Just to show to you that the Regional Development Council (RDC-7) is not sleeping, the RDC Full Council yesterday, in a unanimous vote, approved the return as priority of the so-called parallel road to Escario St. This road starts from V. Rama Ave. beside the Guadalupe Barangay Hall which follows the road that crosses Andres Abellana St. all the way to the Guadalupe River. This is where the big problem for the DPWH lies as the Villalon Road right across the Guadalupe River is up on a hill.
So either they dig a tunnel to make the road go straight or cut a valley along this road and putting a bridge along Villalon Road. Then from there, it goes all the way to the Lahug Creek to cross to the University of the Philippines ((UP) Lahug campus. I envision that another road can connect this new road to the Ecotech Center which is just a few meters away, so traffic can ease along the Dona Modesta Gaisano St. leading to the Beverly Hills.
Did you notice that I used the word “return” to priority? Frankly speaking, it is due to the fact that 10 years ago, the opening of this road were approved in the RDC in the Year 2001. But somehow… this priority project was stricken off the priority list. When we envisioned this road, the traffic along Escario St. wasn’t as bad as it is today. So now, all the more that we needed this road link… yesterday!
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After a decade-long lobby by foreign pharmaceutical suppliers, plus a huge push by the United Nations Development Programme UNDP), finally the highly controversial, albeit divisive Reproductive Health (RH) Bill was approved in the House of Representatives by a very slim margin of 9 votes. 113 voted for, while 104 voted against the RH bill. At this point, what can we say? Did the Lord not listen to our humble prayers? Remember, God always listens and responds to our needs… but not in our time, but in God’s time.
Meanwhile, this very slim vote margin is nothing for the Aquino Regime to crow about. Lest you already forgot, the RH bill is one of the most hotly contested bills ever brought before the House of the Representatives. We were pitted by huge amounts of money given by the hidden sponsors of this bill and you could see where that money was spent, in violet uniforms and of course tons and tons of money. This is not to mention the numerous lunches hosted no less than by Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, III. Yet when the votes were counted, the RH won by a mere 9 votes.
If all that money, plus the weight of more pork barrel funds given by the President to vote yes to the RH did not result in a landslide win, it means that this issue is far from over. Already pro-life congressmen are saying that it ain’t over until Congress gets to vote on this bill on 3rd reading and final reading… although the victors led by its principal sponsor Edcel Lagman is confident that the vote won’t change in the 3rd reading.
To be totally honest with you, I have no respect for the 113 congressmen and women who voted for the RH Bill, the majority of whom succumbed to political pressure or the love of money that were freely given to those members of Congress who would vote for the RH bill. On the other side of the equation, I salute the 104 men and women of the House of Representatives who voted against the RH bill because of their faith and belief that this bill would end up killing innocent children with the use of abortifacient drugs. These members of Congress are the smart ones, who know that our national treasure that has kept our economy afloat is our people.
I’m comforted by the fact that despite the great temptation placed before them, these members of Congress had the guts and the political will to vote against the RH Bill. For sure, God will look at them with love and mercy. Meanwhile, allow me to reprint a text message sent by Fr. Carmelo Diola after the RH Bill was approved.
“Alas a little more than half of our congressmen have sold our country for 30 pieces of silver and they masquerade as patriots. It took our country 14 years to awaken to people’s power (1972-1986). The RH bill lobby is 14-years old. With its approval by the lower house, another awakening has occurred in face of a worse reality; the tyranny of relativism. God save us. Blessed Mother and San Pedro Calungsod pray for us.”
At this point, I was asked by GMA-7 about my thoughts on the approval of the RH Bill… and all I could say is, “God forgive them for they know not what they do.” But like what I said, there is still the final reading, then the Senate vote, which would also be just as crucial. If all else fails, then there is still the Supreme Court, which a judge friend of mine told me, that the RH bill signed into law is going to run afoul of the Constitution which protects the rights of the unborn. So the RH issue will continue in 2013.
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Email: vsbobita@gmail.com