Binay still leads

Despite a five-percentage point drop, the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted Nov. 14-20 showed Vice-President Jejomar Binay still leading the presidential race with a 26 percent rating ahead of second placer Senator Grace Poe, who got an 18 percent rating, up from 10 percent in September.

The Pulse Asia conducted the survey around the time when issues against Binay dominated, particularly his non-appearance at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and his withdrawal from a scheduled debate against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Liberal Party’s presumptive 2016 presidential standard-bearer, Secretary Mar Roxas, dropped 7 percentage points, from 13 percent to 6 percent that puts him in sixth place; behind Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (12 percent), former president and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada (10 percent), and Senator Francis Escudero (7 percent).

Others in the November survey include Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., 4 percent, (4 percent in Sept.); Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, 3 percent, (1 percent in Sept.); former Senator and incumbent Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) Panfilo Lacson, 2 percent (1 percent in Sept.); Senator Franklin Drilon, 2 percent (0.4 percent in Sept.); Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, 1 percent (1 percent in Sept.).

It is significant to note that Binay polled a high 29 percent in Metro Manila, 30 percent in Mindanao, 28 percent in Visayas, and 30 percent in Class E.

Neophyte Senator Poe did not beat Binay in any region as she posted 19 percent in Metro Manila.

Senator Poe has so far disclaimed any interest in running for higher office.

The question today is whether Senator Poe will change her mind for seeking a higher post despite her improving ratings in terms of people’s choice? Will she agree to run for president under the LP banner?

Excellent job

Margareta Wahlström, assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, said the Philippine government did an excellent job in putting into action lessons learned from the Yolanda experience a year ago.

Mammoth Medical Missions, led by founder and CEO Dr. Michael Karch, who had helped in the response to victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda, lauded Philippine government, military and civilians for making great pre-emptive strides with regards to mass evacuations of the civilian population before the storm.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma thanked the Lord for seeing to it that our worst fear didn’t happen.

Archbishop Palma, together with Cardinal Tagle, led the nation in prayers for deliverance from Super Typhoon Ruby, which weakened after its landfall in Eastern Samar.

As of yesterday, the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) reported a low casualty rate of 22 dead residents in Eastern Samar.

National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) placed the death toll at 9. Roxas said 12 people had died in Eastern Samar,  480 people were reported injured in Central and Eastern Visayas.

The NDRRMC also said Ruby affected at least 532,887 families or 2,392,593 people. Meanwhile, 425 houses in Mimaropa, Bicol, Central Luzon and Caraga were destroyed, while 488 were damaged.

Damage was estimated at P1,955,123,994, including P682,583,250 in infrastructure and P1,272,540,744 in agriculture.

Another Mindanao explosion

Ten people, including 5 high school students, were killed in a bus explosion operated by Rural Transit Mindanao Inc. (RTMI) bus in Maramag, Bukidnon.

The explosion also injured 43 passengers, according to a report from the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Lieutenant Norman Tagros, spokesman for a local infantry brigade, said extortion was being eyed as the likely motive because the bus firm had been receiving extortion letters from lawless elements asking protection money.

More than a month ago a bomb exploded in another bus owned by the same company, leaving four people wounded.

In April, an improvise explosive device (IED) planted on a bus in Tacurong City was prevented when two passengers, who discovered the bomb, reported it immediately.

The explosions, ambushes, and mass kidnappings have escalated in Mindanao the last 30 days despite the signed peace agreement between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), main Islamic rebel group, and the government in March 2014.

Muslim guerillas from the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), who are both opposed to peace efforts, have been accused of carrying out bombings and mass kidnappings.

Massive infrastructure spending needed

Ayala Corporation chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel De Ayala, in a speech for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2015 Priorities at the APEC-Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (APEC-ISOM) in Manila, has suggested that the government and the private sector needs to undertake a massive infrastructure upgrades  that require continuous investing in necessary physical and human capital to sustain its growth momentum.  “Failure to do so will severely slow down growth,” Zobel De Ayala said.

Transport and networks in urban areas, information technology, and communications, trade, and energy are the infrastructure sub-sectors that are lacking investments, though they have the most potential to spur economic development, according to Zobel De Ayala.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson said he expects the infrastructure spending program to go up to P700 billion by 2016.

This has been recommended by economists for the last four years but the Aquino administration engaged in underspending instead of adopting a massive infrastructure budget.

Tidbits

Christmas greetings to Senators Manny Villar and Cynthia Villar. 

Also to Sister Evelyn Aguilar, mother general of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM).