If there is smoke, there is fire

By Alex P. Vidal

“A man who has never gone to school may steal a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.” ―Theodore Roosevelt

IF a congressional investigation will be held in connection with the P680-million sinking flyovers in Ungka and Aganan, Pavia, Iloilo, taxpayers must not forget Pavia Sangguniang Bayan member Pyt Trimañez.

According to a recent Daily Guardian report, it was Trimañez who authored a resolution requesting Iloilo lawmakers to conduct a legislative inquiry “in aid of legislation” on the two controversial projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The normally loquacious Iloilo City aldermen had been beaten to the draw by a brave and alert municipal councilor in as far as bringing the matter to the higher level of scrutiny is concerned.

Sometimes a concrete action from the watchdog groups and concerned public officials like what Trimañez did was better and necessary than mere press statements expressing “concern” about the delayed opening of the flyovers.

When it comes to implementation of gargantuan projects involving hundreds of millions of public funds, the taxpayers have all the right to show impatience, suspicion and outrage if they smell something fishy.

“Sinking” means going down the surface of something.

If there is smoke, there is fire.

-o0o-

The resolution, according to the Daily Guardian, was addressed to the following solons: Julienne Baronda (Iloilo City), Janette Garin (Iloilo, 1st district), Michael Gorriceta (Iloilo, 2nd district), Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo, 3rd district), Ferjenel Biron (Iloilo, 4th district), Raul Tupas (Iloilo, 5th district), James Ang (Uswag Ilonggo), Lex Anthony Colada (Aambis Owa), and Raoul Manuel (Kabataan).

What Trimañez did was commendable: he went straight to the jugular and didn’t beat around the bush.

He believes only a congressional inquiry can prod the DPWH and other stakeholders to explain why there seems to be something wrong with the Iloilo flyovers’ structural designs.

A P680-million worth of infrastructure project in danger of going to waste isn’t a joke.

It’s not P6 million; not P80 million; not P100 million. It’s a heart-thumping P680 million worth of project paid by the taxpayers’ money.

It goes beyond logic and imagination why the flyovers could sink when it was properly (and astronomically?) budgeted.

If money illegally changed pockets which resulted in the building of a substandard project, heads must definitely roll.

-o0o-

(PG 13) Sexsomnia is the term US scientists use for people who perform sexual activities unconsciously during sleep. The spectrum ranges from masturbation to sexual intercourse—in the event that that the sexsomnia patient comes across a partner. (Source: Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine).

Congratulations to Morocco for finishing fourth place in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Coming from Africa and the first Arab-speaking country to breach the seminal, it’s a big leap for the previously unknown Moroccan players. Losing to Croatia, 1-2, in the battle for third place on December 17 was not a defeat but a victory for Morocco and the Moroccan soccer.

IF WE’RE LOW ON SILVER POLISH, LET’S USE TOOTHPASTE: Plain, non-gel toothpaste (without additives like whiteners) can rid small silver pieces of light tarnish without damaging the surface. Moisten the silver piece; apply a bit of toothpaste to our finger. Rub gentlyand rinse, then buff with a soft cloth. (Source: goodhousekeeping)

NO DISHWASHING LIQUID? Let’s grab the laundry detergent. A teaspoonful of liquid laundry detergent in a basin of hot water will cut grease on dirty dishes equally well (though we may want to wear gloves, as detergent can be drying to hands).

NOT GUILTY. That’s the verdict on fertility drugs and the possibility that they increase woman’s chances of developing ovarian cancer. Doctors had long worried that there might be such a link. But now Danish researchers have analyzed records of 54,362 women and found, over an average 16-yr follow up, that those who took fertility drugs faced no greater risk of cancer.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)