Pasintabi po sa mga die-hard supporters o followers at lubos na nakakikilala sa gobernador ng Marinduque. It saddened me watching the episode of State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the infamous broadcast journalist Jessica Soho entitled Matumal na Turismo, Problema sa Marinduque.
Kayo po Gov. Carmencita Reyes ang tinaguriang nanay ng lalawigan ng Marinduque and I think it’s uncalled for in saying “the people cannot afford the airfare”, it sounds like, na walang kakayahan ang iyong mga residente. Bagama’t binanggit n’yo na majority, still parang kayo na rin ang yumurak sa kapasidad at kakayahan ng inyong mga constituents. So, what the local government has done so far to at least augment the resident’s way of living and become more economically capable? Simple lamang po iyan, provide an alternative means of transportation to the people of Marinduque and see it for yourself how things will work. O kaya po, subukan ninyo ang sumakay ng RORO (Roll on-Roll off) during peak season and feel how your people feels being dragged and pushed, stepped on etc. with the mammoth crowd. Hindi naman po siguro maghahangad na bumiyahe via airplane ang mga residente na matagal nang naninirahan sa probinsya.
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Remember the heydays when flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) used to have its route in Gasan Airport? It all came into my senses now that at least PAL has its trip twice a day. Anyare? Napulitika po? I must admit, in your years (maybe 3 decades, though there were years you are not qualified to run for public office having consumed the required term of office) may changes naman po in terms of infrastructures. I’m not sure if you delivered the so-called farm-to-market-roads intended for those in the agribusiness.
Nanay Carmencita, time changes po and so is the technology. Most of your people leave the province to seek greener pasture in the city or abroad. Somehow, they can afford the airfare given the option which means of transportation to take. Ang problema po, walang option. Let’s make it clear, kung may option po ba ang riding public sa tingin ninyo may kukuda? In terms na lamang ng provision of better medical and health facilities, may option po ba?
Wala!
Kaya, ano po ang tawag ng constituents n’yo sa provincial hospital, morgue!
Nakalulungkot pong isipin na mistulang minamaliit natin ang kakayahan at kapasidad ng inyong mga nasasakupan.
Bottom line is, buksan po ninyo ang domestic shipping route sa lahat ng players para magkaroon ng fair competition. Look at the other island province, nakikilala sila kasi maayos ang kanilang transportasyon. May option ang riding public which transport system they will take. Ang nangyayari po kasi sa sistema sa Marinduque as far as the news is concerned, allegedly it favors those shipping companies which are identified to your party affiliation or some would say, with close family association. Sa totoo lang po, those who can really afford would take a plane ride going to Marinduque during peak season than risking their hellish travel where a sea of people would be dragged, stepped on or pushed one another in an attempt to make their trip convenient.
In all honesty, malaki po ang potensyal ng turismo ng Marinduque, sadyang napabayaan lang po. Have you ever asked why or what happened? Ako po ang magtatanong, anyare? If my memory serves me right, pagkabata ko na po Reyes-Lecaroz lamang po ang magkatunggali noong mga panahon na hinuhubog ko pa ang aking pag-iisip at kalinangan sa mga kaganapan sa aking paligid. Our family was once upon a time a supporter of your leadership and platform until our departure from the province. Nakalulungkot lamang po na sa mga panahon na gusto naming umuwi to celebrate and relax, literally, makikipagbalyahan ka sa mga kapwa mo Marinduquenos.
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Hindi po ba kayo nagtataka na ang ilang artificial tourist destinations in the country ay dinarayo samantala ang Marinduque na may likas na angking yaman ay napapag-iwanan na? Naitanong n’yo rin po ba sa ilalim ng inyong administrasyon kung bakit sa mahabang taon ng inyong panunungkulan ay nananatiling 4th class province ang Marinduque per PSA-Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) as of 30 September 2017.
At kabilang sa 17 provinces remain vote-poor since 2004 batay sa datos ng Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) as of 29 April 2016.
Marinduque has been on the map as a potential tourist destination it only needs political will, good governance and better tourism campaign to be at par with the rest of the island provinces which is now enjoying global attention.
Marami rin po ang well-off families sa Marinduque. In Gasan alone, have you wondered where they are now? Most of them migrated to anywhere in the world at kahit gustuhin nilang umuwi during summer or holiday season, they opted to go somewhere else because of the appalling means of transportation. For the longest time, naghihintay lamang po ang iyong mga anak na maging maayos ang serbisyo sa transportasyon at seseguruhin ko po sa inyo, papatok sa publiko ang kagandahang angkin at kaaya-ayang mga lugar at tanawing taglay ng Marinduque.
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Marinduque rightfully needs better public service, free access to health and medical services, and most of all improved means of transportation.
Enough is enough! Address the plights of Marinduquenos.
The Author: Eric Arevalo grew up in the town of Gasan. He is a radio anchor at Radyo Veritas, Buhay Marino Program. Further, he is the executive producer of Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).