I don’t think I’m ready to deal with my own “Bucket List”, so instead I twisted the movie title for some of the things I’ve noticed lately.
“Bakit”, or why are church and law enforcement officials always hosting events where they invite politicians to sign a “Covenant of Peace”, or a “Commitment to clean and honest elections”?
To begin with, the Comelec, the PNP and the Church are suppose to be responsible for maintaining clean, honest and peaceful elections with or without covenants. They have the power and the authority as well as the moral persuasion.
Frankly speaking, I would rather see NGOs, Church leaders as well as the Civil Service Commission host a different kind of covenant signing. We should stage covenant-signing events for ALL political candidates and make them commit to do their work and only their work.
We should make them sign a personal undertaking that they may be deemed resigned if they do any projects or sideline for a movie, TV show, radio host, product endorser, athletic event, or work in any other capacity outside their elected position.
Let them sign a “Covenant not to make any ostentatious display of wealth or privilege” such as traveling to the United States or Europe to watch any sporting event, drive around in multi-million peso luxury vehicles, or have more than 2 personal security.
Another “Bakit” item I want to raise is “Bakit” or why has the MMDA failed to deliver on their promise to clear major roads of unauthorized tricycles? The new chairman, who has to establish his identity and his presence, came out with a commitment to get all those tricycles off major roads.
Unfortunately, “The Judge” can’t seem to get his decisions done on the ground. Tricycles cruise from the bottom of Shaw Boulevard from barangay Pineda and along C-5. Tricycles regularly pop up from Kamias crossing to EDSA-Timog. Of course no one can stop them along Mariano Marcos towards Fairview. “Bakit” make a statement if it can’t be done?
“Bakit” or why is former Senator Franklin Drilon wasting all his time attacking or criticizing the Arroyo administration in his daily two minutes of fame on radio? With so many concerns on the minds of Filipinos, his daily diatribe or lashing at the administration has become a daily reminder of what many already know.
In fact some people have started to wonder about the many so- called critics and enemies of the Arroyo administration because if memory serves us right, many of them were involved or directly responsible for kicking out Joseph Estrada and replacing him with Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
“Bakit” or why have they never apologized or publicly confessed that “Yes, I helped put Gloria Macapagal Arroyo” in power. Cory Aquino publicly expressed her regret before she publicly criticized PGMA. If we are going to talk about mistakes lets first talk about our own.
* * *
In the spirit of fairness and balance, I’m giving equal space to LTO Chief Asec. Art Lomibao concerning an article I wrote about a week and a half ago.
Asec. Lomibao emailed his views where he graciously informed me that upon receiving the memorandum of DOTC Secretary Larry Mendoza re: shortage in the supply of stickers and vehicle plates, he immediately responded within 24 hours.
Asec Lomibao confirmed that he planned on running for Congressman in the 4th district of Pangasinan but all travels and consultations were done on weekends. He regularly led the Monday flag ceremonies, maintained a hectic schedule of visiting many LTO offices in the country and has avoided having backlogs in paper work.
Asec Lomibao said that there was never any take-over of administration by a 25-man team because no such team existed. Lomibao stated that because the staff of the Assistant Secretary is co-terminus with the Asec, Lomibao needed to replace the previous staff by requesting the PNP to “lend” or detail a support team to his office, which solved the staff problem with no additional cost to the LTO.
Asec Lomibao also stated that no surveillance equipment is in use to monitor the activities of LTO personnel and no such equipment were ever taken from the NACTAG.
As for the LTO biddings, Asec Lomibao states that the members of the LTO Bids and Awards Committee were never replaced because the law prohibits it. What was changed was a rule where “Only suppliers with 5 years experience” could participate. Lomibao pointed out that this rule unfairly barred qualified suppliers. In removing the rule, Asec. Lomibao claims that the LTO directly saved millions of pesos for the LTO.
Asec. Lomibao also mentioned that he has not heard or received any critical assessment or statement from the Commission on Audit concerning defective supplies or possible demand for refunds from some suppliers of the LTO. What they have received is approval and support for the LTO request to hold bidding for supplies every year instead of semi-annually to insure LTO supplies.
I’m glad that Asec. Lomibao fully appreciated that the intent of the column was to publicly call his attention to serious concerns about the LTO. Making it public gave Asec. Lomibao all the reasons to chase some people’s tails as well and clear out some undesirables in the LTO. Rather than feel slighted, Asec. Lomibao confided that after reading the article three times, he saw no malice or bad intentions.
People should copy that example.
As for the original problem of stickers and plate numbers, it’s something that won’t be solved overnight. What’s important is that something is being done about it.