Europe-PH News

The inefficiency of the Executive Department is at its highest when one goes to the airport. Arriving from Hong Kong on a PAL flight, we were greeted by an airport without airconditioning. Long lines were lined up at the Immigration counters. It took time for the baggage to come out.

Our flight was delayed because of congestion of flights. Most flights were delayed an average of one hour.

NAIA is still downgraded by the US FAA to Category 2.

What happened to the P1 billion released to then DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas to upgrade NAIA 1? Why are the airconditioners not working at NAIA 1, 2, and 3?

What happened to the promise made as early as 2010 to fix NAIA 3 and make it fully operational?

The Airline Operators Association have filed a complaint seeking immediate repairs at NAIA 1 because of the falling debris from the ceilings.

During the 90-day campaign we experienced frequent delays in our flights. Most of the domestic airports are now too small to accommodate two or more flights. Even the NAIA 2 does not have enough chairs for the morning rush. Foreign tourists are complaining about the poor facilities in Caticlan and Boracay flights.

Most scanning and x-ray machines in provincial airports are out of order. Most runways are not smooth.

The airport is the big symbol of inefficiency of government.

Surprising but...

The Philippines recorded a surprisingly strong 7.8% growth rate for the 1st quarter. The stock market was not impressed as it dropped 275.22 points or 3.81%. The peso also lost 3% to P42.44 to the dollar.

The big question remains. Will it trickle down? Will new jobs be created? Will new foreign investments come in?

Election spending was a major factor. Infrastructure spending was front-loaded. Now that the election is over, can it be sustained?

Too much crime

If there is one big problem the administration has failed to solve, it’s the crime situation. Killings, akyat-bahay, robberies, hold-ups are a daily occurrence all over the country.

Rosemarie Gatan, 51, BPI branch manager was shot dead by a lone motorcycle-riding gunman in an ambush near the NBI Headquarters on Taft Avenue.

Col. Alfredo Ripoll, 73, was shot dead inside his printing shop at Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City.

Councilor Oscar Evangelista, 68, of Binalonan, Pangasinan was ambushed and shot 4 times at a gasoline station. He survived.

Alvino Lupnacan, a school principal was gunned down in Tabuk, Kalinga.

Two members of the Presidential Security Group: Cpl. Bobby Ates, 35, and Sgt. Marvin Gaton, 31, were arrested for robbing a car shop in Quezon City.

Singaporean Peter Lee, 50, was stabbed to death by a helper at Barangay Pinagkaisan, Quezon City.

A dental clinic was robbed and a dentist’s secretary was raped in Marikina last week.

Carwash attendant Jun Gonzales was stabbed to death by a co-worker in his sleep in their Quezon City shop.

A carjacker followed John Walter Spakowski inside the restroom and at gunpoint demanded his car keys. Boy, even restrooms are not safe.

A chief of police in San Andres, Romblon was shot dead.

Charlemagne Siute, 62, and his wife were shot dead by a motorcycle-riding gunman in Malolos, Bulacan after withdrawing P1 million from a bank.

Unsolved problem

President Aquino complained to MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino last Friday about the bad traffic situation on his way to Global City, Taguig.

This is one clear problem the Administration has failed to solve. There are just too many buses running in Metro Manila. And if you have noticed there are now thousands of AUV Express vans added to the so many taxicabs in Metro Manila.

P2 billion rice smuggling

P2 billion worth of rice in 1,100 containers have been attempted to be smuggled thru the Port of Cebu.

The rice was misdeclared and therefore subject to immediate seizure and auction. But weeks after its arrival, BOC and DOF officials have not ordered its auction. In fact, so many influential persons are intervening to fix the case. Millions in bribes are being offered.

The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) have joined hands to ask the Aquino Administration for “stronger action against smuggling.”

Besides rice and sugar smuggling, there is continuous oil smuggling estimated to result in a loss of P30 billion in revenue annually.

Last April 2012, 90 containers of rice misdeclared as construction materials were apprehended in Subic. Up to now it has not been auctioned.

A recent open letter to Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon has reported the irregular auction of rice seized in Cagayan de Oro and Legaspi. The Legaspi rice was being auctioned at P950 per sack when there were bidders offering at P1,300 per sack.

Fixed auction is a regular occurence at BOC.

De Castro vs. Sereno

Justice Teresita de Castro questioned Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno issuing a TRO to the Comelec to prevent the proclamation of 5 more party-list winners. De Castro, the ponente in the Senior Citizens’ case had recommended a TRO with regards to the petitioner Senior Citizens only, not the 4 winners.

This is the 2nd time that Chief Justice Sereno has issued a ruling that was not supported by the Court.

Last December, De Castro also questioned an order of Sereno creating a Regional Administrative Office in Cebu because it did not have the approval of the full court.

All is not well in the Supreme Court. Expect more actions of Sereno to be questioned by her colleagues.

Tidbits: Congratulations to Gov. Edgar Chatto of Bohol on his re-election. Also to Gov. Arthur Defensor of Iloilo and to  Governor-elect Leopoldo Petilla Jr. of Leyte, younger brother of Sec. Jericho Petilla. Rep. Roger Mercado of Southern Leyte won as Governor over Robert Castañares.

Source: The Philippine Star; Opinion; 4 June 2013