BY LEONARDO V. MICUA
Delayed infra projects in Pangasinan
During his visit to Pangasinan last week, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon uncovered several incomplete infrastructure projects, attributing the delays not to the implementers, but rather to the national budgeting system.
His comments effectively absolve the regional director and district engineers from any accountability, as the lack of additional budget allocations is beyond their control.
Among the stalled projects is the 910-meter bridge connecting the towns of Villasis and Sto. Tomas across the Agno River. Records indicate that construction began in 2016, yet the project remains unfinished and has essentially been abandoned.
It is commendable that Secretary Dizon took the time to understand why this crucial project, which commenced a decade ago, is still far from completion. Once completed, it would alleviate congestion on the aging Teofilo Sison Bridge, which currently handles a significant portion of the daily north-south traffic along the Manila North Road.
Another project facing delays is the 6.774-kilometer bypass road from Binmaley to  Dagupan  and to Mangaldan, which has stalled due to insufficient funding from higher authorities.
Construction on the barely started Calmay Bridge, part of this bypass route, has also been on hold since last year, having exhausted its initial funding without any new allocations forthcoming.
Notably, Secretary Dizon’s statements did not mention any ghost or substandard projects. This omission directly contradicts allegations from a certain online vlogger, who has accused various DPWH officials, along with congressmen and mayors, of graft and corruption, despite their lack of involvement in these projects.
Those unfairly criticized by this vlogger can reference Secretary Dizon’s visit to Pangasinan, where he did not identify any ghost or substandard projects, reinforcing their position should they choose to pursue cyber libel against the vlogger.
= = = =
President Donald Trump finds Iran harder to crack than Venezuela. While it took the Americans just three hours to bring Venezuela to its knees with the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife in their villa in Caracas, the U.S.—although aided by Israel—seems to take weeks or even months to subdue Iran, even if Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is already dead.
Iran is a stronger nation than most countries in the Middle East, in my opinion. It is fighting back, and its will to fight until the last breath was fueled by the death of their Supreme Leader in the first volley of fires unleashed by the U.S. (or is it Israel?).
Meanwhile, the whole world is trembling in fear because the longer the war in the Middle East lasts, the more painful it becomes for people around the globe. Countries dependent on oil from the Middle East—including the Philippines—will see their cars grind to a halt if oil imports don’t arrive soon.
The Strait of Hormuz, where 70 percent of oil tankers pass through, is currently under effective control of Iran and will not open as the country is under attack by the U.S. and Israel. Time to walk to our respective destinations or ride bikes  to office.