HANDS-OFF
Treñas noncommittal on priests' request
City Mayor Jerry Treñas prefers to leave to the district presidents of the different Association of Barangay Captains in the city the issue on whether to heed or not the appeal of the priests to put an end to the practice of enclosing public plazas during district fiestas.
Treñas said he is amenable to the idea but they have no place to accommodate the fiesta fair or "peryahan."
He said the barangay officials should look for a win-win solution in order to address the problem. The matter should be taken up by the respective parish priests and the association presidents, he said.
He said the parish priest and the association president in every district should reach a compromise. The public plazas should be taken cared off and beautified, he said adding, it should also be protected from the commerce of man.
The priests' request was made through a letter of appeal signed by at least 27 priests during a joint meeting of Iloilo City Vicariates, composed of the vicariates of Sts. Peter and Paul, Archdiocese of Jaro. They signed the manifesto last July 2007. A copy of the letter was sent to the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
In the letter, the priests cited four observations. First, they contend that the enclosure of the plaza leads to the proliferation of garbage and unhygienic practices for lack of public restrooms enough for the number of people gathered and enclosed.
This holds true in the recent fiesta celebration in Molo district. The appeal came just in time for the Molo fiesta. ABC President Segundina Morales along with several barangay captains sought audience with Rev. Fr. Tomas Delicana, parish priest of St. Anne and made a compromise.
There were certain portions of the plaza specifically on the facade of the church where vendors were banned to sell their wares. However, the presence of the transient vendors caused foul smell and left volume of garbage in the plaza.
The priests also observed that "the noise that emanate from the plaza can sometimes last for months on end as in the case of Jaro and get in the way of worship celebrations in Churches that front it."
The priests also requested for the implementation of the existing ordinances that prohibits the the serving of alcoholic drinks and gambling establishments in areas near churches and schools. They added that whatever beautification the city or community has done to different plazas are damaged by such event.
With the chief executives non-committal stance to the priests' appeal, it is expected that vendors of all kinds will mushroom at the plaza of Mandurriao district which will be celebrating its fiesta on November. The same fiesta is supported by the ABC of Mandurriao. While, the patronal fiesta which is sanctioned by the church will be held in January.