The floods in Central Luzon could have been mitigated if 19 flood control projects already awarded under President GMA were not cancelled by DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson.
In a resolution filed by Assistant Minority Leader, Cong. Danilo Suarez (Lakas, Quezon, 3rd dist.), an investigation into the matter is being asked.
Singson’s explanation: They were not cancelled but suspended because of overpricing to the tune of P1 billion and will be bidded out because they were just negotiated. But why the delay? The Aquino Administration has been in office 16 months. It should have been awarded by now. How much longer do the suffering residents of Central Luzon have to wait? And the megadike to prevent flooding of CAMANAVA? No funding yet to finish it.
For the last 10 years, there have been proposals to dredge the narrowed mouth of the Pampanga River at Manila Bay. GMA released billions for Pampanga. Why has the dredging of the area not been done? And the on again, off again destruction of illegal fishpens blocking the exits of Pampanga river, why have they been suspended?
These are urgent problem that must be acted upon. These delays are criminal.
The casualty list is now at 82 dead. The damage is now more than P12 billion.
Wake up, Sec. Singson. Don’t be so smug. The period of learning is long over.
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RELIEVED. . . AFP Chief Eduardo Oban has relieved Col. Rodrigo Diapana, the Philippine Army’s 402nd Brigade Commander based in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur which covers Surigao del Norte. Also relieved was his Deputy, Col. Crisante Maligmat.
PNP Chief Nicanor Bartolome also relieved the PNP Provincial Director of Surigao del Norte and the chief of police of Claver.
Such moves will not solve the problem. More troops and more funds for operations must be given to the Divisions and Brigades of the Philippine Army, 20,000 unfilled soldiers’ positions must now be recruited. There has to be a revamp of the anti insurgency campaign.
Already, the Japanese and Australian Ambassadors, the Chamber of Mines and business organizations have expressed their concerns. All mining operations are now targets of NPA attacks. The Taganito attack and destruction is “awful” truth that the NPAs are quite capable of carrying out their threats against mining companies. This is true for logging companies, bus companies and big agricultural operations.
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BRAZEN, DARING CRIMES. . . Once again, the serious crime situation is highlighted by the robbery holdup of a jewelry store at busy Claro M. Recto Ave. and Rizal Ave. in downtown Manila in broad daylight, Thursday afternoon. Eight armed men held up the Sisters Jewelry Store and 2 other shops and took several bags of jewelry after smashing the glass cases.
A security guard, Danny Orde, 48, was shot dead when he shot it out with the holdupper, but he killed one of the fleeing robbers with another one shot by pursuing policemen. Eight bystanders were wounded in the crossfire as the fleeing robbers lobbed a grenade at the crowd.
In another brazen killing, Mila Dumaguit, 52, an officer of the Makati Social Welfare Department was shot dead inside her Hi-Ace by 2 motorcycle riding gunmen on her way to work at Barangay Valenzuela, Makati. No one is safe inside his car.
Robbers took P3 million in cash and valuables at the QC house of businessman Johnny Monie, 45. No one is safe in his own home.
An Indian trader was shot dead at the corner of Retiro and Ibarra St. at the QC-Manila boundary in Sampaloc. Ex-policeman Jaime Ocampo Jr. was shot dead at the Commonwealth area. Manuel Bon Orosco, 18, was shot dead by a motorcycle rider in a traffic altercation in Santa Cruz, Manila.
A University of the Philippines hostel worker, Jee-Ann de Guzman was robbed, raped and strangled to death at Barangay 179, Camarin, Caloocan. The same suspects also robbed at the same place Jerry Manioto, 20.
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Outside Metro Manila, killings are also taking place. In Masbate, Antonio Loon, 55, assistant park manager of Cataingan was shot dead.
In Bacnotan, La Union, Barangay Chairwoman Thelma Bucalbos, 50, of Barangay Calautit, was also shot dead by a suspected gun for hire assailant.
To date, PNP has not busted gun for hire syndicates.
The President has not accorded priority attention to the crime problem.
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TIDBITS. . . DOTC Sec. Mar Roxas announced he is cancelling the French RO-RO project. President Aquino also called off the Belgian dredging contract for Laguna de Bay. More cancellations, more delays.
After a year, the rapists of “Florence”, the nurse in Maguindanao, have not been arrested.
Japan has 5 universities in the world’s top 300. China has 4.
The World Bank has cut the growth outlook for the Philippines to 4.5 percent from 5 for the whole of 2011. GDP for the 2nd quarter was only 3.4 percent.
The Customs collection for September is short of P9.9 billion or 1/3rd of its P30 billion target.
The provincial Governors, Willy Alvarado (Bulacan), Baby Pineda (Pampanga), Aurelio Umali (Nueva Ecija), Luisa Cuaresma (Nueva Viscaya), Jaime Cua (Quirino), Bodjie Dy (Isabela), Amado Espino Jr. (Pangasinan), Nestor Fongwan (Benguet), Eugene Balitang (Ifugao) and Manuel Ortega (La Union) were hands on dealing with the twin typhoons.
Belated 72nd birthday greetings to former Sen. Kit Tatad who was feted with a lunch hosted by VP Binay at the Coconut Palace. Twenty editors and columnists were present.
Greetings to Gen. Raul Urgello, new president of the Association of Generals and Flag Officers, Gen. Jose Lapus, Rene Bas of Manila Times, Charito Planas and Jose Teodoro of Bacood.
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