SOME FOUR days ago, an unexpected incident happened to some people who were just out to enjoy the beauty of the Asik-Asik Falls somewhere up in the mountainous part of Baguio District.
According to news reports, at least four people were confirmed dead, and several others are still missing, when the water of the river feeding the beautiful waterfall suddenly rose in volume. Then the strength of the water current brought about by what apparently was an extra heavy downpour in the upstream swept those who were unaware of the coming deluge.
The reports further said that the victims were taking a refreshing bath in a certain swimmable portion of the river right below the drop area of the water. The bathers appeared clueless that an extremely strong burst of water was about to inundate them in only a few minutes.
It was too late for some of the bathers to run to the river banks for their safety. The first to be carried by the huge volume that dropped from above the falls were those who dared to frolic at the center of the river. The water swallowed them in seconds, even as others were carried by the extra-strong current.
Some of those who managed to escape the tragedy suffered both physical and emotional injuries that perhaps could take a lifetime to endure.
In succeeding news reports, it was learned that the place where the Asik-asik falls is located has been declared a protected area, and nobody should have been allowed to come to the vicinity of the waterfall, much less disturb its peace and tranquility.
But no warning signs or protective measures were put in place to ensure the safety and security of the people going to the falls location to enjoy
Somehow, the local government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) failed in educating the public about their responsibilities, especially when they are in an area of risk.
Apparently, there were no signs advising the public of the many dos and don’ts or total prohibition when inside the protected area.
Of course, if policies related to everyone’s comportment while inside protected areas are embedded only in the DENR, perhaps there is a need for the local legislative body to come up with enabling ordinances to effectively put into effect any national law governing one’s behavior once inside the prohibited zones. That “plain and simple,” to borrow the title of our media man friend Ed Fernandez’s column title.
***************************
Honestly, we believe that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s desire to weed out corruption now bedeviling his administration will end up with a number of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ranking personnel, officials, and owners of private construction companies, and several politicians being hauled to court and possibly punished with appropriate penalties. What with his forceful marching order to the newly-assumed DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon to cleanse the agency, and his having created an independent commission to investigate the highly anomalous project implementation.
Yes, it is our take that the President can very well make good his commitment to hold everyone involved in the many corruption issues, especially the much-maligned multi-billion-peso flood control projects, accountable.
It is common knowledge that Marcos, Jr. is a member of the family of the late Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., the President-turned ‘dictator’ whose administration was suspected of draining the Philippine government’s coffers during his 20-year reign.
Marcos Jr. is, without doubt, out to redeem his family’s name in whatever appropriate manner he can. And we believe that he could not afford to let his chance slip out of his hand by allowing the history of corruption labelled on his family name repeat itself.
Of course, doing such by making good his order to stop corruption starting in the probe of the graft-laden anti-flood projects is a tall order. Any uncalculated move on his part, like tolerating the misbehavior of some of his close friends and political allies, could dump all his efforts down the drain.
So, the massive corruption that is confronting his administration, which he has sworn to put an end could be his best shot at redeeming himself.
