Manila Mayor Isko Moreno will hit the ground running in trying to solve the mountains and hills of the urban jungle—the uncollected garbage mounds that the Ate who seldom smiles left in many parts of the city. I call this Honey’s revenge.
Well, we here in Laguna also have a new governor, Laguna Gov. Sol Aragones. And among the problems she will have to tackle is one that concerns water. This problem is two-pronged: one is lack of water; the other is too much water.
With too much of it, the situation is called flooding. Many areas in the province are experiencing floods that were unheard of during my younger days. Incidentally, I was born in Paete and spent my childhood days in Biñan and Malate, Manila.
Because it is the rainy season, the flood-prone places in the province are once again in focus. These are Los Baños and Bay, which are close to Laguna de Bay, the biggest lake in the country. Lately, the floods have reached as far as the capital town of Sta. Cruz.
During last year’s typhoon season, the towns of Mabitac, Famy, and Siniloan were also flooded. Because of this the Jollibee hamburgers and other goodies that Senator Bong Go was to deliver to Paete folks were unable to reach the town. It was kind of a bonanza for the hungry residents of Pakil and Balian!
Opinyon Laguna now reports that floods have returned with a vengeance in Pacita Complex, San Pedro City, and also some parts of Biñan, and other barangays in San Pedro that are near the lake.
San Miguel Corp.’s Ramon S. Ang has contributed more than enough efforts to help Laguna with this problem. He has completed several dredging projects in Laguna’s rivers, especially the rivers in San Pedro and Biñan. We thank RSA for this, but it seems Governor Aragones would want a more government-driven solution to the problem.
Laguna lake and its tributaries are heavily silted. The lake is now shallow, and our rainfall is always heavy, with storms and typhoons always an environmental threat.
Another problem is clean and reliable water systems.
Mayor Edgar San Luis of Sta. Cruz has written to President Bongbong Marcos complaining about the water service of Primewater. In Lucena, mediamen call it “crime water”.
Mayor San Luis wrote Marcos:
“We have continuedly protested this shoddy operation and tried to intervene in their operations. Unfortunately, the autonomy of water districts and the regular pronouncement not to intervene in their operations have seriously hampered the LGU in curtailing their incompetence. It is timely that a Presidential intervention will help our constituents alleviate the sufferings of the people of Santa Cruz.”
The letter was dated May 2, 2025, days after Bongbong ordered an investigation of the deteriorating services of Primewater all over the country. I believe San Pedro and other towns and cities have the same problem.
Whatever happened to the President’s directive? Should Governor Aragones now intervene to solve the problem?
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