by Peter G. Jimenea
The Iloilo River
The Ilonggos cannot stomach this grabbing by shameless individual of the credit due to Nilo Sazon, the man who reformed from being a Capone of his time and vowed to do something valuable in his remaining years for the people to remember him.
Sazon has bagged different national awards for the clean-up of the Iloilo River together with his volunteers from the Coast Guard Auxilliary group. He has also received other awards from Malacañang that an observant city environmentalist even quipped; "What more a legacy can we ask from this man?"
But if we look at that gigantic taurpalin erected on the roadside going to the Iloilo airport, one can easily glean the robbing of credit from this man and the volunteer members of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxillary who rightfully deserved the honor.
The billboard has the smiling pictures of Cong. Jerry Trenas and Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of Iloilo City. Perhaps, those smiles to the ears are for their livelihood program including the clean-up of the Iloilo River (kuno) which earned them an award from an international body we have yet to identify.
It was ten years ago when this writer met Sazon at the promenade, a small drinking place along the streetside across Gaisano City, in La Paz District, Iloilo City. The man disclosed his plan to do something good for the city and for the Ilonggos to be remembered. In short, - a legacy.
Looking at the garbage floating on the river, he smiled and I know something is in his mind. When he told me, I acquiesced with his plan to initiate the cleaning of the Iloilo River described by Mr. Pistong, as the biggest septic tank in Asia.
Sazon started this program by building a small bamboo raft for use in gathering the floating debris. Months later I saw him with fellow volunteers from the Coast Guard Auxillary, personally cruising the river, collecting floating debris like plastics, styrofoam and many other.
Knowing the small bamboo raft cannot accommodate the pile, they built a bigger one. The garbage collected on the raft are brought under the bridge approaching the Marina Restaurant of Ross Gorriceta, and down there, wait for the city-hired garbage truck to pick up the pile for Calajunan dumpsite.
I aired this work of Coast Guard volunteers over my cable tv program during Saturdays. Sometimes, I invite them to guests in my talk show to tell the people about their valuable undertaking that appeals for public cooperation.
By keeping the public posted about the ongoing clean up drive being done by the Coastguard Auxilliary group, we eventually noticed the developing willingness of the people to cooperate in this task initiated by Sazon and Co.
Iloilo City Councilor Ely Estante also contributed his share. He went to Manila with this writer (thanks to Dept. of Fisheries Dir. Sonia Seville), to study what should be done for marginal fishermen who will be affected in case the clean-up drive of the Iloilo river starts.
When Kgd. Estante's resolution was approved for the clearing of the river from constructed fishpens and other bamboo-built structures, Sazon bought a motorized rubber boat (courtesy of his daughter abroad). The boat tugs the big bamboo raft with debris to the riverbank which hastens the work of his volunteers.
Today, though not yet completely done, we can see the beauty of the Iloilo River free from floating eyesores. Sad to say, it also opened the desire of opportunists wanting to share the credit they don't deserved. They even plan to erect structures praising themselves as the advocates of the successful undertaking.
We cannot blame the people who want to share the credit for this success. But they should have started it ten years ago from the basis of their affordability. Perhaps, they just want to share a joyride in this success now to make money.
Well, let's give them the privilege to lie. Anyway lies cost nothing. But we cannot allow them to get closer legalizing their racket by using the now beautiful Iloilo River in putting up a foundation or the like without the people getting wind of it.
It's true, God sometimes joke on us. Imagine, we ask only for a “world class river” to brag about but He includes the “world class liars” we have to deal with. Well, that makes our day, but as to these liars identity, your guess is as good as mine!
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