P-Noy's new BMW

Amid all the criticisms over the purchase of a Porsche and the controversy spawned by it, President Noynoy Aquino went ahead and bought himself a brand new BMW. Could it be that P-Noy is missing the blue BMW he had to sell to buy himself the third-hand white 911 Turbo Carrera model? Far from it – because P-Noy’s brand new BMW is not the fuel powered kind of vehicle but a pedal powered bicycle. BMW bikes are known for combining state-of-the-art technology with luxury and elegance for all its models (from cruise bikes to mountain bikes and racer bikes) for pedal pushers with discriminating taste.  

The President has decided to get into biking and use if for exercise so he can get into better shape. In fact, he has finally done it when he promised to take up biking as part of his New Year’s resolution. President Noy was occasionally seen riding his bike but only within the Presidential Security Compound – a restriction that his security detail would like to impose for obvious reasons. But the other day, P-Noy decided to test his leg muscles and rode his bicycle from Quezon Circle to the Aquino residence on Times Street. Fortunately, there was not much traffic due to the holy week – much to the relief of the Presidential Security Group.

P-Noy hopes to encourage more Filipinos to take up biking to save on fuel consumption and use it to keep healthy. But only if the air quality gets better, some doctors counter-advise. 

Pacquiao’s new jet

Persistent rumors going around at the domestic airport is that a new US-registry aircraft – specifically a Dornier 328 twin engine executive jet – belongs to boxing icon and Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao. Our Spy Bits sources told us that Jinkee and Mommy D (or Aling Dionesia to some) are the regular passengers of the aircraft and the flight plan is almost always to General Santos City and sometimes to Boracay where Pacquiao reportedly owns a 12-room beach house mansion. Despite clarifications made by businessman Crisistomo Aquino (who doubles as the world boxing champ’s official flag bearer during bouts) that he owns the Santorini-inspired property, rumors continue to persist that Pacquiao is in reality the owner.

The same sources also told us that Congressman Pacquiao’s acquisition of the aircraft will enable him to move around the country. Although Pacquiao will not be eligible to run for senator in 2013 due to minimum age requirements, Manny (who will only be 34 by May 2013) is already gearing up for a higher office – with a view that at some point in time he will gun for the highest position in the land when age will allow him to do so. And when is that? The year 2022. For politics, that’s a hell of long time from now.

High gear intrigue at the Palace

With the one-year ban on appointments almost over, the Palace snake pit is once again on high gear with wannabes already jockeying for positions especially with the rumored Cabinet revamp. One of the most anticipated upshots is the entry of Mar Roxas with speculations that he will replace Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa, or if not, some say a special position is being created for him by President Noy.

At any rate, expect hissing and sibilant whispers to intensify around the Palace grounds and beyond in the next couple of weeks – with the legendary Balay and Samar factions gearing up for battle and not to forget, the more powerful Times Street group, too.

Dismal controls

With the prices of gasoline, food and other basic commodities going higher with no seeming respite, you’d think Filipinos would be tightening their belts and forsaking cigarettes and other “sin” products but no - many poor Pinoys would rather spend on cigarettes instead of food. A recent survey conducted by SWS (from March 4 to 7) said about 4.1 Filipino families went hungry in the past three months, up 18.1 percent from November last year – something which is hard to reconcile considering the findings of a study made by the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health which revealed that as early as 1996, the Philippines has been the largest consumer of tobacco products among countries in Southeast Asia and in fact, was ranked 15th in the world.

The impact of smoking on public health – plus the fact that it is acknowledged as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines – should be a compelling reason for government to impose stricter measures to discourage smoking. The study authored by Professors Simon Chapman and K. Alechnowicz titled “The Philippine Tobacco Industry: The Strongest Tobacco Lobby in Asia” noted that the “...Philippines is among the slowest nations to take tobacco control seriously” and lags behind its Asian counterparts like Brunei, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, decrying the country’s high smoking prevalence and weak controls.

Seeing how difficult it would be to stop Pinoys from smoking, perhaps government should put into place an independent and tried and tested system by an impartial third party to plug tobacco tax leaks for government to collect the right amount of taxes through a hard-to-fake strip stamp system. Portions of excise tax collections as specified by Republic Act 9211 can then go to the DOH’s disease prevention program; the PhilHealth (to expand health insurance coverage to the poorest of the poor); and for the establishment of livelihood projects and post-harvest facilities for farmers in tobacco-growing provinces. That way, government will not have to scrounge for funds for healthcare and other basic, pro-poor social services.

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