An inundation of good stories

There are times when a journalist finds himself flooded with good stories – and feels troubled on which one to give more importance to although the national stories should have priority.

But then again there is the problem of immediacy – which one promises to become a reality, which one can wait for a longer time? The other factor: which one will have an impact on the national economy?

That’s why for the moment the thing to report to the nation is the prediction of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri that the Philippines, particularly Negros Occidental, may become known as the “Brazil of Asia.”

And the reason: he has reportedly asked President Arroyo for a share of the P1-billion fund for the conversion of car and bus engines into LPG and bioethanol. With two ethanol plants expected to start production next year, with a total output of 60 million liters of ethanol a year, the province at least should have enough of the alternative fuel for mixture with gasoline.

The bioethanol law stipulated the use of five percent ethanol with 95 percent of gasoline during the first years of the production of the alternative fuel. But if more ethanol lamps are set up, Zubiri believes that the country may be able to shift to flexicars, which can run on E85 or a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

Other than the San Carlos bioethanol plant, I had earlier reported that all things seemed to be okay for the go-ahead of the Central Azucarera de la Carlota bioethanol plant. This, too, will be able to turn out 30 million liters of ethanol but from molasses.

Zubiri said he has already asked the President for a share of the fund intended to help vehicle owners convert their engines to biofuel. In most cases, this involves the use of LPG. Incidentally, I also learned in Iloilo that most of the taxis there are already using LPG. The same with the hundreds of cabs in Bacolod City.

This only means that these represent savings for the cab drivers, the taxicab companies, and the entire country.

In Bayawan City, local residents have been using a mixture of biodiesel that includes the use of coconut milk or even used cooking oil as demonstrated by engineer Preciosa Maturan, head of the Tolong Multipurpose Cooperative.

In short, the Philippines is already on the takeoff stage for biofuel. This means self-sufficiency in fuel and savings in terms of dollars that would otherwise be paid for oil imports.

DOH Western Visayas chief axed

Dr. Lydia Depra-Ramos, regional director of the health department in Western Visayas, recently got reassigned to Manila for her perceived poor performance after typhoon “Frank” devastated the region.

She recently went under fire for banning doctors and other health care professionals from conducting medical missions in typhoon-hit areas in Western Visayas.

The issued guidelines tasked medical missions to first seek permits from DOH-6 before embarking on medical missions. That included inspection of medical drugs as well as equipment. The guidelines reportedly came from Health Secretary Francisco Duque, said Dr. Ramos.

Dr. Henry Tupas, president of the Iloilo Medical Society, said they immediately called off their activities last July after learning of the DOH-6 order.

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and the IMS called off their activities but resumed their medical sorties only after securing assurance from President Adviser for Western Visayas Dr. Raul Banias that they could go ahead with their work.

Jitters among sugar co-ops

Well, the only thing that has been happening is that some sugar cooperative officials are having jitters with BIR regional director Rodita Galanto stressing that she is ready to face the complaints against her. In short, she asked that she be allowed to address the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in a privilege speech to answer the charges aired against her by board member Martin Ibanez.

And she was turned down by the chairman of the SP, Vice Gov. Emilio Ruyo III, who pointed out that only board members are allowed to deliver privilege speeches.

But the proposed Senate inquiry by Sen. Mar Roxas can lead to a bloody confrontation between Galanto and some cooperative leaders.

I overheard yesterday several sugar leaders pointing out that they are willing to let the chips fall where they may. That proved enigmatic and hid possible implications and complications.

We’ll just wait and see.