The Antique Perspective
By Jun Escalona, Antique Bureau Chief

Boracay hosts 1 st Qtr RDC VI meeting

“People can not be free unless they are willing to sacrifice some of their interests to guarantee the freedom of others. We have forgotten the untold riches that await those who learn throughout life from life in the spirit of self sacrifice”— Rudolf Steiner

The Regional Development Council VI held its first quarter meeting, February18, 2005 in the island of Boracay in Malay, Aklan. The provincial government played host led by Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez, who welcomed the members to this internationally acclaimed tropical vacation paradise.   Aklan representative Joven Miraflores also warmly acknowledged the participants, and invited them to stay the night for an evening party.   (We cannot believe that the Aklan legislator could be so friendly and accommodating with ordinary functionaries like us in the media.)

The Aklan governor also presented the strides his province has taken to uplift the life of its people, solve the province's problems and plan for its future. We had the chance to learn that Malay now has its own airport and jetty port, part of the Philippine Nautical Highway that also serves the island of Panay .

The development of Aklan province is a remarkable one in that both their governor and congressman are partners in pursuing common goals and initiatives. Everyone seemed to concede this, including RDC Chair, Antique governor Sally Z. Perez, who said that the guest for the session, incoming Energy Secretary Rafael “Popo” Lotilla, will intercede in a “reconciliation” with Perez and Antique congressman Javier, obviously referring to the ideal working relationship of Aklan officials.

We like to think that the two had already reconciled when Usec . Ray Roquero in Valderrama brought the two together during his inauguration as Usec for Political Coalition Affairs. Or , was it only for show, and that they are only being civil to each other?

At any rate, the governor has kind words for the incoming secretary who has had a stint as Usec in the NEDA, and known for his no nonsense approach to economic matters. Gov. Sally has a high regard for this technocrat from Sibalom , in fact she acknowledged that despite his high position and intelligence, Lotilla is “low-profile”, typically Antiqueño . In introducing the energy secretary, she observed that the morning's session appeared like “an Antiqueño show”, with Sec. Lotilla and LMP president, Belison mayor Cristopher Piccio , around.  

Lotilla gave the audience an idea into the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) power sector concerns and emphasized the role of socio-political solutions to prevailing problems. He called for a strong participation of civil society, the scientific community to achieve a healthy competition to achieve accessible supply of power at affordable rates as a means to avoid monopoly in the distribution of power to consumers.

He cited the importance of this solution to overcome the looming power shortage that is facing the region and the refusal of the local population to accept coal as a source of energy. He said the best solution is the renewable sources of power such as the potentials of Villasiga and Timbaban hydro potentials as ideal. However, he said, without these possibilities, other sources can be tapped using the reliable technology recommended by the scientific community. Notwithstanding, Lotilla added, whatever comes out as feasible and affordable by the majority should be considered to avert a crisis.

A point raised by DOT regional director Edwin Trompeta and Development Adm. Committee chair Wilfredo Homicillada and supported by Presidential Assistant Rafael Coscolluela , was the need for GSIS-Iloilo to set up E-Card extension services in the provinces, saying this is not only necessary but imperative in the light of the undue sacrifice of thousands of government employees in staying up late into the night and early morning just to secure and validate their E-Cards.

Another important consideration by the Council was a resolution making C.I.A.G.A. (acronym for Capiz , Iloilo , Antique, Guimaras and Aklan ) and its Panay Area Development Project an integral Committee of the RDV VI.