Grilling veteran lawyer in witness stand

Topnotch lawyer Eduardo "Dindo" de los Angeles took on an unusual role a few days ago at the House of Representatives. Being a lawyer, he should have been throwing questions right and left to the persons at the witness stand. But instead, he had to raise his hand and take an oath as he testified in connection with the controversial PIATCO case. And inquisitive and talented congressmen like Makati Rep. Teodoro "Teddyboy" Locsin and Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzales were there to grill him and ask him to elaborate on details about the Terminal III project.

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De los Angeles told the House probers that PIATCO offered the members of MASO, the umbrella organization of airport service providers opposed to the PIATCO project, opportunities to participate in the Terminal III operations. In fact, De los Angeles said that all MASO members wrote letters of intent to PIATCO signifying interest in operating Temrinal III. Even Edgardo Manda, the NAIA general manager, tried three times, but failed, to arrange meetings between PIATCO and MASO. In all those instances, agreements were made to meet but these were cancelled by PIATCO at the last minute.

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Teddyboy Locsin’s assumption is that MASO had exhausted its efforts to dialogue but "it appears that MASO members would just be left to die upon the inservice date of Terminal III." On the other hand, Raul Gonzales commented, "It’s not right for such to happen especially if more workers are displaced."

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It is unfortunate that the promise of Transportation Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez to arrange meetings between PIATCO and MASO did not push through. As the House hearings on the PIATCO controversy came to a close, concerned observers hoped that in the end, the public interest will prevail, not the personal, selfish agenda of ill-intentioned individuals.

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It is hard to believe that public interest in HMOs is so broad. Even Filipinos from abroad have been reacting to my column items about HMOs in the Philippines. Writing from Paris, France, V. Massart shared the growing consensus that the Philippines should officially launch health insurance schemes to alleviate rising costs of medical expenses. He said this could be started at university levels where fees could include payments for insurance premiums.

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Massart noted that there are many insurance companies that could easily do due diligence reports on the feasibility of these insurance measures. Overseas workers have availed of such schemes abroad. The same workers could start off insurance payments for their own children or family members in the Philippines. And he added he would be one of those people ready to contribute to a health insurance scheme for some members of his family in the Philippines who cannot avail of SSS or GSIS health or insurance benefits or, if they do, they are so minimal and could only cover a tiny fraction of medical costs.

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In Europe, Massart said there are mutual funds (called mutuel in France) that help cover extra medical costs. These benefit those freelance working people who are not employed on a monthly basis, and they come in really useful.

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The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation would be taking the wrong tack if it does the work of providing welfare funds for the poor. Charity work of the disadvantaged sectors of society remains PCSO’s priority task. On the other hand, PAGCOR undertakes a much broader scope of projects to support the government’s socially-oriented projects.

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One good sample of PAGCOR’s involvement in community work is its partnership with the Metro Manila Development Authority and other local government units in financing the electrification of C-5 traversing Pasig, Makati and Taguig. This is something that PCSO cannot afford to handle, considering the millions of indigent beneficiaries who cry out for PCSO’s assistance.

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Other PAGCOR projects being lined up by PAGCOR are the opening a health clinic in every church that asks for this. This project will be undertaken in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Manila. Public pay toilets and the construction of police outposts in strategic crime-prone areas are also PAGCOR’s top priorities.

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At this stage, PAGCOR is being criticized for its plan to operate "Pop Pera" on the ground that it is another way of promoting the culture of gambling. PAGCOR officials say this is disinformation, because "Pop Pera" is allegedly a variation of "pull tabs," a popular game in the United States.

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Observers have described PAGCOR’s initiatives as effective means of pursuing the government’s social development goals. If this is so, then PAGCOR chairman Efraim Genuino should receive a pat in the back for his innovative ways in raising revenues to fund all of PAGCOR’s multifarious activities.

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Thoughts For Today:

Let yesterday handle its burdens.
As the sun rises on a new day,
arise, smile, look up and whisper a little prayer:
LORD THIS DAY TO YOU I OFFER!

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Today is God’s answer to last night’s prayer:
to live for yet another day,
to recover wasted chances,
to fulfill one’s dream
in His own beautiful time.

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My e-mail addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]