She showed up but...

(Published in Zamboanga Today on January 15, 2008.)

In Saturday’s forum organized by the Silsilah Dialogue Movement where different parties were heard on their opinions on the mining activities within the Ayala Watershed, the City Council was represented by the Honorable Lynnette Marcos-Abarro, a former beauty queen and television anchorwoman and the only lady councilor in the first district.

For a variety of reasons, many among the audience were displeased with the beauteous councilor and the pronouncements she made, as she and university professor Alih Aiyub exchanged opinions. It seemed like she stepped on some people’s toes without finesse.

Professor Alih Aiyub is the secretary-general of Salam, a peace non-government organization, aside from being a professor of the Western Mindanao State University, where the good councilor’s husband is also an authority. But that is beside the point.

Aiyub made a good point in stating that based on facts, comparative studies show that the mining industry in other countries like Japan supports the local communities which to an extent benefit from the mining activities. What Aiyub raised was a taxpaying citizen’s concern that foreign investors benefit more from mining activities in the Philippines and the only benefit that goes to the community is the employment of some members within the locality in the mining companies. Aiyub stressed that even the guards of the area are reportedly paid by the mining companies, and if that is the same thing in the case of Rigid Mining Corporation, such defeats their purpose to guard and stand watch over the Ayala Watershed.

Ms. Abarro however countered by demanding from Aiyub to “produce the documents” to support his claim, and in a manner that was very transparently wanting in diplomacy, if not grace, at that.

She probably was not prepared for the issue raised by the Professor. Indeed, for a neophyte councilor, she shouldn’t have been, in the first place, sent to speak especially for the august body of the legislative council on an age-old issue as mining, and a budding concern as the Ayala Watershed. And if she was not representing the council at all but herself, she should have been briefed more on the situation in the Ayala Watershed as well as the impact of mining in all aspects in other cities and countries. That way, her credibility would not have been mocked at by those in attendance.

It looked like an on-the-spot-test for Councilor Abarro, but her facial expressions as the Saturday forum went on, gave way, consequently turning off some of her constituents. One can hope that the remaining months of her term will show a better, politically-schooled lady councilor of District 1. After all, a seat in the Sangguniang Panlungsod is more distinguished and honorable than a seat for a beauty contest winner. (Frencie L. Carreon)