Reactions on ‘Horror of horrors’

Spybiz received a lot of reaction from the column item "Horror of Horrors at the US Embassy" (June 27, 2006). A US Embassy employee who did not want to be identified said embassy consuls are really overworked. The US embassy in Manila today has the biggest number of applicants, both for immigrant and non-immigrant visas, surpassing that of Mexico. That’s probably the reason why despite a lot of innovations in screening and processing, the waiting time can take as much as eight hours for interviews and finger printing. Spybiz also received several horror stories, which we are verifying. A number of readers, however, wrote to say that not all Filipinos are alike, nor do all applicants plan to live in the United States. Some even reacted violently, saying the impression about Filipinos wishing to be "TNT" in the States is simply not true. Some are genuine tourists who just want to visit relatives and friends. Applying for a visa to the United States is also regarded by many as "the great equalizer," where all — regardless of wealth, position or stature receive the same kind of treatment. Embassy personnel have their hands full as they continue to be swamped by more and more applications by the day, especially at this time with summer very evident in the US. They now have an average of 1,500 applicants a day. So what is Spybiz’s advice? Go to the US only on a need-to-go basis.

Living in the dark

The province of Masbate was plunged into darkness last week after Napocor’s 14.4 megawatt, diesel-fed power barge caught fire. Blame is being pinned on the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) for the crippling blackout in the province, said to have cost an estimated P30 million in damages. According to Rep. Joseph Santiago, PNOC had derailed plans for a nine-megawatt biomass power plant project that could have provided a dependable and stable supply of electricity to the province. Santiago alleged that PNOC, which would not have spent a single centavo for the project, brought in a third party at the last minute which sabotaged the agreement with Sukhin Energy Inc. forged with the PNOC two years ago. For allegedly favoring the third party at SEI’s expense, PNOC executives are now reportedly facing civil suits in court as well as graft charges before the Ombudsman. "In spoiling the project, PNOC also deprived new income to thousands of marginal farmers," Santiago pointed out. The project, would have involved the farmers themselves directly selling coconut husks and shells for conversion into biomass gas for the power plant. Meanwhile, Masbateños may just have to resign themselves to living in the dark.

Spybiz feedback: Downtime at LTO

Atty. Eric Pilapil of Stradcom  Corp. wrote in reference to the column item "LTO complaints on the rise" which appeared in the June 20, 2006 issue of Spybiz. According to Atty. Pilapil, the downtime at the LTO Southern Licensing Center was caused by "intermittent network connection due to problems encountered by the telecoms service provider that supplies linkage" and allows LTO-IT systems to function online. As the project proponent for the LTO-IT systems that provides hardware and systems to LTO operations, Stradcom Corp. does not have control over network links, and the downtime at the LTO Southern Licensing center was not within the jurisdiction of Stradcom, Atty. Pilapil clarified. He also attached LTO Amendment Memorandum Circular No. 701-2006 dated March 6, 2006 which states that "No transactions will be processed manually in all automated district/extension offices and licensing centers. In case of power failure, systems failure and the like, no transactions shall be processed," to explain why LTO personnel refused to process applications manually. Technical problems occur due to power failure or when the telco provider’s network links or interrupted for system servicing or upgrades, Pilapil pointed out, and that the problem may have been telco linked because of reports that no telephone was working at the time.

Spy tidbiz: Petty pilfering

Our Spybiz mole who’s with the presidential party for GMA’s trip to Rome, the Vatican and Spain reported that a lot of little things were lost at the St. Regis Grand Hotel where GMA’s contingent stayed, like face and hand towels and other hotel items. Some of those with GMA allegedly thought the trip entitled them to take some extras, and so nonchalantly picked up hotel property as an added perk. Still others may have wanted to keep them as souvenirs of their trip. It’s bad enough that taxpayers are forking up the expenses for the 100-plus members of GMA’s party – now they are even causing a lot of embarrassment to Filipinos – especially those living in Italy. 

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