PEOPLE POWWOW : BY HERBERT VEGO

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BY HERBERT VEGO
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Four schools and a congressman

REP. ARCADIO GORRICETA (2nd District, Iloilo) has been in the House for only three years but has done more than most of his colleagues who have completed nine years. Take note, for example, that four three-storey, 18-classroom high schools have either risen or are rising as a result of his persistent coordination with the funding agency, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), on a total budget of P169,811,264.95.
Classes are now in full swing at Pavia National High School in the municipality of Pavia and at Leonora Salapantan National High School in San Miguel. Now undergoing construction are the Santa Barbara National Comprehensive High School in Santa Barbara and Alimodian National Comprehensive High School in Alimodian.
The last time we saw the good congressman at Hotel del Rio, we asked him whether the four other towns of his district – Leon, Zarraga, Leganes, New Lucena – would likewise get the same state-of-the-art school building.
“I wish so but that might no longer be possible,” he added.
We understood. We had read the news that the new PAGCOR chair, Andrea Domingo, would not want “gambling income” spent for education; she would rather have it for health instead. The schools, incidentally, were the brainchild of her predecessor, Cristino Naguiat Jr. Unfortunately, the new PAGCOR branch manager in Iloilo, is inaccessible for comment.
But that’s no cause for alarm since health care has also been on top of Gorriceta’s priorities. His district has two hospitals, the Western Visayas Sanitarium at Barangay Bolong Oeste, Santa Barbara; and Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian, Iloilo.
Gorriceta’s constituency office is often “flooded” with requests for financial assistance from indigent medical and surgical patients. The abolition of “pork barrel” notwithstanding, Cong. Cadio always finds a way to accommodate them with the help of either the governor’s office or of national government agencies.
The congressman sees the appointment of Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, the new secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), as “manna from heaven.” The 54-year-old Ilongga has had 27 years of hard-earned experience thereat. Having risen from the ranks – initially as rural health volunteer in Kidapawan, North Cotabato – Ubial has established “ties that bind” with hospital patients.
On top of Gorriceta’s agenda is the development of Barangay Bucari as another tourism site of Western Visayas – actually overdue, since his predecessor could have done it. Already popular as our region’s “Little Baguio” because of its perpetually cool climate, it is nestled on the mountainous terrain between the municipalities of Leon and San Remigio, Antique.
Going up to Bucari used to be a challenge to mountaineers. But with the completion of the concrete road linking it to the town proper, anybody on four wheels could reach the place safely. Given the facilities conducive to tourism, there is no reason why it would not compete with Boracay for foreign visitors. So far, it has already become the Ilonggos’ weekend hideaway – a good spot to relax, enjoy peace and quiet and the company of nature.
To its credit, Bucari still does not have what Boracay is already abundant with – shabu and other destructive illegal drugs. In his effort to keep the youth of Bucari away from drugs, Congressman Gorriceta has thought of a way to make them happy and healthy through sports. Already, he has built for them a big gymnasium with a basketball court.
Through Gorriceta’s initiative, a pavilion and cottages are already realities at the Bucari campsite. This has motivated private investors – including travel and tour organizers – to also lay down plans for the transformation of Bucari from a sleeping community to an inland paradise.
Having gone to Bucari ourselves, we in the media await with bated breath for that transformation to come. We vow to lend a hand in its promotion. /PN

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