THIS is in response to the editorial titled “Their crime.” (Inquirer, 11/20/08)

The editorial asked: “Since when is a shredder a farm input or a farm implement?” I would think since organic farming came into existence. It is quite surprising that the Inquirer does not know this. Although it is not strictly just a “farm implement” since it can be used just about anywhere where one can do composting for organic farming.

A shredder is a must if one wants to do medium- to large-scale composting. In fact, it is an equipment that many barangays badly need so that people do not resort to burning dead leaves, which is against the law. If they have a shredder, then they can shred leaves and garden waste and use the by-product for composting, a practice that we should greatly encourage everyone to do for environmental reasons. (This is exactly our problem in our village—people burn dead leaves because they say they have no choice because garbage trucks no longer haul the leaves away.)

City Hall said we should request shredders to turn these leaves into compost. This would also address the escalating costs of chemical fertilizers.

That said, I wholeheartedly agree with the spirit of the editorial regarding the “enormous latitude apparently enjoyed by certain favored officials in the Arroyo administration to dispense with government funds as they please. They may hide their use under the cover of public purpose, but that doesn’t make it right.”

Tama na, sobra na, palitan na.

—CATHY QUIOGUE (via e-mail)