Various reactions from readers

We received a letter from Augustus C. Mamaril, a professor at the College of Science, University of the Philippines-Diliman that certainly deserves space in this column. Please read on.

“Thank you for featuring (June 24, 2011: Two faces of fishkill) the letter on Taal fishkills of the unnamed BizLinks reader.

“The reader obviously is very familiar with the lake and might also be a lakeshore resident, very likely in the Agoncillo-San Nicolas area. He has provided useful insights on how the fishkills might have been triggered. His views certainly resonate with those of us in the academe and who have been doing studies in the lake.

“The reader clings on to the rather dim hope that political will at the local government level could resolve the sad situation of fishkills in Taal. Fishkills are but one of the concerns in Taal.

“The Batangas provincial government many years ago already began a modest effort of regulating capture fisheries in the form of a provincial ordinance banning use of bright lights (mounted on boats in moonless nights) called ‘suro’ in catching the prized fish ‘tawilis’.

“Tawilis catches were already dwindling at the time.

Continued disregard on bans

“Sadly, it was the same story. The ban on suro, just like the regulations on Taal fishcages, is honored more in the breach than in practice.

“The reader cites some unique features of this beautiful lake. One that he might be delighted to know is that the water chemistry of this caldera lake virtually makes it completely unsuitable for agriculture (irrigation) and drinking. Otherwise, concessionaires would be extracting water that could only further despoil this one-of-a-kind natural treasure.

“He winds up with the possibility of a ‘natural solution’ to the human abuse of Lake Taal: Taal Volcano is one of the world’s most active volcanoes whose magma is just a couple of kilometers below the main crater, and continues to rise. On this, we share wholeheartedly your reader’s view!

“P.S. May I add that we are likewise looking forward to the upcoming collegiate hoop battles? We are in this together!”

K+12 comments

Cornelio Reformina, president of Emilia Foundationsx Inc., a non-profit organization whose main mission is to help improve the quality of education in the rural areas of the Philippines, sent his comment on the government’s K+12 program. Please read on.

“The position paper of Mr. Rey Gamboa has been my stand also from the very beginning. At this stage, I am for compulsory kindergarten but not the two additional years of high school. 

“We need first to focus whatever resources and additional resources we can get in improving the current 10 years of grade school and high school – more qualified teachers, more classrooms, better textbooks, better school facilities like library, lunchrooms (possibly with free meals for grade schoolers), toilet facilities, computers and Internet access – and addressing the high dropout rate.”

Singapore’s education system

The above comment of Reformina was circulated in various online discussion groups. One member, Isagani R. Cruz, copied me his comment. He says:

“Singapore has 13 to 14 years of pre-university education (what we call in the Philippines ‘basic education’). An argument based on wrong data cannot be correct.”

Cruz points to the source of his statement on the Singapore educational system to an official web source, http://www.sgbox.com/singaporeeducation.html.

The source data of my column on K+12 was taken from a document posted on the DepEd website, no less (http://www.deped.gov.ph/cpanel/uploads/issuanceImg/K12new.pdf). We would appreciate a comment from the concerned education body.

More comments on K+12

Meanwhile, here are more comments on K+12 from online readers of The Philippine Star.

From brondial: “This is a flawed approach. K+12 will never work if the root cause is not addressed. Lack of facilities, reduction of students per class, increase number of classrooms, etc. – those are the things that must be addressed. It’s not the number of years but the quality.”

From ren_tal: “Methinks na dapat ay sinimulan muna ang re-training ng mga school teachers to arm them with the knowledge required and build the class rooms needed.

“Ok siguro yung universal kindergarten na simulan agad pero what is disturbing is yung mga teachers are temporary at ang sweldo ay P6, 000 a month. Paano kaya makakapagturo ng tama ang mga ito kung gutom silang papasok sa school? E di gagawa yan ng mga sidelines like selling meryenda etc.”

And from edyoung603: “Instead of following the K12 system, we should instead develop our own educational system and make it a model to the world to emulate.

“If we can spend more on education and provide our schools with highly trained teachers and the best school facilities, then 10 years of quality primary and secondary education can even equal or surpass the K+12 system without creating confusion.”

On the telecoms industry

The following are comments from The Philippine Star online reader Marlo Cruz: “Mahihirapan gumawa ng batas sa anti-trust ang kabuuan ng senado dahil si Manong Johnny (Enrile) lang ang may utak dyan. Hindi maiintindihan ng utak ng isang Mr. Bong (Revilla) or Mr. Lito (Lapid) ang complexities ng ganitong legal issue fraught with taxation and economic dimensions.

“Kaya sana sa susunod ay isipin ng mga botante na maghalal ng mga legislators na maalam sa batas at hindi ihalal ang kung sinuman dahil sikat or guapo.

“Even si Mr. Vilma (Ralph Recto) ay mahihirapan. Kung revisions nga sa tax code ay wala na ngang makapagsulat, how much more yang anti-trust. Kaya nga si Manong Johnny na nga lang sumulat nun singlehandedly katulong lang yun isang bikolano.

“Not unless kopyahin na lang nila yun batas sa anti-trust ng US na nasa Internet naman at sa gayon ay di na sila mag-isip.”

And from robbietan: “Favoritism in the IP is nothing new. We have a ‘business line’ that is so unreliable that we decided to scrap it and let PLDT try and sue us for ‘breach of contract.’ However, PLDT decided that they would rather shy away from the headlines that will advertise their incredibly unreliable service.”

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.