Luzon hit by drought; WV by dengue fever

What is ironic about the whole thing is that while Luzon folk complained about the drought or dry spell, Western Visayas health authorities are worried that the “rainy season” has helped drive up the number of cases and fatalities of H-fever.

Bacolod and Negros Occidental have already recorded 22 fatalities from dengue fever. Iloilo City reported eight dead and 85 more people stricken with the deadly disease.

In Negros Occidental, the number of H-fever cases has risen to 1,464 since January.

The welcome news was that Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo called on the clergy of the archdiocese to mobilize Catholic and religious organizations as well as parishioners to help in the government drive to stop the spread of the disease.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas urged the people to focus on the destruction of the mosquitoes’ breeding places.

To a certain extent, rains have been intermittent in Western Visayas in contrast to the situation in many Luzon provinces scorched by the long dry spell.

Both government and private hospitals in Bacolod are overflowing with dengue cases. Dr. Maria Estrella Ledesma of the provincial hospital in Silay City said the hospital is filled up with patients.

And in the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Region Hospital, some of the patients bring along folding beds because there are no more available hospital beds. The same situation is developing in the privately owned Riverside Medical Center. Its pediatric ward is also overflowing with patients and some rooms have been made available to handle more.

Thus, while the so-called climate change brings rain to the Visayas and Mindanao, it dries up Luzon where the water levels of several irrigation dams may go down.

Well, as pointed out by a weatherman interviewed on television, the only thing to do now is pray for rain. But not too much of it for the Visayas and Mindanao.

Unnoticed can of worms

Perhaps, the President may hope to look into this problem with the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Ceres Liner, the biggest transport firm on Negros Island, cut off its trips to Hinobaan and Sipalay City in southern Negros Occidental. The reason – it could no longer afford the P50 to P100 tolling fee charged by several landowners whose properties are part of the national highway.

DPWH regional director Rolando Asis said the agency has filed for restraining orders with the Kabankalan Regional Trial Court to remove the toll gates set up by the landowners along the southern highway.

Lawyer Ivan Solidum said several of these landowners have asked the DPWH to take steps to pay them for the use of their property.

Asis stressed that landowners should file petitions for their claims before the DPWH. “We will act on them, but they should not set up toll gates along the highway,” was how the DPWH official put it.

Actually, it was Joaquin Bilbao who initiated the move to put up toll gates along the part of the highway owned by his family.

Jose Ma. Valencia, chief of staff of Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon, asked the police to get the official DPWH position on the issue of the toll gates.

He also asked the DPWH to act promptly on the problem because it involves the public and also the reality that they have been using private property without paying just compensation.

Take the case of Isabel Trompeta, represented by Jake Villanueva. The Trompeta property in Nabulao, Sipalay City, was reportedly brought to the attention of the DPWH in 2000 yet.

Trompeta’s other son, Jesus Villanueva, also reportedly demanded just compensation for the use of the property way back in 2000. Neither has it been acted upon by the DPWH.

Jose Vasquez, on the other hand, contended that they have brought to the DPWH’s attention their demand for compensation way back in 1997 but this has remained unattended.

In short, how come the government has consistently failed to act on these problems?

Several years back, roadblocks were also set up along the Bacolod Circumferential Road by landowners who contended that they had not been paid for their property. That reportedly prodded the government to act on the issue.

But in the case of the southern highway, not only are the Bilbao, Trompeta and Vasquez properties involved in the issue, but several other landowners are reportedly poised to put up similar toll gates to recover ownership and exercise their rights.

As pointed out by Ninfa Leonardia, editor of the Visayan Daily Star, with the President having come out with her list of road-building projects in her SONA, Congress must appropriate right-of-way payments before they become a major national issue.

Right now, what started in Hinobaan and Sipalay could escalate into a full-blown movement that could embarrass the DPWH.

Worse, that could further set back the construction of the access road to the new Bacolod airport in Silay City. Although, as earlier reported, negotiations have been completed with landowners for the use of their property.

Normally, there are provisions for expropriation cases in road construction projects. What happened to these issues in Hinobaan and Sipalay?

Now, residents of Hinobaan and Sipalay find themselves marooned with the Ceres boycott. Wonder how the situation will end – and when it will end.