Remember lessons from Mt. Pinatubo, Filipinos told
By Ian Ocampo Flora
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Third District Representative Aurelio Gonzales on Wednesday called on fellow lawmakers and Filipinos, especially Kapampangans, to keep alive the lessons learned from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo almost 20 years ago.
In his privilege speech before the House of Representatives, Gonzales reminded Filipinos of the horrors and triumphs of Kapampangans in times of adversities. The lawmaker made his speech a few days before the 20th anniversary of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo on June 15.
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“We are indebted to many people in fighting this epic battle that hit us 20 years ago, among them former President Corazon Aquino and former President Fidel Ramos. We infinitely owe countless congressmen, senators, government executives, technocrats, private sector groups, media and others who helped us during those extremely trying times,” GonzaleGonzales said the lessons in preparedness, mobilization, cooperation and sacrifice of individuals for the sake of others should be kept alive in the hearts and minds of the current generation. Gonzales said the resilient character of the Kapampangan spirit was highlighted in the disaster and should be kept alive through sincere remembrance of the most devastating volcanic disaster in the country and in modern history.
Remember Bacolor
Gonzales also called the attention of lawmakers on current rehabilitation measures to bring back the historic town of Bacolor back to its former glory. It could be remembered that of its 21 barangays, one town was buried under at least 30 feet of lahar. Ninety percent of the town’s original populations are still placed in different resettlement areas outside of the town to this day.
Gonzales authored the bill that became RA 9506 that aims to rehabilitate the town through funding of major vital infrastructure and development projects to bring its economy back on track. RA 9832, which was also authored by Gonzales, converted the Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades into the first state university in the province as part of the move to bring more people into Bacolor.
“For the passage of these two laws, I am grateful to our past and present colleagues and then senator and now President Benigno Aquino III, a Kapampangan himself, who sponsored and defended the Bacolor Rehabilitation Bill in the Senate,” Gonzales said.
However, Gonzales said the funding for the Bacolor rehabilitation was not included as line items in the 2011 budget.
“I have raised this issue during the budget process and I am glad that our concerned colleagues in the appropriations committee responded and have included the Bacolor Rehabilitation Fund under the un-programmed funds of the 2011 budget. I have also taken this matter up with the concerned Cabinet officials of President Aquino and they have, to say the least, been equally receptive,” Gonzales said.
Pinatubo Memorial Day
In a follow-up interview, Gonzales said he hopes to see June 15 declared as Mt. Pinatubo Memorial Day and a holiday for both Pampanga and Angeles City.
Gonzales said he is very happy about the diverse celebrations being set on June 15 by local government units in Pampanga. He said his group will also hold similar activities commemorating the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.
“We have achieved a lot but we still have a lot to do in terms of rehabilitating devastated areas like Bacolor,” he said.
said during his speech.
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2011/06/08/remember-lessons-mt-pinatubo-filipinos-told-160097
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