Only 18 months left

The first five months of 2016 is election campaign time. The clear implication for 2015-2016: The President only has 18 months to do what he plans to do.

It takes six months to award an infrastructure project, according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson. Measures must be adopted to expedite the bidding process.

It is logical to suggest that projects that will take more than 18 months to complete must be set aside.

For example, the Laguna Lakeshore Expressway project will take 4 to 5 years to complete. It should be set aside together with 20 other Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects that are still being studied.

School building projects have to be prioritized. It takes as short as 3 months to finish a 2-room school building. Department of Education (DepEd) just announced they have to build 31,000 classrooms.

Communal irrigation projects, which can be finished in 1 year or less, should be prioritized over the big irrigation systems that cost billions.

President Aquino and the entire Cabinet should double time 24/7 to push their projects. Highest priority should be accorded to power and water projects. Pending administrative investigations should be expedited.

Priority list

President Aquino sent to Congress a list of 26 “priority measures” that intend to achieve inclusive growth — generate mass employment and draws the majority of the people into the economic and social mainstream, reduce poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

Considering time restraints, it would not be surprising that only 10 or 12 will be approved within his final two years in office.

The designation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill — mandating the disclosure of public records — is priority No. 18 on the list which, again, indicates the President is not serious in pushing approval of the bill.

It could be that the strategy is to approve the FOI bill only in 2016 so it will no longer affect the Aquino administration that is on the way out.

Still under review

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has finished its investigation of the third batch of persons involved in the embezzlement of public funds in the controversial P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam.

She said, however, that she is still reviewing the NBI report.

“It’s not easy to double check things like that, especially if (transactions) were done only through agents. We are trying to double check if there was really a receipt of kickbacks by the concerned lawmakers directly or indirectly,” De Lima said.

De Lima said investigators wanted to make sure that strong cases would be filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The NBI was set to file the third batch of PDAF cases in the third week of June, De Lima said.

The longer it takes, the stronger the suspicion that De Lima is sanitizing the list to remove the allies of the President.

Binay hoping

Senator Nancy Binay told Senate reporters that her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, is hoping but not actively seeking President Aquino’s endorsement.

Speculation has increased about such a possibility, in view of the Pulse Asia survey giving VP Binay 41% of respondents’ vote and only 7% for Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas.

Senator Binay recalled that in 2010, VP Binay started his candidacy getting only 2% of the vote. This time, VP Binay is starting from a higher figure of 41%, and is definitely well organized for a presidential run. He has the support of the majority of mayors.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma downplayed the speculation about a possible endorsement of VP Binay, saying the President is focused on his program of reforms.

But in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and three other speeches, President Aquino talked about his successor in 2016. He said his successor should be someone who, “without a doubt,” will continue the reforms and programs that his administration started.

NFA anomalies

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided a private warehouse in Leganes, Iloilo, seizing 1,400 sacks of suspected National Food Authority (NFA) rice that was being repacked by 12 workers for commercial sale. The warehouse is registered to Dennis Devicente who was not in the area during the raid.

This is the second such seizure of diverted NFA rice, the first one being in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

Ten NFA managers are under investigation for diverting NFA rice to commercial traders.

Republic Act No. 7581 (Price Act) prohibits the repacking and hoarding of NFA rice. Violators face imprisonment of 5 to 15 years and could lose their accreditation as NFA rice retailers. They also face blacklisting.

New NFA Administrator Arthur Juan has a lot of cleaning up to do. It is time to consider abolishing the NFA and turning over its functions to the private sector.

In his SONA, President Aquino announced more importation of rice, and warned hoarders and smugglers. But the NFA and NBI should continue their inspections of private warehouses.

A lifestyle check should be conducted on all NFA managers and ranking officials.

Tidbits

Dr. Rolando Custodio was shot dead in Tanza, Cavite.

Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao and actress Heart Evangelista had the most talked-about gowns at the SONA.