The people's tragedy is that many government agencies do not have a short-term vision. Yes, they are unable to see the benefits that can flow out of seemingly simple steps that government can do. For instance, if the government, through the Department of Public Works and Highways, can do the simple thing of opening up a short, 300-meter stretch of road at the Marikina River Bypass to C-5, the traffic situation will improve tremendously at the Blue Ridge section of Katipunan Avenue, the Aurora Boulevard-Katipunan junction, Industria Road, Santolan, and other streets adjoining the Quezon City stretch of C-5.
It has been three months since the Bases Conversion Development Authority and the DPWH signed the memo-agreement for the opening up of that 300-meter idle plot of land within Camp Atienza along the Marikina River. Up to now, nothing, it seems, has been done to finally patch up that 300-meter stretch, and enable motorists to use the Bypass Road. Why are the authorities moving like turtles, or even slower? Don't they realize the dramatic, gratifying impact to motorists and commuters if they open up that area?
According to my sources, the DPWH has not moved, allegedly because the old contractor of the Bypass Road can no longer be located -- after he had waited for two years for the authority to open up that 300-meter stretch. What will the DPWH do now? Wait for eternity, or for lightning to strike, before the teeny-weeny piece of idle land is asphalted? The DPWH's inaction is symbolic of the lethargy that has apparently swept almost the entire government bureaucracy.
Let met call on Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando, whose brainchild it was to build that Bypass Road, to volunteer to asphalt that 300-meter stretch. I am sure that his constituents in Marikina City, and the thousands of motorists coming from Eastern Rizal, will back him up fully if he decides to use the funds of the Marikina City government in doing such a simple thing that can yield tremendous benefits to the general public.
There was a time when MMDA Chairman Jejomar Binay took interest in opening up that Bypass Road along the Marikina River. Perhaps, other activities made him forget to finish what he helped begin: the final signing of the BCDA-DPWH agreement on the Bypass Road. Will Jojo Binay, known in olden times as the askyon agad man, remain true to his reputation as a doer and achiever? Abangan.
A few days ago, at EDSA Shangri-La, in a party marking the christening of a common friend's baby boy, I discovered that Jinggoy Estrada is full of surprises. For one, believe it or not, Jinggoy does not drink. He takes an occasional glass of wine, and that's it. His idea of a drink is ice cold mineral water.
Another surprise is his educational resume. He finished elementary and high school at my own alma mater, the Ateneo de Manila, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of the Philippines. After that, he took time out from school for a while, until he decided to enroll at the Lyceum University's college of law. Jinggoy was in his senior year in law school when he ran, and won, as San Juan mayor in 1992. The demands of his position prevented him from completing his Bachelor of Laws.
A fond wish of his father, the President is that Jinggoy become a lawyer. In reaction, Jinggoy aims to fulfill Dad's wish, if it is the last thing he does. In the meantime, Jinggoy is thinking of applying for admission in a short course at Harvard, preferably in public administration, to equip him all the more for his work as San Juan mayor, as president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and for whatever future work his political career takes him.
Looking back now, Jinggoy was Erap's natural successor. Kicked out of the munisipyo during the purge after the EDSA People's Power Revolt, Erap exacted revenge by victorious runs for senator, vice president, and, subsequently, president. Erap, however, did not leave San Juan unattended to. His eldest son and political heir apparent succeeded him as San Juan mayor. And the father's shoes did not prove too big for the son.
To be sure, the father was a tough act to follow. But the tough act was made easy because all the son had to do was follow his father's blueprint. The son could not go wrong, following his son's footsteps.
Jinggoy can look with pride at his landmark achievements as San Juan mayor: a four-story medical center with state-of-the-art equipment, barangay day care centers and barangay halls, historical landmarks and parks, new school edifices and public buildings, computer programs in public schools, and livelihood programs for women and out-of-school youth -- all these things and more are triumphs that Jinggoy has notched in his political career.
There are signs Jinggoy is following his father's footsteps. Yes, he seems destined to graduate from San Juan into the nation's political landscape. Will he find same rainbow that his father found? Abangan.
Noted musical artist John Lesaca has been exerting a mighty effort to give a big push to a musicians' foundation called "Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino Foundation, Inc." or AMP. He informed me that the AMP'S thrust is to pursue the professionalization of Philippine musicians. Towards this end, AMP recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Bureau of Immigration, whose job is to protect the rights of local Filipino instrumentalists and singers.
There are interesting provisions in the memo-agreement, which was signed by the AMP, the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), and the immigration bureau. For non-classical performances, if no local instrumentalist is hired, the producer pays an amount corresponding to the displaced musician's potential income. For local singers, similar benefits are given to the OPM, if no locals are hired for non-classical performances. On the other hand, the BI's responsibility is to monitor the influx of foreign performers and to assist the AMP and OPM in professionalizing their ranks.
Arturo A. Borjal's e-mail address: <jwalker@tri-isys.com>