A man by nature is imperfect. Evidently and clearly it is because in "trying so hard" to solve a problem, he creates another problem. Just like medicines are invented to relieve all sorts of pain but in so doing they (medicines) in the process weaken the heart. What does this mean? Very simple, it means another problem has emerged, a tougher one, in fact!

As man's needs became more sophisticated, so are the ways and means… They come in the form of high technology and modern science. The unimaginable becomes real! And the price is: trading off the innocence of nature. The once virgin forest is no longer virgin, the once crystal clear waters are no longer crystal, and the fresh air, no longer. So they say "Quo Vadis?"

According to Secretary Fulgencio Factoran, Jr. of the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), "the greatest threat to our environment is the depletion of our forest which is the anchor of agriculture development." This is apparently true is our province. Several of our mountains are now bare. Mt. Matutum, the most panoramic volcano in the province is not an exception. The culprits are the "kaingeros" and illegal loggers. Our forests help neutralize the greenhouse effect. It is known as the buffer against high temperature. But the problem is that we have denuded our forests. If not corrected, soon the province, particularly the areas located at the foot of Mt. Matutum will be continuously flooded. This courts more danger and hazard to the lives of the people living in our city; notwithstanding the fact that it deteriorates our environment.

General Santos City, the once "pollution free city," providing us among others, free air, fresh fruits and fresh fishes… now turns all these to be part of history… part of the beautiful and memorable past. Come to think of it, before, we do go swimming from the Lion's Beach to Acharon's Beach and savored the thrill and delight to the bones. Now, foreign and local boats pour their wastes right to the sea which turn it to be greasy, dim and filthy.

Yes, we have foreign boats that purchase and process fish to sardines but while doing such processes, they empty their waste to out waters, thus polluting our waters and killing marine lives. The trucks and other forms of vehicles owned by Tuna exporters also crowd in front of Lion's Beach, which makes the whole scene really repulsive and deplorable, the beauty of the beach is gone.

Moreover, the presence of factories like the RFM, Purefoods, Sta. Monica… bother us. To cite one, students demonstrated before a factory because of the foul odor it spreads and causing air pollution. Industrial operations kill our rivers and seas with the chemicals they withdraw. Specifically, it adversely affects the fishes, the existence of other marine resources and disturbs the balance of nature. Still they say "anyway they are part of General Santos City's economic growth." At our expense?

Now comes the International Airport which will cost approximately US $50 million and will be operational in 1996. Aside from the convenience of travelling faster to the different parts of the country, it also makes the other international destinations more accessible. Nevertheless, we are so disturbed thinking of the hazardous consequences to our health, physically and mentally; after all, it's the most precious thing we can have. Remember, health is wealth.

In General Santos City, we have more than 10,000 tricycles, 250 public passengers buses and jeepneys, not less than 1,000 units of long-bed trucks and thousands of other vehicles. The heavy traffic along the highway is particularly noticeable at 7 in the morning, 12 noon and 3 in the afternoon. Everybody inhales the carbon being emitted, and these are stocked in our lungs. Thus, the threat of respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, emphysema and various pulmonary diseases would increase due to the gradual thickening pollution of the atmosphere in General Santos City. Why is this so? Simply because General Santos City is a boomtown.

General Santos City is being advertised as a boomtown, more industries are coming to our city especially now that GSC is known to be one of the economic zones of the Philippines. With the hope that these big establishments and industries can give the people of GSC jobs, only to find out it would not necessarily solve the problem of unemployment. Our local government invites more foreign businessmen and firms in the city. But inspite of this, most of the jobless people in the city remain jobless. Why? The heavy influx of other people coming from all parts of the Philippines is the reason. The employment that big companies offer does not exactly go to the people of General Santos City. The (GSC Men) must first apply very keenly in order to get the job. Naturally, in the process of competing with the migrants, most of them are dropped. More often that not, the migrants are the ones accepted.

In the case of the migrants who cannot land a job, they would resort to other means in order to make a living. This explains why there is an increase in crime rates ranging from hold-ups to kidnap for ransom.

Hence, cravings for economic growth redounds to the expense of the people in General Santos City. What more? There is an increase in the migrants which means more demand but this does not necessarily mean an equal increase in supply. In this case, prices would go up. This is the invisible hands at work.

Now, we see the price of a booming place: polluted air, polluted water, polluted lands, increasing crime rates, increasing prices and increasing unemployment.

Ergo, we, the people of General Santos City must work hand in hand to save our environment, our city. Let us bear in mind that whatever destroys our environment, destroys us, as well.