Builder of expressways also builds young minds

Two strong allies of President Macapagal-Arroyo, namely former President Fidel V. Ramos and House Speaker Joe de Venecia, are on a collision course with GMA’s palace holders who want the president to stay in power until 2010.

Political pundits are interpreting the sudden "unrest" in the House of Representatives to unseat the Speaker as being fueled and encouraged by GMA surrogates. If true, then it is likely that GMA really wants to stay in power until 2010. For this reason, it is generating considerable turmoil in the Lakas party.

It will do well for the President to speak out her mind and not allow her surrogates to speak for her on this very important issue.

FVR categorically stated, more than once, that his "support of GMA" was incidental, and she should take this matter very seriously if she is indeed serious about her SONA statement (i.e., that she would not stay in power for a long time).

What this columnist is hearing is that GMA wants a charter change from the presidential system of government, but at the same time she also wants to stay in power until 2010.

If GMA is being led into believing that she does not need JDV and FVR anymore because she could be saved by the "glowing" reports about the state of the economy, she is doubly mistaken. She cannot afford not to listen to the advice of FVR and JDV.

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Taking root. This is one phrase shared with me by Marlene Ochoa, assistant vice president for public relations of Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) to describe the firm’s latest initiatives working with communities beside and around the 84-kilometer North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

The two-word phrase vividly pictures the community-directed initiatives and responses by MNTC as a heartwarming signal to everyone that the firm intends to play its "good neighbor" policy exceedingly well, specifically with communities in Central Luzon.

"Taking root" is MNTC’s way of manifesting its belief in corporate social responsibility, or CSR. "We are pursuing CSR, having in mind the concept of our president Ping de Jesus that ‘the best CSR is being the best in our business, particularly in providing excellent customer service.’"

Failing there, according to Ping, a company’s activities in CSR projects would not be as meaningful.

So proceeding from that premier belief, MNTC is into more significant CSR projects.

Foremost is MNTC’s partnership with Gawad Kalinga, where they have committed resources and volunteers to build 50 houses in Marilao, Bulacan, and another 50 elsewhere. This housing project substantiates MNTC’s belief, not only in giving support, but also in involving themselves with the people.

MNTC is an enthusiastic partner of the Center for Culinary Arts Foundation (of the "Cravings" fame) acting as sponsor of "Mobile Kitchen." Now you ask, what’s an expressway builder and concessionaire doing in the "kitchen?"

Actually, MNTC is sponsoring the skills training of unemployed housewives and other family members in cooking, baking and everything else related to providing gastronomical delights to their families. These scholars can actually start livelihood enterprises using their consummate skills in whipping up the finest dishes and recipes.

The company is also deeply involved in youth education, specifically in providing upgraded facilities and structures to school houses. Recently, Ping was at the ground-breaking rites of a gazebo for the Valenzuela City Science High School, sharing visions of future scientists with Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Almabella Bautista, School Principal Lagrimas Bayle, and Dalandanan Barangay Captain Tomas Encarnacion.

Earlier, Marlene was in her hometown of Pulilan where her father was once mayor and where MNTC donated buckets of paints to paint the roof of the Segundo Esguerra Memorial elementary School.

There’s a tree-planting program planned for Candaba, Pampanga, but the details are not available to me at this writing. It is enough to say that MNTC is really "taking root," and is telling everyone that they are more than builders of concrete expressways and of the most modern transport and communication systems.

In a real sense, MNTC is building communities and families – and they nurture the young minds of our future leaders, artists and scientists. Not to mention excellent chefs and cooks.

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The rallyists have been given ample coverage by the media, and the police have been depicted as traitors to the cause of a free, untrammeled assembly. At last Tuesday’s Bulong-Pulungan sa Westin Philippine Plaza, the resource speaker was PSSupt. Herminigilda Dumanguin-Salangad, assistant chief public information officer of the Philippine National Police, and her being charming and soft-spoken made it impossible to dislike her for coming to the defense of the police who had water "cannonized" the rallyists on October 14 at the doorstep of Malacañang Palace.

Colonel Salangad explained that what had become a controversial term – "calibrated pre-emptive response" or CPR, had been hatched during discussions by DILG Secretary Angelo Reyes, her immediate boss, PNP Director Gen. Arturo Lumibao and other officers to replace the old term, "maximum tolerance."

She understood the anger of the rallyists, and said that her superiors and herself, had gone to the Philippine Commission on Human Rights to discuss easing up tensions between rallyists and law enforcers. The discussion had been fruitful in that amendments had been made re guidelines on dealing with civil disturbance management operations.

She said that the police maintain the position of strict adherence to the rule of law. "I would like to emphasize that it is the mandate of the PNP to enforce the law and maintain peace and order. Ours is an obligation mandated by law, and we are expected to remain faithful to our sworn duty whatever the odds."

The colonel, who is a medical doctor by training (she graduated from the Far Eastern University College of Medicine), and who had taken some courses on psychiatry, was asked if the rallies had a negative effect on the President, whom the rallyists want to get out of Malacanang. Her reply: "It all depends on the person – on how she would react to certain situations. . . Her own self-esteem, and self-confidence would help her (overcome threats to her survival)."

Interestingly, the media persons at Bulong expressed disgust over the actuations of the rallyists. Charito Planas said she has been fighting in the streets for years. She had joined rallies in the United States where she had gone on exile for some time, but the rallyists did not break through areas 100 meters from the White House and other places. Charito also questioned another Bulong regular if he was being truthful in saying that bishops and other church prelates who had gone on a prayer rally had actually been hosed down by the police.

Gloria Baylon said she has always "hated the military," but the recent actuations of rallyists had made her unhappy. Frank Evaristo said he was for women empowerment, and welcomed having women police officers manning the women rallyists’ ranks. Marife Castanas said soldiers should use shields to protect themselves, but not to strike rallyists on the head with it.

The colonel said in reply to some questions that if the people wanted charter change, let them have it, and that her co-officers have not mentioned the imposition of martial law in the land.

It was a good session, but we shall see if the modified guidelines on dealing with civil disturbance will help keep protestors in tow.

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My e-mail: [email protected]