25 Hurt In Gensan Blast

At least 25 people were injured when a grenade blasted the Oval Plaza of General Santos City at 9PM New year's Eve, December 31, 2008. What's new?

What makes this blast a lesson learned is that it was too near the city playground where kids abound. We were there with kids when we went home last September. We would have been there in the afternoon of December 24 had it not been closed down temporarily I hope for security reasons. We would have been in the Oval Plaza to look at the Christmas lights which supposedly gave Gensan a Disneyland feeling (some family members decided not to go though since they were not so impressed with the display they saw in the afternoon and after they got worried about safety issues).

One of the issues that we would often discuss in the family when going home to Gensan is Mall-avoidance and public-place-avoidance because this city has been infamous for the lack of security not only in the malls but also in other public places and in the whole city generally. It is difficulty to make a commentary on this considering that anything negative will surely affect how visitors will perceive the city in the future. However, turning a blind eye will not change things and will perhaps only worsen it.

When blasts like these become almost a regular thing then one would suspect that there must be something wrong with how the city officials of Gensan are treating the city's security or lack of it. Of course, other places get bomb threats and have their own bombing and grenade incidents too but not as regularly as Gensan.

I have always been vocal about the lack of political will on the part of Gensan's politicians and under command responsibility principles, it is always the head of the city who will be held accountable for anything that happens. City mayor Acharon has been mayor of Gensan for several years and people should consider the continuous threat to their lives as a sign that come 2010, they should already elect new leaders.

Security in General Santos is pretty lax. Security guards in Davao City malls would bother you just so they can check all your belongings and would even frisk you until you want to shout at them. Here in Gensan, the security guards at the KCC Mall looked even annoyed when I opened my bag to let them peek inside. Were they too heavily relying on those canines stationed on the front doors? So much for security.

The officials in charge of the overland terminal are also very lax with security procedures. Anyone can just go in and out of the terminal without being frisked or even their baggage checked. The city officials have been elected by the people to make sure that everything is spic and span not only economic and social -wise but also security-wise. This is too much of a responsibility that is why it is called public service. Anybody who could not respond to the demands of his job should step down.

Christmas In General Santos

General Santos City may be the new site of Robinsons Mall and the soon to be constructed SM City but a tour around the downtown area will show you that the city is still in dire need of improvement infrastructure and investments wise.

There was a time during the administration of former Mayor Rosalita Nunez when General Santos was really booming--meaning commercial buildings everywhere, big malls, infrastructure projects and a vibrant market. I know Robinsons and SM are big investments (I am not even sure if SM will push through) but a friend who also hails from General Santos City and who studied College and started a family here said "ay ewan" when I told her the good news about Robinsons. Seeing Gensan now, I seem to have understood her reaction.

I was tryign to pin down the tail on the donkey as to what was missing in Gensan despite the big investments coming in. Finally, I realized that the small and medium entrepreneurs were missing in the picture. Streets like Pioneer Avenue and Magsaysay Avenue were like ghost town in the afternoon of December 24. It should have been different considering that people are still hot on their Christmas shopping.

Go to the malls like KCC and Gaisano though and you will see lots of people there. But KCC and Gaisano are not just the only entrepreneurs in Gensan. I would favor the growth of the small and medium enterprises first rather than see them die in the hands of big investors like KCC, Robinsons and SM.

Kidapawan City Beats Davao As Mindanao’s Richest City

Kidapawan City in North Cotabato is the richest among the cities and municipalities in Mindanao based on the 2003 poverty incidence data, besting General Santos City, Davao City and even Cagayan de Oro City.

“We were also surprised with the result of the survey but this can be blamed on the inflation rate in Davao and in the other cities and municipalities which were rated behind Kidapawan City,” National Statistical Coordination Board XI head Estrella R. Turingan said during a press conference held at the Philippine Information Agency yesterday.

NSCB defines poverty incidence refers to the proportion of population or number of families with per capita income below the poverty threshold. Turingan said this is the first time that they were able to get statistics up to the municipality level due to budget constraints. NSCB generates statistics on the provincial level every three years and the 2003 data is their newest available data.

“We were only able to afford conducting the survey up to the municipality level because the project was financed by the World Bank,” she said.

Kidapawan City is a first class city and is the capital of North Cotabato. It is known primarily as a tourist destination for those who want to climb Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak.

With a poverty incidence of only 12.46%, Kidapawan City bested General Santos City (13.98%), Polomolok (14.29%), Davao City (14.94), Tagum City (15.42%), Cagayan de Oro City (15.50%), Koronadal City (16.18%), Digos City (18.22%), Padada (21.99%) and Hagonoy (22.60%).

Kidapawan City is the only area in North Cotabato that has made it to the top 10 richest cities and municipalities based on poverty incidence. The provinces of South Cotabato and Davao del Sur each had three areas in the Top 10 list.

“Poverty threshold is driven by the price of the basic necessities for the current year; it appears that the average income of Davao City’s residents are not enough to catch up with the price increases in the city,” Turingan said.

Road To Gensan Now Better

The road to General Santos City is undergoing repair and maintenance but it is definitely better now. Motorists from Digos City will however have to take a detour because the bridge connecting Guihing and Digos City is totally unpassable and all vehicles have to take the long way by going right into Guihing proper.

If not for the damaged bridge I would have surmised that the government is just showing off the newly constructed bridge inside Guihing. Funny though because construction of the Guihing project has not yet started and there is as yet no sign that there are preliminary works being done except perhaps for the road signs.

Gensan and South Cotabato has come a long way from being just a dusty city somewhere in the south. Aside from its tuna, pineapple and asparagus exports, the city is starting to become a financial hub with its own share of malls like Gaisano Mall and KCC. However, unless mayor Pedro Acharon finds a way to solve the peace and order problem of the city, it may be relegated to the sidelines.

What's Your News?

Just came back from a very short vacation in General Santos City and here I am cramming for a thousand and one blogging and writing responsibilities that have been pending since last week. How about you, what's your news? Got to hurry!

Pacquiao for Congress?

I can still remember how life in the Philippines took a standstill during that day when Manny Pacquiao beat Eric Morales in a much-awaited and much-publicized boxing match. Pacquiao was the unifying factor of the whole country. That day, all activities seem to have stopped. Traffic in Metro Manila was miraculously light because all drivers and commuters were inside establishments watching the boxing match. Even the executives of top corporations in the country were cooped up in their air-conditioned offices or mansions with their own 30-40 inch wide flat TV watching Pacquiao sweat it all out. Politicians from both the administration and the opposition were united for a day wishing that Pacquaio would get the belt. The whole Philippines society, the left, right and the middle came together to chant for Pacquaio.

Yes, Pacquiao, that former fish kargador from General Santos City who managed to change his fate 360 degrees because of the power of his "kamao". He was treated like a hero, rather royalty when he came back to the Philippines. I could have argued with that because despite his constant chant that he is fighting for the country, Pacquiao was indeed fighting for P5 million or was it more than that? He was fighting for Pacquiao, Incorporated.

Pacquiao has declared his intention to run for Congressman representing General Santos City. I am from that city and I am already gritting my teeth because of the way the city has deteriorated economically and peacefully every since Mayor Pedro Acharon became top honcho. Gensan used to be a very progressive city. Today, all it has to show are the remnants of bombing activities of still unknown and uncaught perpetrators.

I was planning on going back to Gensan maybe to work there or to start my own business. This despite the poor leadership of Acharon. Well, I was counting on the fact that I would transfer there when he is about to finish his term and there would be a new mayor who would be more adept in managing the city's peace and order just like Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

If Pacquiao wins the election what will happen to Gensan? With Acharon for mayor and Pacquiao for Congressman---Gensan is going to the dogs!

I am against Pacquiao because he is not qualified! The main responsibility of a congressman is to enact laws. How can Pacquiao enact laws when all he knows is gamble his winnings away? One day he losses P300,000 in a billiard match in Davao. Next day he lost P300,000 in a sabong in Gensan.

I am at a lost. Politics in the Philippines is so stupid. Now I’m wondering if I should start packing my bags and getting those forms ready for the Canadian Embassy.