son has done to Lianga throughout the years that they held the same power (to allocate budget for road construction and to implement the construction efforts) that Cong. Pichay now holds?

    Again, my best wishes and keep up the good work.

    AV

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  6. Anonymous9:28 AM

    "philip pichay is a corrupt official who accepts big amount of money to be payed just to win biddings and to help you win elections. he was responsible in hiding Garci (hello Garci) because he is a big aly of GMA. he owns singkopado bar where he stays there every midnight if you want to ask help from him. he is the owner of the abante, the obscene tabloid." <--- get your facts straight please...here we have proof that a politician is working for the people, for a town where the politician just lost...that in itself is impressive, would he win the votes there in the coming elections? who knows...nobody's sure about it but why talk about elections? when there is work to be done? at least we're sure is that there is progress...give the guy credit, he did something that most people can't or won't do...

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  7. Anonymous6:52 AM

    If Cong. Philip Pichay is a traditional politician - which mostly are AND vindictive, i.e., they ignore places where they lost - he could have prioritized the Surigao del Norte and Sur boundary and the Lanuza - Tandag Highway. However, to my knowledge via relatives out there, he prioritized the Lianga - Barobo sector and Lianga - Agusan Sur boundary.

    Just my two cents. By the way, kudos to the Archibishop of Tandag, too.

    AV

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  8. Anonymous4:47 PM

    Philip Pichay nor Gov. Pimentel had nothing to do with the Php8B Surigao del Sur road project. If Butch Pichay had a hand in it, I think it was the highly publicized percentage that he and Barbers supposedly received from the contractors. Philip Pichay and Gov. BB Pimentel each claim that they were responsible for the projects. Just look at the tarpaulins they posted containing their faces by the construction sites.

    To date, I don't see any visible project Cong. Philip has done for the province. I wonder where his pork barrel went?

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  9. Anonymous10:37 AM

    Cong.Philip Pichay is a good man ...and i honor him with all his goodness not only in surigao del sur but throughout the said province..

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  10. All politicians are corrupt and we all know that and even you who have lots of negative comments of cong.Pichay. ..but have pity on you,because
    Cong.Philip is really good and we are the witness of his kindness and good leadership...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous4:23 PM

    We love you Cong. Philip Pichay! salamat jud kaayo sa tanan! take care always..

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous4:35 PM

    I do not agree that Cong. Philip don't have project done in the said province.. Because i kNow cong. Philip he is not a kind of a politician who are fun putting names for a project done..maraming siyang ginawa para sa kanyang probinsya ,syempre hindi niya nilagay yong name nya kasi yong perang ginamit nya sa kaniyang proyekto ay hindi sa kanya kundi ito ay pera ng mga tao, that's y nasasabi mo yan!..Maramin Siyang na gawa sa lugar nyo.

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  13. Anonymous2:09 PM

    You know what,if projects undertaken or being completed under GMA's administration all of them always have a negative comments from the opposition.wala na silang nakitang matinong ginagawa sa administrasyong ito. But look! all infra projects done in this administration are geared towards economic growth.I hope people will not be blinded by false allegations against the administration. If they have the evidence for corruptions then file it in court not to the bias media. It's sad to see that people will only look at the candidates through their parents and endorsements of stars not what they had contributed in congress or in senate, especially in making laws.

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  14. hello! if ever you have a copy of the signature of the Hon. Philip Pichay pls let me know i need to verify one document from him and i cant find any...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous12:28 PM

    why don't you bring that document to his office for verification? or scan it and post it here.

    ReplyDelete
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