By: Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Let’s put to heart our comprehensive land use plan. It must be a must for everyone to know.
It has been more than a decade now, when Pinoy served as the President of the Philippines. During his incumbency, I was privileged to attend a session on “Bottoms Up Budgeting” in our Local Government Unit (LGU) as part of a civil society group. What is “Bottoms Up Budgeting”? In essence, it is a consultation to the different sectors in society in agriculture, tourism, environment and livelihood and many more especially the barangays.
I remember that my group submitted a proposal that looked into the greening of the watersheds where the water pumping stations are located. I learned that it’s not just planting trees but we must plant trees that are native to the place. Why am I emphasizing native trees.? I have realized that we planted so much mahogany and gmelina trees. True, they gave us lumber that are easy to grow, but these are harmful to our environment. I have mahogany trees in my yard. I have noticed, no birds nestthe on them, bisan kung motugpa man lang. I wake up in the morning listening to the birds chirping as they perch on the branches of our tugas, bagawnga and coffee plants. I also hear the lansijang competing with the red fruits of siling labujo. We can smell the aroma of coffee flowers when in season, but to our surprise no fruit could be found. Sus, naunhan man diay sa lansijang.
Then a new administration came. I was told by the agricultural officer that our agricultural proposal was given a grant but I have not received any news about it .
This coming Saturday, Nov. 15, we are having our annual get-together at the Karaang Balay ni Tan Akoy. It is ia form of remembering our departed loved ones. This time, I have asked the 5th generation to conceptualize and manage the event, except part 1 of the program. That’s for me and my bff Ardy.
We are supposed to open the curtain of the program with a presentation of a portrait of: Graciana Iyog Villamor, who became the head of the family when Tan Akoy died and took over the business. But to our surprise, no portrait of hers is found in the house. But I remember her so well.
Estela, my daughter, and her family, could not attend the affair. She and her husband are painting their rage and anger on what happened to Cebu and Kanlaon caused, not by Tino, but by the insatiable greed of men for money and power.
Their group of artists will be having their exhibit from Nov 13 to 18, the proceeds will go to the victims of the deluge. Not an act of God, but the actions of men.
It’s a wake up call to all of us. As Jess Tirol had said: What happened to Arbor day!!!!!
