Imminent Danger

There is an imminent danger. It is about to erupt in our faces but the national government is not lifting a finger to stop it even if it can. It was said that 190 members of the House of Representatives are now rushing to approve a $1 billion appropriation for the rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

The proposal to rehabilitate the nuclear plant was revived anew by Pangasinan Rep. Mike Cojuangco through House Bill No. 4631, which was filed in July 2008.

Today, the House is silently rushing to approve the bill. The national government can stop this if only to ensure the safety of our people and protect this country from making a definitely huge mistake.

The only way to stop the Congress from their unfounded move is to release the 28-volume report by the American National Union of Scientists Corp. (NUSC) that was used by the Aquino administration then to close the BNPP.

Dr. Nicolas Perlas, the only Filipino in the technical panel of that Corazon Aquino administration-commissioned NUSC study, said there were about 40,000 defects found on the BNPP.

Perlas said that “the moment that’s shown to the public then it’s very clear that we don’t need a nuclear plant because all the evidence is there.” Perlas added that there were serious errors like wrong electrical installations aside from the fact that the power plant could not withstand earthquakes.

Now, this leaves us pondering on the question why Malacanang and the Congress refuse to show the NUSC report.

There are only two possible answers I could come up to resolve this mystery. First, the Arroyo administration could be really hell-bent in rehabilitating the power plant and plans to seriously repair these defects.

In doing so, the Philippine government will have to spend $1.2 billion initial fund to rehabilitate the nuclear plant. This is not mentioning the additional funds that will be needed for its operations and maintenance.

It is possible that the administration strongly believes on the feasibility of the proposed rehabilitation that it could generate enough power to supply Metro Manila and other major cities In Central Luzon.

On a second thought though, another reason could be the 2010 elections. What? You might ask what could be the connection between the 2010 elections and the nuclear power plant.

The answer could be found in the $1.2 billion rehabilitation fund. Who knows? It could be the exact opposite of my first assumption. This time there is really no plan to rebuild the power plant. All the government need is the funding to be released and then, everything could be possible.

Optimism Could Work

(Photo from cnn)

It seems like US President Barack Obama never runs out of good thoughts and high spirits. While the whole world watches how the United States of America will survive the current recession, the US president is showing great composure under pressure.

During his fist speech before the United States joint Congress recently, Obama made a daring promise to cut down US deficit into half by end of his first term. He focused on the benefits of his $787 billion Stimulus Bill and thanked the Congress saying that this would be America’s economic recovery package. The President added that it will create some 3.5 million jobs.

“It's time to act boldly not just to revive the economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity…While the cost of action will be great, I can assure you that the cost of inaction will be far greater," he said.

Highly optimistic, the President insisted that America will “rebuild and recover” and will emerge “stronger than before.”

“The only way to fully restore America's economic strength is to make the long-term investments that will lead to new jobs, new industries, and a renewed ability to compete with the rest of the world…Slowly, but surely, confidence will return, and our economy will recover," he said.

He likewise said that his administration will focus on three priorities such as energy, education and health care. He plans to present this to the Congress soon. He also said US will invest $15 billion a year to develop green energy technology.

Aside from enumerating the things that he will see being done, Obama said the US is now carefully looking how to possibly win the war in Afghanistan and end the one in Iraq.

But just like in the Philippines, Obama is faced with the opposition bloc, the Republicans who said over national television that the Democrats’ stimulus plan is “loaded with wasteful spending.”

The group, represented by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, the first Indian-American elective governor in US, said that “in the end, it comes down to an honest and fundamental disagreement about the proper role of government."

Jindal said: "We oppose the national Democratic view that says the way to strengthen our country is to increase dependence on government. We believe the way to strengthen our country is to restrain spending in Washington, to empower individuals and small businesses to grow our economy and create jobs.” (30)

The Next Frontier

The Clark Freeport Zone stands strong against the current global crisis. In his recent media briefing, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Benny Ricafort said that instead of slowing down, they are now developing new attractions at the Next Frontier or the Sacobia Area.

The Next Frontier is about 10,600 hectares located northwest of Clark Freeport Zone. Ricafort said that they are now finalizing talks with an investor in Taipei, Taiwan for the development of a 300-hectare industrial park at the Next Frontier. The Taiwanese investor will allot 50 hectares as service center for the affected Aeta communities and it would build the roads and utility lines for its operations.

This idea is actually not bad at all. If all the new investors will construct the needed roads and infrastructure for their operations, CDC will have little problem resolving this at their end. Considering the slump on capital from the bureaucracy, off course the investors’ initiative to build their own infrastructure support is more than a welcome note.

Other investors now constructing facilities at the Next Frontier are the Philippine Tourist Authority (PTA), Philippine Science High School, Orchids World and Paradise Farm. Ricafort said the new investments would bring in new opportunities and more jobs for the locals.

The CDC President added that they are also strengthening their after sales support services to enhance locators’ competitiveness. He added that they are also working on programs for workers affected by economic crisis. CDC is now offering job matching, retooling, retraining and entrepreneurship programs for the affected workers.

And the most enlightening news from Ricafort is the harmonization of regulatory systems for Clark Freeport Zone and Subic Bay Freeport. This would help investors and locators transacting business in these economic zones as they will be given lesser headaches in dealing with too many people. The harmonization will likewise prevent red-tape and other bureaucratic corrupt practices. (30)

PANLILIO, NOW A CERTIFIED 'TRAPO'

(Photo from amonged.org)

There is no doubt about it. He is now the new image of the conventional politicians. He might not know it yet or he might still deny it, but his political tactics are stinking all over the papers.Recently, Governor Eddie Panlilio scored on Rep. Mikey Arroyo and the Malacanang in relation to the issue of jueteng. He claimed that “jueteng’s influence has already infiltrated politics, the church, and even the government.”

Few days after, Panlilio gave a daring interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) short-of-saying that Sen. Lito Lapid has no more business running for Pampanga governor. Panlilio said that should the senator vie for the governorship comes 2010, it would be “too much,” adding that it would be a test of the Kapampangan’s “political maturity.”

Bravo…bravo…The governor is learning the ropes of conventional politics. Pin down your possible opponents even before the actual fight is there. Use the media and recycle old issues. Recycle, recycle, recycle. I hope he would know how to recycle biodegradables too so as to resolve the province’s growing concern on solid waste management.

I received an e-mail from one of Panlilio’s former supporter who said that they are withdrawing support from Mar Roxas because Panlilio was accommodated under the Liberal Party wing. It was said that Panlilio is being groomed by the Kaya Natin Group and LP as a senatoriable. But the senatorial seat is still elusive for Panlilio. He has a lot of mess to straighten up in his own turf. By the way, joining political parties is one of the dictum of conventional politics.Panlilio’s statement against Lapid can be seen as nothing but a cheap ploy to cover up Panlilio’s own failures as governor.

After two years in office, all that Panlilio had done was to sow discord and disunity among Kapampangans, alienating even his closest allies and advisers.Panlilio is so isolated from his own constituents and all the local political leaders, that he has to seek audience for his holier-than-thou pontifications outside the province.

Panlilio seems to be acting like a traditional politician, as lately he’s been engaged in this shooting frenzy. Being a minority governor who garnered only one third of the votes cast by a questionable margin in the last elections, he should be really wary of Lapid, if and when the senator decides to vie for the gubernatorial seat. After all, Lapid garnered not lower than 90 percent of votes cast in all three of his gubernatorial races.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Panlilio is starting to see ghosts where there are none. Perhaps for want of issues against Lapid he cited old cases against Lapid, all of which have been dismissed.

Panlilio should work on his own problems at the Capitol first instead of focusing his time in the media discrediting local and national leaders so as to boost his chances for reelection. But I will give a big hand for him now that he is already a CERTIFIED TRAPO.

Everything is all about attitude

(Sec. Ed Pamintuan.Photo from freeport-online)

Long before newly-elected US President Barack Obama said “yes we can,” Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan, chairman of the Subic-Clark Alliance Development Council (SCADC), was already known for his battlecry “Agyu Tamu.”

When Pampanga and Angeles City were gravely hit by the Pinatubo eruption and lahar in the early ‘90s, Pamintuan led the Angelenos in a fierce crusade to save the City of Angeles from moral devastation. The former Angeles City mayor and his team accomplished the improbable by reviving the devastated business district, coming up with a genius event, the “Tigtigan Terakan King Dalan.” The TTKD became a phenomenon and attracted thousands of tourists annually in time with the Fiestang Apu. This event has signaled the message outside Pampanga that Angeles City was still alive during those gloomy years.

In his speech at the executive economic briefing at the Mimosa Hilltop last February 19, Pamintuan gave a spirited talk about the global crisis, US recession and how our country should react on this.

“The key to overcoming problems therefore is attitude. In business, as well as in life, it makes a difference on how we look at the world…The reality on the ongoing recession cannot be doubted or dismissed. Its impact on the Philippines has been quite tangible in the forms of lay-offs, downsizing, cancelled orders, lower consumer spending and return of investments…This does not mean that we should just sit back and relax. The global crisis is an opportunity for us to seize the day and turn lemons into lemonade,” Pamintuan said.

I laud the Secretary’s fighting spirit and it is indeed contagious. If we will consider the opinion of Dr. Emilio T. Antonio Jr., president of the Center for Research and Communication Foundation, Inc., who was one of the speakers during the briefing, our own perceptions and fears would most likely shape our reality.

According to Antonio, it is wiser to check the facts of our country’s financial status rather than just listen and watch news. He claimed that asset markets remain jumpy due to bad sentiments. So he cautioned everyone to avoid conventional wisdom that when United States catches flu, the Philippines would most likely get pneumonia.

Although Antonio did not dispute the fact that we may be affected by the crisis, he said that overall, we are in a better position to fight the crisis because we are financially healthier than before. If we will check our income vs. our spending, we will find out that we have enough reserves that will last for six months and surplus while our credit ratings are improving.

Antonio said the whole country is in surplus. The per capita income increased from $1000 to $2000. Meanwhile, the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) continuously pump our economy and their remittances steadily increase by $1.4 billion per year.

Also, he added that the US crisis will unlikely shake opportunities for Filipino workers abroad since many are teachers and nurses while the business processing outsourcing (BPO) industry is just starting to grow. “Only about four (4) percent of the potential market has been tapped,” Antonio said.

It is a relief to hear good news from the government and the economic consultants. It is likewise refreshing to hear Secretary Pamintuan speak of the possibility that we will rise from the challenges we are faced with.

The Chilling Truth

(Photo from a load of crap from an idle brain)

According to Dr. Emilio T. Antonio, Jr., president of the Center for Research and Communication Foundation, Inc. and former dean of the School of Economics University of Asia and the Pacific., our country (Philippines) has a better cash position today because of the increasing cash reserves built up from surplus of income vs. spending. This was evident on how the public sector and private sector performed in sharing to the country’s income. He said there is an increased share of income from the private sector, which is a good indicator, while the national government has improved its collections.

Also, the improved spending habits of the private sector have also resulted to increased supply of funds that triggered interest rates to move down. And the end result, we have an almost stable peso-dollar rate.

Antonio said that although our exports were down recently and our country experiences small packets of “direct” and “indirect” affliction from the US crisis, our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have consistently earned dollars to pump our income.

He said the OFW remittances are increasing at rate of $1.4 billion a year. In 2007, our OFWs has contributed $14.4 billion or P730 billion to our overall income, or about 10 percent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2008, our OFWs earned $16.4 billion for us and they are projecting the same for this year.

Antonio said that it is unlikely that our OFWs will be reduced because most of those working in US are teachers and nurses. They are in demand as compared to other workers. There are also millions of OFWs in other parts of the world.

So as it stands today, our country is earning more dollars than ever before because of our OFWs. Antonio said the export industry is losing money because “they are not competitive.” He even added that foreign investments dropped but “we have lived without it, so why bother?”

In short, he is saying that we have enough income and surplus to face the crisis but at the expense of our human resources.

The lecture was enlightening and informative. But I was alarmed to realize the chilling truth on the policies and direction of the Arroyo government. Antonio is obviously in support of the government, no doubt about it. I respect his intellect and expertise. I believe on his pronouncement. I know that he is credible.

But I am bothered because I saw it more clearly than ever! Thanks to Antonio. Our national government is too concerned on balancing our economy by increasing our dollar-income, but not from the export industry and SMEs, but from the sweat of our OFWs.

There is no wonder that this government is constantly looking for opportunities abroad for our human resources. TESDA, DOLE and POEA are also training and packaging people to send them abroad.

This is the chilling truth. In this administration, it is the people for the economy and not economy for the people. It is as crystal clear that the Arroyo administration is focusing its resources and efforts in EXPORTING Filipino workers so they could pump our economy. Yes, it is good report for an economist like PGMA. But no, it is not humanitarian and not healthy for our culture and for our development as a nation.

We are literally pushing our people abroad. We are encouraging them to leave their families and start rebuilding their lives in foreign lands. We are advocating brain-drain. We are sending our professionals, intellectuals and skilled workers in foreign lands.

Instead of strengthening and supporting our export industry and agricultural industry or increasing foreign investments to employ our people here in our country, as Antonio said, “why bother getting foreign investments?” Of course, the government doesn’t care.

This government is better off waiting for OFW remittances. It doesn’t care whether families are disintegrated. It is okay that almost everyone wants to migrate to other countries. It doesn’t care that the margin between the wealthy and those living below poverty line is growing. No, everything is immaterial.

What is important is to earn more OFW dollars to pump this country’s economy. READ: LET US EXPORT MORE PEOPLE. LET US EARN MORE DOLLARS.

This is the direction of the Arroyo administration. Now I will no longer raise an eyebrow when VP Noli de Castro seeks for the lifting of the Iraq ban on OFWs. Chilling. Alarming. But true.

No to nuclear energy

Secretary Angelo Reyes and the House of Representatives earlier mulled on reopening the BNPP after a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency inspected the power plant and reported its possible rehabilitation.

Reyes was quoted as saying that the BNPP could be restored in at least five years for a cost of $800 million. Take note, US$800 million just to rehabilitate it. The national government says that the US2.3 billion used to build the power plant went down the drain because it never generated a single watt of electricity.

In fact, we are still paying 155,000 dollars a day in interest on the BNPP. For about 30 years, the national government is still wasting taxpayers’ money for this white elephant structure.

The energy secretary said that it is wise to revisit the option of restoring it so we could at least generate power before we experience shortage. And when it starts operating, it could possible generate income to pay the government’s standing debts incurred from its construction.

But while the national government is counting on still unhatched eggs, the issue of safety, capability and expertise is now being raised by the anti-nuclear advocates.

First point, as Reyes said, we need US$800 million fresh capital to rebuild it. Of course, we will loan it and then start paying new interest until may be forever. Second, we do not even have a research facility or a well-organized and well-trained physicists or scientists to man the BNPP. Our government is experiencing a condition called amnesia. They forgot that before they woke up and suddenly decided to reopen the BNPP issue, the national government did not prepare for this.

I would appreciate the wisdom of their proposal should a comprehensive and capability-building plan was laid down, let’s say, at least five years before today. This would signal the government’s seriousness and sincerity to operate the BNPP with the utmost safety and efficiency.

Another issue is the operational expenses of the power plant needed should it become operational. Where will the government get huge amount of money to run it in a day-to-day basis? Rebuilding it will require us US$800 million but to operate it would mean additional expense.

Also, whether we admit it or not, we have yet to train our physicists to oversee BNPP’s operations. In the meantime, we will have no choice but to hire imports from Russia or United States. And how much would these physicists’ salaries cost?

The Philippines is not yet ready to operate a nuclear power plant. It doesn;t have the money, the expertise and the capability so it is foolish to expose our people to danger.

Sweet victory

(Photo from racewire)

The country has never been so vibrant since Manny Pacquiao’s last victory in Vegas. Today, we are celebrating a huge victory for our war veterans, most of them tired and aged. The United States Congress recently passed its financial stimulus package that would benefit around 18,000 surviving Filipino war veterans.

Deprived in their own country of the necessary health and financial care, the veterans left in the Philippines are more than grateful to the US Congress for finally recognizing their service and commitment to the US government during the World War II.

It was reported that the US finance package will provide a lump sum payment of US$15,000 to Filipino veterans living in the United States and US$9,000 dollars to those still in the Philippines.

There were about 250,000 Filipino soldiers who fought alongside US forces against the Japanese during the last world war. The Philippines then was under the stewardship of the US government.

The new bill has given hope to the war veterans who have been waiting for recognition and incentive for more than 60 years.

Reduce the Prices of Commodities

Workers all over the country keep an uproar on the unabated increase in prices of food and basic commodities. Leaders of various labor groups including the Workers Alliance in Region III (WAR 3) have been clamoring for wage increase to “temporarily” lessen the impact of the current crisis.

Based on the latest survey of the NSCB, a family of six needs at least P749 per day to sustain its basic necessities for food, utilities and other commodities. At present, laborers in Central Luzon receive an average of P158 to P287 per day while WAR 3 claims that almost half of the 3.4 million workers are underpaid.

Following the NSCB survey, a family earner who brings home P287 per day falls short of P462 to provide the needs of his wife and children. This is why the workers are in outrage. It seems like the government fails to see the huge problem. Workers are earning less but the prices of basic needs rise up thrice as high in just few months. No matter how bad you may be in Mathematics, it doesn’t need a genius to figure out the discrepancy.

Surprisingly, this is happening despite the fact that the price of oil in the world market has already reached its lowest at $43 per barrel. It is very dubious why the prices of basic commodities continue to increase even if the price of oil steadily drops.

In relation to this, private sector leaders in Region 3 are now saying that increasing the wages of laborers will not solve the current problem. They say that if business owners will be prompted to increase wages, they would either add up their losses to their products resulting to more increase in prices of basic commodities. Or they would be forced to lay-off workers to accommodate the salary adjustment.

But some sectors say that the increase in wages is not actually the long-term solution to this vicious cycle of labor and price increase. Some traders are looking into a better solution by asking the government to focus on reducing the production cost and prices of raw materials for producers and manufacturers that would result to cheaper or affordable products and commodities.

A regular earner will have more economic power despite his P287 daily income due to the eventual cut on prices of food and basic commodities.

I believe this would eventually solve the problem although it is indeed a long-term process and we need our political leaders’ sincerity and will to truly bring down prices of basic commodities. (30)

'Easy Way of Life'

(Photo from www.gwll.org.uk/upload/images/image120.jpg)

The Department of Energy’s campaign for energy conservation is too concentrated in monitoring electronic appliances inside every Filipinos’ home. Taken from the slogan or campaign ad being used by DOE, “E(nergy) C(onservation) Way of Life,” it follows that it might be more effective if it will focus on the Filipino traditional way of life.

The family or the concept of it is the most valued idea in our society. As Filipinos, we are protective of our family, we grow with our family and we brace life with our family. It doesn’t matter if the journey is treacherous or not, what is important is that we are with our loved ones in every step of the way.

And to look at the government’s campaign on conserving energy as part of our way of life is to focus on our family values. How could it be done? How can the concept of family values help save or conserve energy? The answer is simple and practical.

Most children today spend more time inside their houses playing games online and surfing the net (using computers) or watching television. Unlike in the old days, children play outside with “real people and real games.” We used to play patintero, tumbang preso, luksong tinik or babi, bending, Chinese garter, shotu, tambubong, salikutan, piko, sipa, sintak, etc. with our neighbors and other children in the vicinity. And instead of talking to our family or friends through the internet or telephone lines, we go to their houses or place of work and talk.

If we could revive our traditional way of life, we will save more energy by not using it. It is about time to put off the computers, televisions, electric fans, aircons, lights and other electronic gadgets we use while surfing the net or talking over the phone. By encouraging our children to play outside and enjoy the sun at least twice a day, we will save energy since they will not be using any electronic gadget or light inside our houses. Or instead of sharing photos and stories on line, families can get together once a week to spend time in their ancestral homes or at the house of their parents or grandparents. This way, everybody leaves their house and save energy.

This is just simple and practical. And at the same time, it is partly an advocacy in reviving our traditions as Filipinos. We are not necessarily defying technology but it is refreshing to trace back our old values and have real friends, real playmates and real persons to share our stories with. (30)

A State of Many Nations

(This is an original writing of Minerva Arceo that was also posted on some yahoogroups.)

One of our national artists Virgilio Almario, now the chairman of the Baraosoin Kalinangan Foundation Inc. , gave an interesting lecture on “nationalism” last year at the 1st Central Luzon Culture and Arts Summit in Malolos, Bulacan. I said interesting (but not necessarily convincing) because it generated important questions from Kapampangans present during the conference.

His main premise is that colonialism and imperialism has disintegrated our country into pieces creating divides amongst our people and our regions. Almario said that like the broken ancient Manunggul jar found in Palawan, our national culture must be rebuilt and its pieces be put together. And lo and behold, his idea of putting the pieces together is to propagate the national language, Wikang Filipino with an annotation that native names of products or icons distinct to one province or ethnic community be adopted to enrich the Filipino language. For example, an adoption of parul and sisig of Pampanga in the Wikang Filipino vocabulary.

But the mere adoption of ethnic words in the Wikang Filipino will not do the trick for Almario. He may be a national artist. He may be somebody recognized in the culture and arts circle, both national and international. He may be respected by major academic institutions in the country.

But the mere idea of imposing the use of the allegedly “enriched” Wikang Filipino language by other ethnic groups that have their own language and culture would be a disaster worst than Spanish or American imperialism.

And with a slight slant against Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Cebuanos, I am too sorry to say that even a national artist like Almario could not pull off such grand idea of “unifying” the nation.

This is simply because he and other “nationalists” are missing the whole point of self-determination among the various nations in the Philippines. I say nations because like the Kapampangans, the Cebuanos, Bicolanos, Ilocanos, Moros and other ethnic communities in the archipelago have their own language and culture that go beyond geographical boundaries. A nation is a group of people who share the same language, culture, heritage and aspiration. As compared to a state like the Philippines, a nation is not limited by political and physical boundaries and not ruled by only one government. That is why we have a Kapampangan nation with our people spread over the Philippines, United States, Middle East and in all other countries around the globe.

The renowned Kapampangan writer and lawyer, the late Katoks Tayag once addressed our people properly in one of his writings, The Vanishing Kapampangan Nation.

And as a nation, we think, we speak, we work in same direction with one goal and purpose – that is to enrich our culture and our language, to become competitive and to become world-class citizens. Why the Cebuanos were successful in developing their area as an economic center in the Visayas? It is because they have found their roots that gave them strength and direction.

Should this scenario be duplicated by other nations in the archipelago, then it is not too difficult to envision a state like ours to have strong and skilled people with strong conviction and aspirations.

I say in diversity there should be unity. If we would respect each others’ culture and learn each others language next to ours, then I believe it is not impossible to unite the leaders of these nations and speak for the general welfare of our state.

Almario and his fellow “nationalists,” I put quotation marks on the word because to begin with, the concept of “national culture” among Filipinos is still very problematic. Almario and others believe that this has already been resolved. If that I so, why do we still look for our identity as “Filipinos”? How can there be one “Filipino nation” when what we really have is a country and a state with numerous nations?

Unless Almario and his fellow “nationalists” look at it this way, they will never find the answer why many of us still assert our position against the propagation of only one language, the Wikang Filipino. To start with, Almario is contradicting himself. He is using colonialism and imperialism as the reason behind the opposition against the so-called “nationalism” but he fails to see that the idea of a “one language, one nation” for Filipinos is something colonial. It is how the Americans think. To use one language to unify one country is a colonial concept. The Spanish colonized so many nations and erased their identities replacing them with their own to unify their colonies under one ruler. The Americans have dominated the world and was made a super power because of the use of their language.

The only solution for us is to forget that we are slaves of King Philip and be called Filipinos. Because there is really no Filipino identity to start with. Yes, I say to Almario. If we have to unlearn a thousand years of mental slavery and the theoretical identity as Filipinos, then so be it.

We were raised and nurtured based on our ethnic cultures. I for one studied at the University of the Philippines, one of the academic institutions raising the consciousness for Filipinism but I can say that in heart and in mind, I am a fully blooded Kapampangan. I was raised as one and die as one. And not as a Filipino because that “political” identity is too alien for me to embrace. (30)

Housing and Polls Mix

(VP Noli de Castro with boxing champ Manny Pacquiao.Photo from daylife.com)

I just wish Vice President Noli de Castro would stop putting his picture in almost all housing development projects in the province. The PAG-IBIG program for members who want to avail of housing loans is a service that the people deserve. It is not Kabayan’s accomplishment. Take note – the housing loan program is not his accomplishment, more it is the obligation of the national government in accordance with our Constitution.

Whether or not the Vice President is there, PAG-IBIG will still work with real estate developers for the low-cost schemes and amortization programs for the Filipinos.

But of course the housing promos are free rides for the Vice President. Should he run for President in 2010, he would definitely use the government’s housing loan program in his candidacy. The billboards are actually more of a part of his advance campaign.

It is just very sad to note that De Castro’s popularity as a celebrity was his only ticket to politics. So I am not really surprised that he is extremely and exaggeratedly capitalizing on the housing loan program.

I recently heard him over DZMM in his regular Saturday show saying that the DFA and DOLE should look into the national government’s ban on employment in Iraq. He said the Iraq government made calls on their country’s ongoing demand for construction workers, engineers and other laborers for their infrastructure rehabilitation programs.

The Vice President is literally asking our government to lift the ban. And he is encouraging Filipinos to work there despite the continuing war in the said country. He said those who cannot find jobs here could at least earn there. Read: It is okay for the Vice President to send our people in Iraq and put their lives at risk because this government cannot provide enough employment and livelihood for them.

On the other hand, President Arroyo continues to visit other countries in the hope to export more Pinoys who would end up pumping our economy with their remittances.

I don’t want to think that this government is bankrupt of ideas how to generate livelihood for the people. Why do we have to encourage our skilled workers, our experts, our scientists and our professionals to work abroad and help develop other countries? It is as if we are really hopeless and our country’s only salvation is to export our human resources.

With all the research and development being done by the DOST and DA, I believe that agriculture alone can provide enough employment for Filipinos. This is not mentioning Tourism. If only the national government and LGUs would focus on real programs for the agricultural sector, then this country can improve its performance in agri-business like Thailand, Vietnam and China. Yes, we have enough funds. Yes, we have the technology. Yes, we have the programs. But genuine and uncorrupted implementation down to the barangay level? Doubtful.

Finding the Niche

So it is SME tourism now. Take it from former Tourism Sec. Mina Gabor who said that micro, small and medium enterprises could thrive amid the global economic crisis with the improvement of the tourism industry. I agree and it is vise versa. With the strengthening and enhancement of small scale enterprises, more tourism opportunities and attractions will be opened to the market. I have said it before, tourism is the key.

In the last general membership meeting of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Pamcham) headed by Rene Romero, the talk of the day was focused on SMEs and their role in the over-all growth of the country. According to Romero, SMEs are the backbone of our economy. Gabor, for her part, said she is an advocate of SMEs. Being the president of Philippine Small and Medium Development Foundation Inc. (Philsmed), their vision is to elevate the role of SMEs in national development by increasing its contribution to the country’s gross domestic product.

Small and medium enterprises comprise of at least 99 percent of the total business in the country. These small players are key drivers to economic development in the countryside including here in Central Luzon. The small and medium businesses also employ the largest number of workers in the region. So it is only fair, prompt and timely that all sectors should focus on supporting and strengthening the small and medium entrepreneurs.

When Everything Is Down

Just when everything in the Philippines seems to be slowing down, the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC), now under the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., is working on several expansion projects north of Manila.

After completing the rehabilitation and expansion of the 84-kilometer North Luzon Expressway in 2005, MNTC is now ready to start Phase 2 of the Manila North Expressway (“MNE”) Project.

This project complements and advances the crucial role of the existing NLEX as the infrastructure backbone to the Central and Northern Luzon regions which are expected to be the key beneficiaries of economic and development growth potentials in the coming years.

According to MNTC President and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco, the MNE Phase 2 Project, of which Segment 8.1 is an integral part, is considered as one of the flagship projects of the Philippine Government. It is also a vital road infrastructure that will help decongest Metro Manila as it provides alternative east and west access to mainline NLEX, bypassing EDSA and Balintawak Toll Plaza.

Phase 2 comprises the construction of the 16-km Circumferential Road (“C-5”) which will connect the existing C-5 expressway with the NLEX and onward with the MacArthur Highway to the west of NLEX. Segment 8.1 that is part of MNE Phase 2 Project is a 2.7 kilometer road linking Mindanao Avenue to NLEX in Valenzuela City, Manila.

In a recent briefing with the Pampanga press, Franco said they will start construction on Segment 8.1 on March 2009 as soon as the national government completes the settlement of right-of-way claims. MNTC will infuse some P2 billion for Segment 8.1 and would directly employ 600 workers for the project.

Global Pinoy

Photo from online pinoy

Read: There are some one million Filipinos working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia alone. This is according to a local Saudi writer named Abdullah Al-Maghlooth. I received an e-mail of an article he wrote titled, “Imagine a World Without Filipinos” and I was very enlightened. According to him, in 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited some 223,000 workers from the Philippines while we comprise about 20 percent of the total sailors around the world. He said there are about 1.2 million sailors working in various places.

Al-Maghlooth said that it is hard to imagine a world without the efficient, reliable and hardworking Filipino workers. He attributed the Filipinos’ “uniqueness” as global workers to our ability to speak the English language fluently and the technical trainings incorporated in our education system. Honestly, this is the first time I read praises for our educational system, much more coming from a foreigner.

The writer’s article is focused on the role of Filipinos as workers enabling the success of the day-to-day business of other nations. So he is putting much weight on the thought that if Filipinos suddenly and simultaneously stopped working around the world, there will be great disaster.

And I was really touched to read the lines of the writer encouraging all people around the globe to thank the Filipinos because they take part in building and influencing the world economy. And saying that “they” are dependent on us, he asked his readers to “pay respect” to Filipinos and “learn” from our experiences.

I want to believe that the article supposedly published in Saudi Arabia is real. It makes me proud of what we contribute to the world. Seeing our nation’s strength and meaning in the eyes of a foreigner is a consolation to our misery as a democratic state.

But taking the writer’s point of view, it is indeed liberating to think that all over the world, industries, schools, hospitals, clinics, studios, entertainment and amusement parks, casinos, hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, and even in government offices like The White House, there are Filipino workers.

The global Pinoy virtually controlling the world economy. He may not be the powerful voice that dictates the rules, but the global Pinoy is the muscle that moves the world economy. He is part of the means of production. He has the power to create a paradigm that would eventually change global economy.

Even the Giants Cry

The current situation in the Philippines is not an isolated case. As we continually call on President Arroyo and her administration to do something about the massive lay-offs in major industrial areas and economic zones in the country, constituents of the biggest superpowers in the world are doing the same thing.

No less than the most powerful man in the world, US President Barack Obama has been appealing to his fellow leaders at the US Senate to act now and fast if only to save their country from further devastation.

In the recent news, he announced that unemployment for the last week was already recorded at 626,000. “Tomorrow, we're expecting another dismal jobs report on top of the 2.6 million jobs that we lost last year. We've lost 500,000 jobs each month for the last two months," he was quoted by the international press as saying. The new report of US Labor Department is believed to be the highest since October 1982, when their economy was in a steep recession.

Even Obama and his people cry. Even the mightiest of the highly industrialized world are looking into drastic measures to save their economy. The ongoing talk between the White House and the Republican Senates seems to be taking longer than it should be. Obama’s stimulus bill that is focused on higher tax cuts, lower expenditures for the government and relief measures for homeowners is seen to be slashed from $987 billion to $800 billion.

This is fair enough for Obama while other Republican senators are still giving a fight on other cuts on the bill.

Whatever happens to Obama’s stimulus bill will be an indicator of how his administration will fair in negotiating with the US Congress. This will be a reference of the political trends that would eventually dictate the future of US’s economy. Whether US could recover or not will depend on how good Obama could persuade everyone in the US Congress that indeed the time of politicking is over and the Republicans must help him revive their economy fast.

6,247 Workers Hit by Crisis

It is very sad to learn that some 6,247 workers in Central Luzon, Philippines already lost their jobs because of the growing economic crisis. In a recent briefing among the locators inside Clark Freeport Zone, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) CL Dir.
Nathaniel Lacambra urged investors “to face the realities of our times.”

The challenge came in the face of the same growing concern inside Clark which had so far retrenched 2,075 workers since November.

When everyone thought that Philippines would be spared from the global crisis, we are experiencing the most depressing period of the country in the 21st century. To hear about people losing their jobs despite the unabated increase in prices of basic commodities is truly depressing.

And while others are losing jobs, several workers experience rotations with lesser working days and lesser take home pay due to their companies’ cost-cutting measures.

These scenarios are precisely the reason why more and more Filipinos choose to work abroad rather than stay here in the country. I just hope that the Philippine government will exert more effort in curbing corruption and instead pouring its resources to generate jobs for the people.

Bamboo Fever

Bamboo talk is all over Pampanga. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 3 through the leadership of Director Blesila Lantayona recently called on all stakeholders, including those from other provinces, to come up with a road map for bamboo development. With a directive from the national government, DTI took the initiative among national government agencies to push for the development of engineered bamboo products to become mainstream industry in the region.

The Pampanga Bamboo Development Council (PBDC) and the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL), on the other hand, continue to work on the propagation of bamboo in the province.

Aside from the P5 million allotted by the provincial government through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for the bamboo program that was presented by the bamboo council last year, the PBDC is now working on a proposal for the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) for the establishment of a bamboo plantation at the Clark sub-zone area.

During a recent meeting with CDC President Benny Ricafort, ADCL proposed that the
1,240 hectares reforestation land at the sub-zone could be considered for bamboo plantation. Ricafort has requested ADCL to submit the proposal as soon as possible for their review and possible approval.

ADCL, being the main player behind the PBDC, finds it appropriate to take advantage of the Clark sub-zone’s available area for reforestation. In order for the bamboo industry to truly materialize, CITC Director Frank Bonuan said at least 50 hectares of plantation is needed to sustain the supply needed by small scale manufacturers of bamboo engineered products.

Although Pampanga has the capability to manufacture bamboo engineered products at this point in time, the supply is too unpredictable, making it quite risky to enter into such investment. But with the PBDC and ADCL’s proposal to use the 1,240 hectare reforestation are of sub-zone, the concern on supply will be answered within a period of five years.

Fight Crisis, Save More

The global economic crisis is hitting us fast and loud. Retrenchment is all over the country, particularly among locators inside the special economic zones. Contrary to the recent claim of President Arroyo that we are outside the sphere of the global economic recession, more and more foreign-operated firms in the country are either laying-off people or cutting operational expenses. Our only advantage against US and other countries is the fact that Filipinos have long been adapted to poverty, unemployment, corruption and scams.

But still the economic crisis is a difficult challenge to all of us. Common laborers used to get by from earning P200 a day. But with the unabated increase of prices of basic commodities, services and education, they are facing a bleaker future amid the growing economic slump. This is apart from the new cost-cutting trends adopted by many labor-intensive businesses in the country.

So to help ourselves and our families, we must do something even in our own levels. Let the government do its duties to the public, we have to take responsibility of the consumption and expenses inside our own homes.

In the event of continuing economic crisis, saving energy, food and other consumables will help ease the family budget. Take for example water and power utilization.

GMA's pronouncement doubtful

By Minerva Zamora-Arceo
February 2, 2009

US car manufacturer Ford was reported to have lost $5.9 billion recently. It would also lay-off 1,400 employees this year, according to international news. Kodak, also based in US, is reportedly losing billions in sales and would possible cut-down human resource by 4,000 around the globe. Based on CNN and BBC reports, US had already lost 588,000 jobs since the economic recession hit them late last year.

In the country, economists are projecting almost the same figure of 500,000 to be laid-off this year as an effect of the global economic crisis. Recently, no less than Labor Secretary Mariano Roque admitted that there were some 15,000 job losses reported this year while more and more companies mostly run by foreigners are either cutting operational expenses or stop operations.

If you are regularly reading Punto Gitnang Luzon, you probably noticed the successive reports on lay-offs all over the region. The Bataan-based Japanese firm Mitsumi Philippines recently announced that it dismissed 134 contractual workers and compressed work days from six to five a week to 3,314 employees. The company said this is due to downtrend in product orders as a result of global crisis. Meanwhile, International Wiring System (IWS) likewise compressed workdays to 10 days a month to cut expenses.

Noble Metals, another Bataan-based firm, has served notice of two-month temporary shutdown effective February 20, 2009. At least 32 workers will be affected. Mitsumi and Noble are two of the 42 multi-national firms operating at the Bataan Economic Zone in Mariveles. In Bulacan, DOLE reported that 400 employees were laid-off in several firms in the province including Republic Cement, Four Seasons Apparel, Indo-Phil Textile. Job rotations have also become a trend as part of cost-cutting. Firms now doing rotations are Huey Commercial Inc. Sun King Electronics and Manila Luggage.

In Clark, some 1,000 workers at the Fontana Leisure Estate are still waiting to be paid for their services for the month of December 2008 and January this year.

But despite these reported lay-offs and trends in labor, President Arroyo bravely pronounced that the country is “out of sphere of the two-thirds of the world now into recession.” She added that we should be proud even because our country recorded a six percent growth in GNP (gross national product) and 4.6 percent growth in GDP (gross domestic product) in 2008. During the Lakas-CMD party executive committee caucus in Mabalacat, Pampanga last January 29, the President added that merging Lakas-CMD and Kampi “will keep us on road to First World in 20 years.”

The President is either fooled by paper reports and statistics on GNP and GDP. But such growth is not visible to the common people. Everyday, hundreds of Filipinos lose their jobs and this means more Filipinos losing adequate meals, shelter and education.

To hear the President say that we are not affected by the global economic recession is too good to be true. Foreign-funded firms in the country are already starting to cut production costs. Texas Instrument (TI) in Baguio City has reportedly laid-off workers and likewise decreased operations. We just hope that this would not affect the ongoing construction of TI inside Clark Freeport Zone.

What the people need to hear from President Arroyo are the contingency plans being prepared by the national government in the face of the growing unemployment in the country. It is very dangerous to make people believe that we are “out of the recession sphere,” making others more complacent amid the current crisis.

Instead of announcing plans for the Lakas and Kampi merger, the national leadership should instead announce what specific steps are being done to lessen the impact of these massive lay-offs. The local government units, being the front-liners, will definitely need all the support when their constituents start demanding for livelihood and jobs.

It is not yet time to flaunt political realignments in preparation for the 2010 elections. Too bad that we had enough people power, we are at a lost on what kind of leader we really want. When GMA won the last presidential elections, the Makati Business Club thought an economist like President Arroyo would help propel the country’s economy. But what we got was a leadership full of scams, corruption charges, high rate of unemployment, an OFW-driven economy and dirty political tactics.

Come to think of it, the country could have been better off with ousted President Estrada who waged an all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf rebels, started massive housing project for the poor and launched the dairy program in Central Luzon. (30)