Another failed bidding

After press statements claiming there would be no more snags in the Feb. 5 bidding arranged by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) for the privatization of the National Transmission Co. (TransCo), the bidding was again a dismal failure with only the Italian transmission company Terna SpA in partnership with the Citadel group showing up yesterday. The two other bidders were a no-show. This failure is getting to be the norm rather than the exception, with two botched bidding attempts in 2001 and 2004.

As we have pointed out before, this privatization project which could raise $2 to $3 billion for government is already long overdue by six years. Government should just go ahead and negotiate with the Italian group. If I remember correctly, the law allows the government to negotiate in cases of repeated bidding failures — which is certainly what has been happening with this Transco privatization. Besides, the Terna-Citadel Group seems to be the only serious bidder at this point, and is also technically the most qualified among the three because it is a private entity, unlike the two other Chinese and Malaysian bidders which are both state-owned. Once again, this failure places the administration in a most embarrassing situation. If government does not act decisively this time, this whole thing might just collapse and jeopardize future efforts to attract foreign investments into the country.

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Going overboard with tourists

There’s been an upsurge in hotel bookings from tourists, largely credited to Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano for his aggressive marketing campaign, packaging the country as more than the usual tourist destination. Last year, the DOT even launched a shopping spree campaign for tourists, showcasing premier malls in Metro Manila as excellent shopping havens. But as usual, Filipinos have a tendency to go overboard when it comes to hospitality towards foreign visitors.

A couple of days ago, five motorcycle riding policemen — better known as hagad in local parlance — stopped traffic in a busy shopping area in Makati to allow unimpeded access to a bus full of passengers. A young business tycoon followed the bus around out of curiosity to find out who the very important passengers were. It turned out they were mere Korean tourists billeted at the Shangri-La Makati with arrangements made by the Island Resort Club.

There’s no question tourists are welcome in this country, but Filipinos should not go overboard just to make these visitors feel spoiled and pampered. Bringing them from one shopping mall to another with a police escort is simply disgusting. It’s doubtful Koreans will bend over backwards in the same manner just to give Filipino tourists a great time shopping in Seoul. Certainly, there are no VIP tourists in countries like the United States, Singapore or Japan.

Traffic in Metro Manila is already horrendous, and it’s bad enough we have to put up with so many clowns arrogantly going around with unauthorized bodyguards, escorted by police cars every time they ply Metro Manila’s busy streets. Let’s not add to this by having tourists going around escorted by traffic-stopping motorcycle cops just so they could shop till they drop.

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Photo op gone wrong

Sources from the Palace disclosed that GMA was so pissed at a front page photo that appeared in The Philippine STAR last week showing her flanked by new Palestinian Ambassador Abdelrahman Abuqutaish and honorary consul Jose Antonio "Tony" Leviste. Apparently, GMA was not aware that honorary consul Leviste would be in attendance during the presentation of credentials by the new Palestinian envoy until the last minute. The former Batangas governor is facing murder charges for killing his long-time aide Rafael delas Alas early last month.

Someone must have received a severe tongue lashing from the very annoyed GMA due to the faux pas. Whoever thought the photo op would help the former governor with his case must be very ignorant of GMA’s character. She is the type who will keep her hands off and distance herself from people in trouble whom she thinks will only place her in an awkward situation. So now there are speculations that the offensive photo op must have been the reason why the Department of Justice (DOJ) quickly came out with a recommendation to upgrade to murder the charge of homicide previously filed by the Makati City prosecutor’s office against Leviste. The DOJ is standing pat on its recommendation, claiming that a re-investigation of the crime scene showed tampering of evidence. A classic case of a photo op gone wrong.

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