Is GMA lucky or what?

GMA must be extremely lucky, assuming this natural gas find in Victoria, Tarlac contains as much hydrocarbon as government scientists say it might. Credit should be given to the guys at PNOC-EC who decided to dust off old exploration data just in case there was something they missed in the past. In a column I wrote about a month ago, I reported that the well in Victoria, Tarlac is one of those wells they decided to revisit.

If there was one well that former Energy Secretary Ronnie Velasco wanted so much to have positive results, it is this Victoria well. Ronnie's father comes from Victoria and a discovery well there would have been a great way to cap his tenure at the energy department. But it was not to be. It had to be another leader from Central Luzon, President GMA who was to have the privilege of getting that good news.

Frankly, I was surprised when Energy Secretary Vince Perez told me that they decided to go back to Victoria at all. I was all the more incredulous when Secretary Perez sounded convinced that Victoria was substantially larger than the San Antonio natural gas find in Isabela. I remember that we plugged and abandoned that well in the 80s. No wonder the secretary was singing with all gusto that night at the home of Presidential Adviser Cito Lorenzo. That was something to sing about.

The beauty of this Victoria find, if it pans out, is it's on-shore, so close to the industrial parks of Central Luzon. Vince is particularly upbeat about the potential of this natural gas find to contribute to a planned shift of buses from diesel to natural gas. This, he was happy to point out, will help us improve air quality. We definitely share his enthusiasm.

From a macroeconomic perspective, there is also the foregone forex expense for petroleum we would have otherwise imported. And government will earn from the royalties as well as from the proceeds that PNOC-EDC and PNOC-EC will earn.

I guess it was Divine Providence that the Victoria discovery happened now instead of in the early 80s, the waning years of the Marcos regime. The economy will certainly get a boost from this. Is GMA lucky or what?

One last thought: Government should not sell out PNOC-EC's share of Malampaya. It is the only real means by which they can monitor developments there from the perspective of an investor. Not that Shell Exploration will keep things from us, but PNOC-EC's presence will make them think twice.

E-mail from Kosovo

One of the great things about writing for PhilSTAR is its wide reach, way beyond our shores. Last week, I was privileged to receive an e-mail from a Filipino police officer now working with the UN peacekeeping force in Kosovo. Here are portions of that rather long e-mail from Bednar Daniel.

I am a police officer deployed here with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo.The only way for me to get news from my one and only, my beloved country is through this newspaper. My lonely days here away from home and my family never passes without reading this paper.

I just would like to say that I like your article entitled "A President of Our Times" and I would like to contribute a small piece about some points that you raised in your article. First, I share your opinion about her leadership, the president with balls… I also share your ideas about our desperate need for a leader who takes charge. The problem in the Philippines is not with the common people. The problem is with the leaders.

I am tired of listening to lectures about the negative traits of the Filipinos such as colonial mentality, crab mentality, etc. These things are not true. The Filipino is good as a person both from within and from outside. I can prove that with the honor that the PNP contingent here is reaping for the country. All our superiors as well as the local people are all praises for the PNP contingent. But what do we get back home? All those criticisms from practically all sectors.

The problem is not with the individual policemen. It is with the leaders. During the time of General Lacson, everybody in the PNP followed the rules except the PAOCTF of General Lacson. I think bringing former Mayor Rudy Guiliani to the Philippines is a perfect idea. One good thing that he was able to do which could be done in the Philippines is to make an honest to goodness reform of the PNP. He did exactly that to the New York Police when he organized the New York City Commission Against Corruption.

The commission came out with a comprehensive report on the state of discipline of the police department in 1992. Based on that finding, he implemented a reform program that eliminated corruption in the police force and street crimes.

I could just relate what former Mayor Rudy Guiliani did with New York Police with the attempt to reform the PNP in 1998 with the enactment of RA 8551 otherwise known as the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act which is a blatant failure. That law, although it has some good points and good intentions, lacks substance and teeth.

May I just cite the provision on the Internal Affairs Service (IAS). Indeed, an Internal Affairs Service has been created. But it has not attained anything… Before I left for Kosovo, I was the Acting Chief of the Planning and Research Office of IAS. I drafted the PNP Anti-Corruption Strategy based on the findings and strategy adopted by the New York City Commission Against Corruption. We submitted it to the Office of the Chief PNP and the DILG Secretary… until now nothing has been heard about it.

If the PNP can replicate what the New York City police did, we can expect to eliminate 90 percent of all the crimes in Metro Manila. Most of the programs against crime in the Philippines are nothing more than cosmetics. They do not really go down to the roots and the symptoms of the problem as former Mayor Guiliani did.

Anyway, I am just a small voice from an unheard corner of the universe. I do not expect ears to listen to this voice. But if they do, I’m sure, it will not be in vain. Thanks a lot for taking the time.

Post Valentine's blues

Aren't you folks glad yesterday's over? Here's something from Dr. Ernie E.

It was the day after Valentine's and Eric was sitting at the bar staring morosely into his beer. Tom walks in and sits down. After trying to start a conversation several times and getting only distracted grunts he asks Eric what the problem is.

"Well," said Eric, "the wife and I had this Valentine's dinner last night and I ran afoul of one of those woman questions women ask. Now I'm in deep shit at home."

"What kind of question?, asked Tom.

"My wife asked me if I would still love her if and when she was old, fat and ugly."

"That's easy," said Tom. "You just say ‘Of course I will’."

"Yeah," said Eric, "That's what I did, except I said ‘Of course I DO....’"

(Boo Chanco's e-mail address is [email protected])