Negative country

There may be a reason why this country cannot and will not move forward. It may not be obvious but there is a fundamental reason why we are stuck. We are obssesively negative. This negativism is so pervasive it has immobilized action in and out of government but more so in government. That is why we often hear Filipinos say any project is doomed if government is in it. But it is not just the government. So are individuals from the private sector, who are so focused on the trees, they cannot see the forest. Or to use another metaphor as far as the Philippines is concerned, the cup is always half empty, so why bother to help top it up. Strangely the half- filled cup is becoming so heavy it is bringing the entire country down.

It is against this backdrop of negativism that I view the Santiago expose’ on the Smokey Mountrain project. There she goes again, re-elected senator, to continue her sulk and never-ending despair that it was not she, but Fidel Ramos who became president in 1992. It is beginning to sound like an anniversary hymn. Neither do I wish to write an apologia for Former President Ramos (the fact is, he was a very good president and this is conceded by many others including foreign observers of the Philippine scene). He can ably defend himself and has said he would face any inquiry on the project to ferret out the truth. How can one argue against that? La Senadora has made the headlines with her accusations, what has poor FVR to do but defend himself? That is the problem: Politically motivated personalities dressed in official robes are able to waste taxpayers’ money and time for their own personal agenda.

It does not augur well for the new Arroyo administration no matter if it is determined to pass the necessary economic bills to cope with the country’s crisis. Once again, the 13th Congress, as it was in the 12th will deteriorate into an ‘investigative’ body before it passes laws, which is their primary duty. I have nothing against investigations. They ought and should be done if called for. But other countries have insulated their lawmaking bodies against such wasteful use of time and tax money by creating independent commissions for such issues. Unfortunately, the effectivity of such a commission demands that it is not used for grandstanding or witchhunts before evidence have been presented. Such a reform will be unpopular with lawmakers and since we depend on them to make laws for reform to be possible, then we are hopelessly stuck.

So why is an allegedly pro-administration senator who has been elected under the aegis of the Lakas coalition working against the legislative program of the President? With a political culture like this how can the country move forward? We’re back again to square one. It is the Senate in a divisive, gridlock presidential system, stupid.

* * *

SAUDI ARABIA. With soaring oil prices occupying the world’s leaders, Saudi Arabia has announced it was ready to increase their oil output by 1.3 barrels a day. It may be relevant to add informed sources say the U.S. currently imports five supertankers, each carrying a volume of two million barrels, daily. It is also well known in the energy sector that the U.S. has already consumed 65 percent of about 260 Billion gallons of oil produced locally since 2000, with peak production reached in 1970.

Saudi Arabia’s move was immediately criticized in sections of the Western press as an "effort to bolster the re-election of President George W, Bush in November.’ Where is the logic? Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US Prince Bandar immediately denied any such intention. "There is no secret plan to help the Bush administration’ Bendar wrote in the Washington Post. See? It is not just in the Philippines that any action is tarred with political motivation even if these are wild allegations.

* * *

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA. Ronald H. A. Villanueva writes from University of Arizona in the US to congratulate me for the publication of Quality Britain as well as the short paragraphs on the BNPP. (By the way Senator Saguisag will have to wait until I get the complete information from the French sources in reply to his letter to the Editor.) Villanueva attached an article on sustainable energy sources and where the Philippines should go that may interest this column’s readers. Its gist is the oil crisis may be a blessing in disguise if it prods the government to ‘leapfrog’ into a more sustainable energy development program. He does not believe it should copy the pollutive path taken by the developed countries. How can we begin to compete with the other countries for oil or coal imports as our primary energy sources? he asks.

He says we must promote energy efficiency and conservation measures as well as a program to develop renewable energy systems on a wider scale than we have been doing. "We will have to encourage at all levels investments in energy conservation and efficiency systems." It may involve massive education to convince communities to adopt these technologies/systems but it will be the only way to go. Did you know that existing buildings can be sources of power? He points to the top of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality building parking structure which consists of 900 fixed solar panels on its roof which not only provide 204,120 kWh annually but prevents emissions of 190,648 lbs of carbon dioxide (CO2), 414 lbs of sulfur dioxide (SOx), 424 lbs nitrogen oxides (NOx), and 14.29 particulates a year.

Villanueva suggests the government work with concerned groups to develop informational database, rating, and labeling system for the most cost-effective and efficient products and systems. Invention and innovation in indigenous power generation technology and systems should be encouraged. The Philippines has been recognized as number five in geothermal energy development and is expected to be number two in a few years time.

He refers to companies such as the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), Shell Solar Phils. and some members of the Lopez family (who are participating in the natural gas program) which have pioneered in wind power or solar power generation in Ilocos, Palawan, and in other remote areas. If developed countries have shifted into hybrid or more efficient vehicles, why not the Philippines? Toyota and Honda Philippines should be encouraged to bring their hybrid vehicles into the country. General Motors, Mercedes Benz, Ford, and Soletria Corp. are all either developing CNG-based, electric, biofuel, or hydrogen fuel-cell cars. Subic’s lead by using CNG taxis is a good example.We have no choice but to develop these and other indigenous energy sources.

"With rising global population and increasing global economic activities, continuing to import oil and coal it will simply be economically and environmentally disastrous." he adds. Amen.

* * *

E-mail: [email protected]