Telegraphing punches

By Alex P. Vidal

“I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers.” — Khalil Gibran

THERE’S nothing wrong with reporting to the public that at least 421 of the 8,000 flood control works in the entire archipelago were non-existent or “ghosts.”

But the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under aggressive and tough-talking Vince Dizon appears to be telegraphing the government’s punches against unscrupulous contractors.

We’re sure the number does not end in 421. It appears it’s only the tip of the iceberg—especially when probers go down deep in the Visayas and Mindanao.

If Dizon’s team composed of field inspector from the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) will conduct the probe in full swing, more skeletons will emerge from the closet.

Why not continue with the investigation and flood control project scam-hunting, gather sufficient pieces of evidence against the erring contractors and their politician padrinos, and file cases in court thereafter before disclosing how far they have gone, so far?

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We advocate transparency in as far as the findings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the fact-finding body created by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to look into the flood control anomalies, are concerned.

But we think it’s healthier and more effective if Dizon, et al refrain from revealing all the aces in their sleeves while the marching orders to locate all those “ghost” projects are ongoing and not yet concluded.

“Initially, 8,000 projects nationwide were validated, and of these, 421 were identified as ghost projects by the AFP, PNP, and (DepDev),” Dizon was reported to have declared recently in a press conference after a closed-door meeting with ICI officials.

“This is just the initial phase, because there are so many. Hundreds of thousands of these projects still need to be validated.”

While so many cooks spoil the broth, excessive talking is a leakage that will sink you into the ocean of troubles.

While Dizon, et al showboat in every press conference they assemble to report the latest figures of their scam-hunting, fraudulent contractors and their politician collaborators study and plot their next move and may be bidding to forestall the government’s next move.

With their billions of loots, these rascals can afford to dilly dally the course of justice system and might succeed to wiggle out from the abyss by doing the offensive move and employing squid, among other dirty tactics.

Money still talks and everyone has a price in the Philippines, pardon this frankness.

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People in the East Coast, especially here in New York City, have started to notice it’s almost peak leaf peeping season, when the colors of fall are seen in full, but it’s looking a little different this year.

Recent weather patterns are causing leaves to change earlier and into different autumn colors, reported CBS News’ Vanessa Murdock, quoting nature experts.

Trees are reportedly showing signs of stress.

Upstate in Lake Placid, New York, near-peak fall colors pop against the tranquility of Mirror Lake, making the journey driving through the Adirondacks on I-87 much more enjoyable.

About 70 miles north of the city, the burning red of Virginia creeper plants and maroon of dogwood trees enhance the already breathtaking scenery at the Testimonial Gateway in the Mohonk Preserve in Ulster County.

“We’re seeing a lot of changes in late September, which is way earlier than normal,” Murdock quoted Niamh Keane, an ecological field technician at the preserve.

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According to Keane, abnormally dry conditions and unseasonable warmth put stress on the trees, and it shows. She said stressed trees have leaves that are browned and curled up.

That causes them to change their leaves early and drop them a little earlier than in previous years,” she said.

“This year might be a little bit more muted than previous years,” said John Zeiger, who manages the New York Botanical Garden’s Thain Family Forest.

Once more, Zeiger said lack of rain is to blame.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul enacted an outdoor burn ban statewide until at least Oct. 15 because of the dry conditions.

Leaves get their green color in the spring and summer because of chlorophyll, which breaks down in the fall, revealing the leaves’ true colors. Those colors come from two main pigment types: carotenoids and anthocyanins.

Carotenoids produce yellow and orange hues, which already exist in leaves. But anthocyanins boost reds and purples, which can only be created by a chemical reaction.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)