Among the events in the recently concluded celebration of the 81st Catanduanes Foundation Anniversary, three stood out: Gov. Patrick Alain T. Azanza’s State of the Province Address, the opening of the National Bureau of Investigation’s district office at the Capitol, and the launching of the Asinsado salt-making project in Carorian, Bato.
For nearly two hours broken only by a brief power outage, the chief executive reminded his appreciative audience of the current administration’s accomplishments in just one year and three months.
Those who expected him to name names, including his numerous critics, were left disappointed but he did let out some choice words against his political rivals.
Said one quotable quote after the recitation of programs and projects: “Yan ang kagayunan kung ang gatukaw sa Capitolyo bakong negosyante, bakong contractor…”
But clearly the most meaningful message he delivered was that when he reiterated the goal of his fledgling administration to look after the poor, that which the Philippine Statistics Authority describes as the bottom 30% of the population.
True, Azanza’s opponents and other critics could very well describe his strategy as exploiting those who do not have enough in life just to look good on social media.
However, any one of them who had time to watch the live coverage of the annual address probably relished hearing his promise to have their struggles dictate the provincial budget, their collective voices guide the administration’s policies, and the level of their dignity signify success.
On the other hand, one of those pro-poor initiatives he cited was the Asinsado project managed by tour guides in Carorian, Bato, which at the time of its launching had already produced 70 kilos of table salt in two months.
The salt has yet to undergo iodization for lack of training and equipment so it is too early to say if local salt can compete with the imported iodized salt being sold in the island’s markets.
Every two weeks, a truckload of imported salt arrives in Virac, with each 39-kilogram sack sold for P330 each and with vendors selling the same by “tingi” using cups for P10 to P15 each, the imported salt likely costs roughly P20 per kilo.
Assuming that the Bato salt is sold at the same price even if it is not iodized, what the group earned amounts to just P1,400 which could be a fraction of the effort that the effort they exerted along with the cost of the materials.
Still, it is encouraging to know that the provincial government is expanding the salt making project to the rest of the municipalities, including landlocked San Miguel, by harnessing its own resources and assistance provided by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and other agencies.
It would be better if the province could ask the Catanduanes State University to study the intricacies of salt making at Carorian and determine how to ensure the project could be profitable and sustainable so it would not end like those which failed in past administrations.
Last week also saw the end of Catandunganons enduring difficult and costly travel to Legazpi City just to secure an NBI clearance.
As the governor proved during the first day, it took just five minutes to secure the clearance after making the online application.
Another benefit that the NBI district office brings is that it would not be easy to request their services in investigating a complaint or a particularly serious crime.
As one socmed observer already said, the NBI could be used as an unwitting tool to harass opponents of the administration, including social media personalities and trolls.
Another wondered why the district office was not installed at the completed Catanduanes Peoples Center built on the university premises and still idle up to this day.
Still, despite these flaws and foibles pointed out by the unsatisfied, the three-day observance of Congressman Francisco Perfecto’s singular accomplishment in separating the province from Albay was largely successful.
He would have been glad to know that in this modern world where attention spans are shrinking thanks to social media, there is at least one provincial leader capable of keeping his audience awake for more than an hour.