Watch climate loans during campaign

Our Navy may be of modest means, but its nationalist roots make Filipinos proud. The Navy was born out of the Revolution. On June 23, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo decreed the formation of the Bureau of Navy under the Department of Foreign Affairs. Coming only days after the Katipunan avowal of independence, it signified the revolucionarios’ intent to escalate the fight for freedom. Filipino ship owners donated vessels to the national cause. The initial fleet, though small, proved crucial in transporting arms and supplies to liberation forces in Luzon and the Visayas.

By contrast, the navies of the archipelago’s colonizers had unsavory beginnings. The Spanish and British armadas began as pirate ships, and their admirals were knighted privateers and slavers. During the American revolution George Washington hired pirates to protect territorial waters. The Japanese Imperial Navy, third largest in the 1920s next to America and Britain’s, was nearly annihilated in 1945.

RP’s Hukbong Dagat was dissolved by Spain’s ceding of the islands to the US in Dec. 1898. The National Defense Act of 1939 revived it as the Off-Shore Patrol.

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It looked good at first glance. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo promised to mayors in Mindanao that she’d distribute to them part of the $250 million to be borrowed for climate change.

But given that the general election is fast approaching, it’s a bad idea after all. The mayors, mostly Arroyo’s Lakas-Kampi party mates, are likely to misuse their share of the environment loan for reelection. And Malacañang, as dispenser of favor, is likely to ask in return their support for Arroyo’s presidential-senatorial bets or extension in power.

Arroyo, upon arrival from a global warming and food summit in Egypt, disclosed details of the loan. The Asian Development Bank is allocating $2 billion for governments to head off climate change’s harm on agriculture and fisheries. The Philippines can tap as much as $250 million (P12 billion) for itself, and local government units split. “LGUs can access the facilities of the ADB, and trade in carbon credits,” she said. Malacañang will help the mayors take out a loan.

Let’s hope the ADB has devised ways to ensure that whatever the politicos borrow will really be used for ecological and food security. The loans can go a long way if used for the right reasons. Wild weather, like super-typhoons in Luzon and droughts in Mindanao, has been shrinking farm yields. Rising oceanic temperature near the equator also has been dulling fish catch. Coastal villages are predicted to flood up when sea levels rise due to the melting of arctic ice caps. Mayors know best which locales are in gravest danger and need funds to ease the effects of climate disaster.

Unfortunately many of them also know best how to reroute public funds for personal gain. The 2004 election was marred by diversion of World Bank roadwork funds to constructors who donated to Malacañang. That year too fertilizer and piglet dispersal funds, mostly from foreign aid, were doled to Arroyo governors and congressmen, even those in urban areas. The needless $329-million (P17 billion) ZTE telecom deal in 2007 contained a $200-million (P10-billion) overprice for the admin campaign. China Ex-Im Bank was to finance the scam. Aborted by press exposés, the admin raised campaign cash elsewhere. Right after the voting, Malacañang awarded juicy contracts to donors. With another election coming up in ten months, the Palace is at it again. The admin has a history of using borrowed money for political supremacy.

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Last Saturday’s visit of EKIT Founders to the Southern Luzon State U in Lucban, Quezon, will be replicated in other clusters of chapters. Sigma Kappa Pi originators Mindo David, Dr. Jack Gan and Prof. Doty Abaya will hold fellowships in Pangasinan-Baguio, Pampanga-Tarlac, and Laguna. All this is in preparation for the 41st anniversary on Sept. 1.

EKIT Alumni Association president Freddie Sarangaya is enjoining brods to pre-register for the anniversary fete at a discounted price of P500 ($10). Remit payment to Metrobank-20th Ave. Cubao account 7-320-51171-9, in the name of Dante Gozum, Danilo Arceo, Martin Cruz. Upon deposit, e-mail [email protected], to find out what’s in store for you.

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Reader Cathy Quiogue reacts to an item on the Rotary Watch (Gotcha, 17 July 2009): “While I appreciate the sincere efforts of the Rotary Club to address public apathy against crime, I can’t help but see the glaring irony in it. They intend to combat small crimes in communities, but ignore the elephant inside the room. To this day I have yet to hear any Rotarian publicly condemn the evil that their international treasurer Jocjoc Bolante brought upon us.”

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“A happy person does not go around seeking approval; he finds his joy in life, not in others’ say-so.” Shafts of Light, Fr. Guido Arguelles, SJ.

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E-mail: [email protected]