P-Noy, there are other problems than gma

We’re still getting a lot of headline news about the former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, her medical condition and her alleged past crimes that include electoral rigging and misappropriation of public funds for personal gain.

So while the responsible government agencies are preparing the necessary ground work to hold GMA responsible for all she’s being accused of, other parts of the bureaucracy should continue working and serving the needs of this 90-plus million nation.

It seems that P-Noy and his phalanx of government executives have been having a field day in recent weeks, kibitzing on how the former president should be treated and prosecuted – to the neglect of day-to-day work.

Empty vs full

We’re at the last month of the 2011, more than 15 months since the new administration started its term, and we still see empty buses plying Metro Manila’s busiest road while the elevated rails (MRT and LRT) ferry jam-packed coaches of commuters almost every operating hour of the day.

Solving the country’s mass transport system should not be such a major challenge especially since we have under the leadership of the transportation and communications department a certified U.S.-educated (and former presidentiable candidate) person.

Empty buses waste fuel, unnecessarily clog the roads and lead to more traffic. But more so, these buses are a symbol of a dysfunctional executive department of government when they are seen dangerously zigzag the roads trying to pick up passengers while the light rail trains are bursting at the seams with commuters.

Just where is the logic in this? Yet, after all these months no concrete actions from the highly qualified executive department head.

Old or new

Wait! There’s more. The old Ninoy Aquino International Airport, now known as one of the worst airports in the world, is groaning from the volume of inbound and outbound passengers passing through its gates.

On the other hand, we have the new NAIA (also known as Terminal 3) that is so underutilized. The dichotomy of these two structures is another humiliating case that demonstrates just how inept – or uncaring – our bureaucrats are.

If not for tourists that we have been so intent to attract, let’s fix this mess about our airports so that the nine million (and counting) Filipino overseas workers whose remittances account for over 13 percent of the nation’s gross national product will be more comfortably and decently served by immigration and customs officials when they come home or leave for their work destinations abroad.

Again, the issues haunting NAIA3 have been languishing for months awaiting resolution while so much time has elapsed analyzing and studying options. When will these analysis and review end and positive actions start?

But wait, there is more.

Empty coffers and under-taxation

We’ve known for so long how impoverished the state coffers currently stand. There’s not enough money to buy new classrooms and improve teacher salaries; or construct feeder roads so that farmers and fishermen can have better access to bringing their produce to markets.

Our state hospitals are poorly run, and sick citizens cannot expect much help from the government in terms of health care. Our mortality rates continue to rise, and there is not much that is being done to effectively stem this.

As our government reports year in and year out about an unbalanced budget, there is not much that is being done to boost revenue collection, especially in seizing opportunities like raising “sin” taxes that have the potential of bringing in additional money for the state’s treasury, but more importantly, reduce abuse of alcohol and tobacco consumption, and consequently burden the state’s health delivery system.

P-Noy announced during the last LEDAC meeting that priority must be given to reforming the “sin tax” law to raise additional revenues and to provide for a level playing field by correcting the arbitrary protection given to Philip Morris and Fortune Tobacco brands.

Legislators who are identified with P-Noy have failed to push for this priority measure, while those who are opposed have made moves to extend the existing law, preserve the monopoly and deny the government of much needed funds for health care.

We have a president who chain-smokes; and an executive secretary who takes to hard liquor like fish to water. Do they put their own interests above the nation’s majority of poor who can ill-afford to get addicted to cigarettes or distilled spirits?

A riddle unsolved

Last, but not least, the Philippines has been unable to solve a riddle that spans more than three decades: high power rates. Our country, in fact, has the highest power rate – next to first-world Japan – in the whole Asian region.

This has been a disincentive to the entry of new capital to the country, and more importantly, to helping our own local businesses compete in the global market. Heck, even power rates in Mindanao where low-cost, hydro-based electricity is produced, has seen incremental hikes over the past years.

There should be a workable plan to usher this nation towards an era of cheap, if not competitively priced, energy. Yet the DOE secretary and his experts seem to be paralyzed from over analysis. The consumers need action rather than alibis for the high cost of energy.

Other more urgent matters

Let P-Noy get back to other urgent things that need to be tended. While the judicial process continues to grind against wrongdoers in public service, P-Noy should crack the whip on his other men to deliver the basic needs of his constituency.

National Collegiate Championship update

The four-day collegiate basketball festival held at Ormoc City was a resounding success. Thanks to the untiring efforts of Mayor Codilla and his staff, Councilor Ruben Capahi, and Ormoc collegiate league president Roger Lagarde. Basketball fans of Ormoc City were treated to exciting collegiate brand basketball games displayed by champions and top rank teams from different localities.

Seven teams from Visayas provinces, Cebu and Metro Manila visited Ormoc City to compete in the regional games and Sweet 16 Finals. This was made possible by the funding support provided by PCCL partners, SMART, Molten, ABS-CBN Sports and M. V. Pangilinan as SBP president.

The cast of the Final Four is now complete with the University of Cebu Webmasters, San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags, UAAP champion Ateneo Blue Eagles, and NCAA champion San Beda Red Lions.

The Final Four championship series starts on Monday, December 5, 2011, at FilOil Flying V Arena, San Juan City.

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