Alice in Senateland

Lewis Carroll wrote in his iconic book Alice in Wonderland, “The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things. Of shoes, and ships, and sealing wax; of cabbages and kings. Of why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings.” If we were to transpose the walrus here at this time when it seems the entire country is glued to the issue of the Department of Education’s feeding program, the walrus should have added “of noodles” to its long list of trivialities.

The DepEd’s Food for School feeding program was launched to provide noodles as breakfast fare for schoolchildren in 13 food-poor provinces — most of which are accessible only by boat. The argument being fanned against the DepEd’s purchase of the noodles is that at a unit price of P21.89 inclusive of VAT and handling costs, these are grossly overpriced, considering that most commercial noodles cost only P8 to P9 for 55 grams but exclusive of VAT or freight and handling costs.

That kind of loose talk reached the halls of the Senate and set tongues wagging about corruption and kickbacks. Senator Mar Roxas, chair of the Senate Committee on Education was quick to take up the issue and summoned DepEd officials to shed light on the matter. From the data provided by the DepEd people, I could not understand how the disparity in the price between the program’s noodles and those in commercial outlets was cause for alarm, given the information about the many processes and extra ingredients that went into the production of the DepEd’s noodles.

According to the DepEd, the noodles were specially formulated for children of school age, thus extra ingredients were included. Furthermore, the serving size per packet is almost double that of average packets sold in sari-stores and supermarkets. And there was also the packaging that included layout specifications from DepEd, making printing whole swaths of wrapper absolutely necessary. Let’s not forget, either, the cost of bringing these to schools in far-flung areas not easily accessible by land.

The important development about this issue is that the procurement has been placed on hold (I understand Secretary Lapus had not yet even signed the Procurement Order when the issue blew up) until the DepEd finishes a review of its entire feeding program. Senator Roxas has also announced the temporary scrapping of his committee’s hearing until the DepEd has come up with its findings on the matter. In the meantime, with these moves, I wonder what happens to the 19 million schoolchildren in the food-poor provinces who will not receive their rations from the DepEd. My thoughts also turn to their parents who now have to scrounge around for an extra budget for their children’s breakfast fare until the issue is resolved with finality, and hopefully, without controversy. 

From the stands, it seems that we are yet again missing the forest for the trees. I find it rather bizarre that the ingredients of the noodles were contested by the august body of Senate — this, in the light of more pressing concerns, not the least of which are the possible spread to our shores of the A(H1NI) virus, the arrival of the usually destructive rainy season, and the toll that the global financial crisis continues to take on our economy.   

Like Alice, the DepEd has gone through the whole confusing spectacle, and it still ended up where it started; schoolchildren in food-poor provinces are still hungry, some legislators are still angry, and Secretary Lapus is still trying to get the job done without stepping on anyone’s toes (including those of losing bidders for the project), and picking up the pieces from the damage done not just to the program, but to the image of his department that was recently adjudged one of the least corrupt government agencies.

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COMELEC Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento will be the guest of honor and speaker at the PHILCONSA (Philippine Constitutional Association) at its general membership meeting today, May 19, at 6:30 at the Centennial hall of the Manila Hotel. PHILCONSA is the oldest non-profit and the only apolitical organization committed to defend, protect and preserve the Constitution.

Commissioner Sarmiento will share his views, insights and perceptions on the role which the COMELEC will play in the national elections to be held in May next year. He will also discuss the preparations being undertaken by the COMELEC to ensure an honest, peaceful and orderly elections with special emphasis on the ongoing process of computerization of the elections.

An open forum will follow Commissioner Sarmiento’s speech.

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Here’s a call for a blood donation for the father of former Silliman University alumni. Carlomagno Calderon Caballero is critically ill with the diagnosis of aplastic anemia. He is confined at the Makati Medical Center and needs frequent blood transfusions. Aplastic anemia’s characteristics are very low hemoglobin, very low platelet, and very low white blood cell counts. The patient’s immune system is depressed, thus he is very prone to infection. Frequent blood transfusions are needed due to very low hemoglobin counts. He is now on immunosuppressant of cyclosporine and ATG.

Daughter Evelyn Caballero sent me a description of ATG. “ATG, being a potent drug, may depress the production of platelets by the bone marrow at the early stages of infusion so the patient may be in danger of bleeding, necessitating the need for platelet infusion. This is why our father needs A+ donors for platelet apharesis screening. After screening, successful candidates are on standby for two weeks, should they be needed or called upon to donate platelets.

“Platelets have a very short half-life, therefore, are not stored for long periods. The Caballero family is hoping and praying that the ATG works, then our father can go into remission, and he may not need blood or platelet transfusion.”

Donors can contact daughters Elizabeth or Evelyn at these numbers: 0908-8642257 and 0919=8954198 and son Carlito at 0920 765 8374.

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My e-mail:[email protected]