Señora coronavirus

Our daily interaction has forcibly been changed by the deadly coronavirus contagion. Goodwill was once easily passed via a simple handshake. No longer! Otherwise you’d contract lethal COVID-19.

Reportedly, more than 60,000 have died from it. Appalling the strength of pathogens that has changed the usual “hafa adai” to “taya `dai.” That it is fatal is more the reason to be on guard.

Moreover, the origin of the lethal virus is Wuhan, China. It brought the entire global village to its knees. Meanwhile, several countries are contemplating suing China for the destruction and death of the fatal virus.

Medical report has it that fluid fills the bronchioles in the lungs that blocks air passage until the person expires. Once mucus sets in, the use of ventilators or respirators is basically useless. We may not have it as yet but it isn’t an excuse to be complacent about it either.

Lañg
A profound sense of condolences to the family of the late governor Froilan C. Tenorio on his untimely passing recently.

Had the pleasure to serve under his administration doing PR work. An engineer by education and profession, he navigated the finite discipline with fully considered political disposition, successfully.

Si yuus maase` Governor Tenorio for all your services and may your journey home be a blessed and peaceful one. JR and family.

Maanee
Troubling the reduction of the local economy that simultaneously brought down funds for basic needs. It’s a tough financial reality that leaves the elected elite disoriented.

There’s the obvious need for more funds given current obligations that bloat involuntarily each break of dawn. This as the means contracts equally quickly. It spells rough times ahead.

That elected officials have begun discussion on this score is a tale that they are troubled by the huge reduction in fiscal resources. Herein lies the challenge to move issues forward handicapped by the lack of funds to pay for it.

The drop in resources is global, meaning everybody is derailed by a huge reduction in funds to defray basic needs. We’re not exempted but should ably navigate the “scarcity season” equally capably, too.

Debate
Heard the redundant query: How do we increase NMI revenue? It’s a good query to avoid serious discussion on how do we pare down unhinged expenses?

It’s all about prudent management of scarce fiscal resources. The answer is reliant upon management and investments. Any idea what other forms of investments may be headed our way?

The community should have money moving around businesses and villagers. Without this reality things would be quite protracted where money and jobs turn scarce at every turn.

Moreover, policymakers must present realistic ideas that could be translated into improving the quality of family life. Have you one in your back pocket to present or is “biba” still stuck in it?

We have to have investments in this community in order to generate revenues and jobs. Without it we’re destined to rearranging the chairs in a sunken canoe downstairs while singing the usual adolescent forte, “que sera.”

Drought
It must be the prolonged drought season that has kept many of us inside or under awnings and tree shades.

I tried to rationalize my way through it but not when my forehead is dripping steadily with sweat. I’d wait until about 5:30pm before taking my daily walk. Regardless, there’s a lot of heat or humidity in the air even as the sun quietly disappears in the horizon.

It’s even hotter when the wallet turns woefully slim. Ai, natting maanee!

Issues
Rep. Sheila Babauta quizzed nominees to the Marpi integrated resort project of the sustainability of the plan. None had a realistic and substantive answer. It was basically intramural reply to deeply rooted queries.

To illustrate a point: the planned facility comprises 2,000 rooms. It would require two employees per room for a total of 4,000 employees. Do we have the numbers locally to meet the needs of the facility? Humiliating the intramural answers.

Equally important is the lack of ground water up north. It means sacrificing the needs of villagers in As Matuis, San Roque, and Tanapag to feed the planned facility. The only way out is the use of a highly expensive method of water filtration known as desalination. A lot of it is wasted in the process, e.g., dump seven gallons for every 10 gallons that you desalinate.

Admirable Ms. Babauta’s intellectual acuity, pointing out issues most of her colleagues simply failed to see. It’s called vision, yeah? Notice, I’m not talking about a B&W television set either.