Reactions to a Road Trip

Maybe, I still have some thoughts; or maybe I just can’t think of anything else to write about.

Yes, it was irregular to fix the roads when the DPWH Secretary would be going on a road trip on it. Yes, it is quite unnecessary for the national department head himself to conduct an ocular inspection to directly experience actual conditions to be able to make decisions on projects (as if, he had no leaders on the lower levels). But on the other hand, privilege speeches on a given issue, ocular inspections on a specific sight, Facebook posts, media mileage and the like are undeniably helpful in getting things done, or starting to get things done. We would have to wait for the week before Holy Week if they really make some real progress. I guess, that’s how our culture goes. Of course, it is ideal for government services (and even private institution services) to be efficient and reliable without prompting of the public or politicians. But, we have to set aside dreams of the “ideal” and make do of what is “real”. After all, there ain’t really nothing wrong with high ranking heads going on visits.

I would just hear or read about it, think that things could be done better, but not get mad about it. So, why are some people getting mad with Congressman Legacion inviting DPWH Secretary Dison to drive around Andaya Highway? What’s so wrong with that?

A barangay kagawad invites the city engineer to take an actual look at the conditions of pavement of an alley in their barangay. Then, all of a sudden, the punong barangay, and the barangay kagawads and the corner store gossips allied with him are fuming with fury with the kagawad who invited the engineer for a walk. Why would they get mad? An office manager invites the company maintenance engineer to take a look at the conditions of the decrepit steps of stairs leading to different floors. Then, suddenly, the building manager, some department heads and employees get mad. Why would they?

Maybe, because they feel that they should have been consulted or informed before the engineer visited. Maybe, they feel that the engineer didn’t need to visit because they can fix the problem themselves. But, the problem has been going on for a considerably long time now. What have we waited for?

A few days ago, Governor L-Ray Villafuerte called on a congressional inquiry on accountability on the unfavorable conditions of the Andaya Highway. This seems well and good. The people of Camarines Sur could have justice for mismanagement of public roads and funds for it. But wait, wait! Hold the reins of your horses and step hard on the brakes. Wasn’t he congressman for how many years. Why has not the incumbent governor thought of that when he was a congressman? Then he wouldn’t be a Congress outsider calling for some investigation. Back then, he could have been the one to pass the resolution and even chaired the inquiry. I don’t mean to be cynical, but why now? Why is the good governor calling for such an investigation now after DPWH Secretary Dizon’s visit to the highway? Why just now? He had all those years to call for an investigation. Andaya Highway’s has long been in bad condition. It’s not like it suddenly developed potholes just last year. Andaya Highway has long been in neglect which has implied of massive fraud and inefficiency. Its defective structural design has long been made worse by the piecemeal rehab work made through the decades. It has long fallen to its exasperating state of disrepair. It has long been time for the government to get to the bottom of why the DPWH, for all the resources and expertise at its disposal year in and year out, has allowed this to happen. So, again, I ask. Why only now? Funds for wakeboarding facilities way back some twenty years ago, could have been utilized for a structurally efficient Andaya Highway.

I got this feeling that this sudden call for investigation is a ploy to make a noise louder than the privilege speech that moved a DPWH Secretary to go on an ocular inspection by land. People would suck up the flare, dramatics and theatrics, just like doling out 500 peso bills to flood ravaged residents who would have a hard time to find a store that was spared by the flood, to spend those pesos, and would rather receive actual supplies.

Maybe, it’s all a game of who gets the credit.

Hebrews 6:11: “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.””