QUESTIONS ON THE BATANGAS, PANGASINAN FISHKILL!

A lot of people will have a whole damned lot of explaining to do in the fish kills that have struck Batangas and Pangasinan.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda says in 2009, the Protected Area Management Board recommended that 14,000 fish cages in Taal Lake be reduced to 6,000. But some disregarded the order, resulting in the fish kill.

So does this mean that the problem has remained unattended since 2009, that even the Aquino Government had not done anything, or has not done enough, to address the problem in the one year that it has been in power?

Lacierda said Interior and Local Government Sec. Jessie Robredo will order the dismantling of illegal fish cages in Taal Lake in Batangas.

It had to take a fish kill for you people to act, Mr. Lacierda? So if there had been no fish kill, only God knows when the dismantling would begin, is that it?

Mr. Lacierda must also explain what the Aquino Government has done to those whom he says did not heed the recommendation to reduce the number of fish cages from 14,000 to 6,000.

He must identify these people, if indeed there are any, and specify what action has been taken against them. If Lacierda can’t name names and detail any preemptive move the Government had made against a fish kill, he had better have one hell of a reason why.

Because Esmeralda Paz Manalang, officer in charge of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Calabarzon, denies Mr. Lacierda’s allegations.

Manalang says the Batangas provincial government is continuously dismantling illegal fish cages. But hold on, Madam.

Before anything else, you must first tell us first what, if any, has the BFAR done against illegal fish cages. BFAR, not the Batangas provincial government.

Illegal fish cages and more importantly, the plans or preemptive measures you have in preventing a fish kill.

If you’lll say BFAR does not have any, and has not implemented even a SINGLE preemptive move against a fish kill or other disasters, WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING in your jobs?

Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos Recto must also start talking about the tragedy, especially now that seven towns in the province have been placed under a state of calamity and fish losses as of June 1 have been placed at 972.6 metric tons valued at P76.586 million.

Ms. Recto herself should present detailed proof of Manalang’s claims that the provincial government is continuously dismantling illegal fish cages.

All these questions and issues must also be answered by BFAR and local officials of areas in Pangasinan which have been affected by the fish kill.

We’re not just talking of a fish kill here.

We’re talking of a disaster that could very well endanger the health, if not the lives, of the millions who eat fish. We’re looking at hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of fishermen, vendors and other people who depend on fish for their livelihood.

We’re staring at a disaster which could have been MINIMIZED, if not PREVENTED, had immediate action been done by authorities, a disaster that could HAPPEN AGAIN. ***

Twelve of our friends on “My suggestions in allowing divorce”:

ISAGANI MACARAIG of San Pascual, Batangas

Once you divorce your wife, you automatically divorce your children. This is a sequel which the affected party, the kids, can do nothing about.

CHIQUI APE

Meron naman annulment. Babaan ang fee at bilisan lang ang process.

JAN VICTOR AYSON of Quezon City

Amen to that!

LARRYMIRANDA of Al Khobar, Ash Sharqiyah, Saudi Arabia

Against ako sa pamilya na maghihiwalay, but even in the Bible Moses allowed that. Hindi nga kayo divorced but wala na yung essence ng pagiging magasawa. Nagsasama kayo pero nakatalikod kayo sa isa't isa.Minsan ka lang mabuhay, at magiging miserable pa habang buhay.

DANILO PACOMIO of Virginia Beach. Virginia. USA

Good points. In addition, there should be a stipulation that the couple had gone to marriage counselling before granting the divorce. Who knows, an intervening body might open the eyes of both parties.

KELLY LIM of Manila

Correct po kayo!

WINSTON TIZON of New Manila, Quezon City

The kids will be the losers. No one will take care of them. Make a law, no to divorce. if they have a child, let them feed and protect the kid. if they cannot do it, punish and put them in jail.

CHRISTINE MALLORCA of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Pabor ako sa divorce. Sana, maisulong na agad iyan ASAP!

ROMEO TOLENTINO of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sa ating mga Kristyano, hindi na natin kailangan magrationalize with regards to divorce. Bawal yun. Ngayon, kung may gustong gumawa ay WALA tayong magagawa.

REBECCA KOOMANS of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Talagang ayaw nilang kilalanin ang batas ng Diyos!

JULIE PALANA

No to divorce!

JUAN DELA CRUZ

No to divorce. Marami pang dapat pagtuunan na mas importante.

Four of our friends on “Double talk, Pnoy style”

RIGOBERTO TIPONES

A thorough investigation must be conducted to find out the whole truth, and the whole extent of the modus operandi inside Bilibid. There is prima facie evidence already, and I am sure a lot will be exposed sooner or later.There should be no sacred cows.

MARIA CRISOSTOMO IBARRA of Manila

Ano ba guys? It was a closed-door meeting. Usapang magkaibigan na lang yan. Basta magresign ka, then i give another position/ That's all.

JULIAN RABAGO of Cavite City

Double talk is an art that politicians need to master or else they can't be politicians.

JERUEL PLAZO of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Halatang-halata naman na malamya talaga si Pnoy sa mga ganiyang bagay. Aat pinuri pa niya ang nagbitiw na si Diokno. Kaya sang-ayon ako sa lahat ng sinulat mo kasamang Boyet.

On the question “Do you agree to the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani?”:

LARZK 44

Hindi usapin dito na naging diktador siya noong panahon na siya ang Pangulo. Ang usapin ditto, kung paano nya ipinagtanggol ang Pilipinas nung digmaan. Halimbawa ang ama mo, matapos kayo palakihin ay naging kriminal. Hindi nangangahulugan na hindi s'ya naging mabuting ama. 30