EDITORIAL "Formula for Progress"

Formula for progress

    So where do we stand vis-a-vis the ethanol plant pollution issue?

            The fact that the plant is providing jobs to some residents of the city and to others from Negros Island cannot be undermined. That they are paying taxes yearly because they are only given less than 10 percent real estate tax as an incentive is another filling in the sandwich.

            But the dust and particulates in air that land on surfaces, stick on hanging clothes on a line, and go directly with the air we breathe every second are particularly obvious. Representatives of San Carlos Bioenergy, Inc. defended that they are constantly checking the air quality using supposedly prescribed devices. The air quality within SCBI based on test results is very satisfactory because no particulate landed on the device.

            But the question is not the air within their premises. We are raising the kitchen trays, glass jalousies, newly washed clothes, and table tops replete with dark particulates that were last seen flying before the San Carlos Milling Co., Inc. went bankrupt. So these particulates could not have come from burnt cane fields because through the years when there was no milling plant and canes were continuously burnt, there was not any ash.

            We understand the plight of SCBI trying to manage the mechanical problem. We also understand why the local government is hard pressed not to take drastic measures against the company, as drastic as calling its shut down through an enforcement from the Environment Department. But the validity of the people’s clamor should no longer be questioned and truly do we need to see efficient actions taken to stop dirty air circulating.

            LGU has to remind itself that the city’s slogan is “Green is go!” and that the Livable Community second price award came mainly because of environmental sustainability. We can do well if we live up to these in parallel with development in order to achieve progress.

            The words of British philosopher Bertrand Russel puts this succinctly:

            “Change is one thing, progress is another. ‘Change’ is scientific, ‘progress’ is ethical; change is indubitable, whereas progress is a matter of controversy.”

            What we already have is a little change brought about by the ethanol industry. But what about progress?

To finally end the never ending spiral of tales on this issue, we simply would like to note that the formula for progress can be spelled in simple terms for a small community like San Carlos: political reform + environmental consciousness + development of industries = progress.