We acknowledge the momentum of development in the city as well as in the countrysides' tourism prospects. But there are glaring realities which need to be addressed before the sun sets and we call it a day.

We would like to be frank with the Provincial Governor, and the mayors of this city and the towns of Albur, Panglao and Dauis. It has all to do with the Environment - and let's just start with garbage and waste disposal. There is a Babel of voices on this one - but we seem to be caught in a time warp, unable to move. Let's go back to basics, even Charlie Brown will say.

Top of the list is to have a sanitary landfill to accommodate our garbage especially those coming from the beach resorts in Panglao island, our flagship attraction. The "stalemate situation" for the proposed sanitary landfill in the neighboring town of Albur has to hit a breakthrough before a major environmental problem becomes irreversible.

Bohol remains to be naive on the fact that there is money in garbage. In fact, the Rodriguez, Rizal site in the National Capitol Region (NCR) is becoming a hot issue not because they don't want to be the "garbage dumping site" but because they are fighting on holding on to be the dumping site since millions of pesos are earned out of the garbage business.

How about pushing the numbers, good people of Albur town.

Aside from the monetary consideration, the place for the sanitary landfill could yet earn the distinction of being the "environmental legacy" of a province which has put money and political will where its mouth is - in the "Clean and Green" campaign. What we need are the experts with scientific explanation to the Albur residents on how safe (environmentally) it can be to be the dumping site. The economic benefit may even be just secondary.

We hope Gov. Erico Aumentado will not just be totally focused on his much publicized (mega-project) "dream Panglao international airport" since his province is facing a serious, basic problem of garbage disposal that affects even our very own haven for tourists -Panglao. Since the sanitary landfill issue was the "prime issue" that defined Albur's mayoralty battle (which has become even more controversial today), the governor as the patriarch of the province should crack the whip and do what is needed urgently. Pronto. We need his iron hand on this and not the usual political smiles in aid of reelection (which he does not need).

Even the present garbage disposal itself of Panglao is a major problem as no dumping site enough to accommodate the garbage is available. Don't you think, come-backing Mayor Alcala, you should roll your sleeves on this one rather than engage in petty political strife? Good gracious, the future of many generations of Panglao residents rest on this one pressing issue and everyone seems to be fence-sitting. What's the score?

Second is the waste disposal problem along the Panglao shorelines.

If nothing concrete is done - sooner than we think - we will get shocked on how the seawaters in the area will be contaminated like the once-famous beaches of Boracay.

Third, is the non-implementation of the 20-meter salvage zone, Mr. Mayor. Like an old song, its melody has become so monotonous to hear that all are incredulous - does the municipality tolerate lawbreakers? If not, why are so many properties in Panglao violating this salvage zone policy? Even the closure order of a resort owned by a former Panglao mayor could not be closed despite official orders which were left unimplemented by the LGUs. Scratch our back and we scratch yours?

Another disaster waiting for its time to happen (God forbids) is staring us in the face in the city. If the city government of Tagbilaran would continue to ignore its earlier commitment to put up a waste water treatment facility in order for the sewerage of the city will be treated first before being flushed out to the clean seawaters fronting the Tagbilaran port which is declared as the "tourists' port in the country," citing the cleanliness of its water - then we are really inviting disaster of untold proportion.

Tourists verily notice the swimming-pool-like clean waters of Tagbilaran City Bay which they see upon disembarkation from their vessels at the city port. City Mayor Dan Lim could yet become the most unpopular Chief Executive if he will allow this major damage to Mother Earth. The gallons of sewerage will be flushed out to the seawaters off Tagbilaran Bay, directly near the city port.

We heard even before the May election, that the city government had been trying to earmark for the waste water treatment. But, up to this day, we have not seen any concrete moves on this. In fact, we again saw flooded areas in the city during a heavy downpour last Friday presumably because of the uncompleted opening of an outlet from the newly completed drainage system in the city(?).

Mayor Lim also holds a major role in the concern on garbage disposal. The present dumping site in Dampas, this city, is no longer allowing garbage from Panglao to be dumped in the area for a reason only the mayor knows. His support likewise for the proposed sanitary landfill can spell a difference to pursue this much needed project.

What about it, Mayor Dan?

What indeed will it profit us to have an international airport, a super-prime city port, a recent citation of Tagbilaran as "one of the best cities to live in," a new carousel at the city airport and brand-new sleek circumferential roads if at the end of the day this God-blessed tourist-island becomes a veritable Ghost Town because visitors are turned off by the environmental "sins" (omission and commission) abetted by choice or by sloth of the very people we have elected to create a decent future for Boholanos?

We hope our public officials will not make "Environmental Sins" be part of their shameless legacy to be reiterated in our history books when the time comes.

In the evening of October 27 (this Saturday) a large group of believers will flock to the St Peter's Church in Caloocan City where three militant bishops - Archbishop emeritus Julio Labayen of Quezon, Bishop Antonio Tobias of Novaliches and Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez of Caloocan - will hold a mass to express concern and indignation at what is happening to our country, politically, economically and especially - morally.

While the trigger may have been the NBN-ZTE scandal and the recent Malacañang "pay-offs," several other revolting antecedents had prompted these Men of the Cloth to declare their position on top of the pulpit. As of this writing, this does not yet have an official endorsement by the CBCP which had announced however to meet and declare its stand on a national issue within the week.

Regardless of that, we are enjoining all Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Born-Again, INC and other church denominations to express solidarity with this move by doing prayerful activities simultaneously on that day (Saturday night, October 27). These bishops had called for the resignation of President GMA. That does not necessarily mean that is the only agenda we will pursue.

This Call for National Renewal is for all of us to look inside ourselves. Have we been party to making our country so bankrupt - financially and morally in the eyes of the world? Then repent. Have we lost the sense of discernment of right and wrong that every immoral act can now be justified by our subjective Moral Relativism? Then change. Have we lost the capacity to get angry at the injustice and corruption that slowly bleeds Juan de la Cruz into death? Then let your voice be heard. Have we pushed God out of our daily lives and making our decisions? Then Let God let be.

The Lord said "Where two or three are gathered in My Name, there I am in the midst of them." Shall we all pray together on that day?

For Comments: email to bingo_dejaresco@boholchronicle.com Or editor@boholchronicle.com