No jobs, no progress

Before P-Noy apologists charge columnists again for misinformation, the March SWS survey confirms what we have written about several times: That joblessness under P-Noy is rising and that the Aquino Administration still has no effective job creation program. Not one job has been created by the flagship PPP program so far.

SWS reports that the number of jobless Filipinos increased by 1.4 million from November 2010 to March 2011. That translates to an increase to 11.3 million from 9.9 million jobless Filipinos, an increase to 27.2 percent from 23.5 percent. What does Malacañang say? They called it “statistically insignificant”.

More and more Filipinos are losing their jobs. Thousands in the wood industry including furniture makers are being laid off. Even the jewelry manufacturers in Meycauayan are closing down due to frequent holdups and the high price of gold. The car industry is scaling down production for 2011.

Definitely, the Administration’s programs create nine million new jobs needed to hire the unemployed and the new graduates for the next five years.

All of the above are facts, Secretary Lacierda and Usec. Valte. No misinformation here. What did Usec Valte say? President Aquino is going to Thailand to get Thai investors who will create jobs. Dream ahead.

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IRONY. . Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo under whose presidency gambling operations flourished right and left has filed House bill 3099 to help compulsive gamblers.

Under the GMA presidency, she authorized the proliferation of casinos, E-gaming parlors, bingo parlors, daily lotto games, STL, poker parlors, allowed three times a day jueteng draws, six-day horseracing and daily cockfight derbies making the Philippines the biggest gambling center of Asia. New casinos were set up in Antipolo, Cagayan, Cebu, Dakak, Angeles and San Fernando (La Union) with 10 casinos more opened in Metro Manila.

GMA is the reason we have so many compulsive gamblers.

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GSIS UPDATE. . It is welcome news to read that GSIS President and CEO Robert Vergara is instituting long overdue reforms at that government financial institution.

We suggest a few things. With higher inflation, increase the pension and dividends of members. The increase in local equity investments after the termination of former CEO Winston Garcia’s failed $1-billion foreign investment program is a step in the right direction. We strongly suggest that Garcia’s handpicked brokers be changed and six new brokers who will offer reduced commissions be hired.

President Vergara must now release the specific amounts of salaries, allowances and bonuses allowed GSIS trustees and officials. He could set the example by reducing his own salary and allowances by 25 percent.

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UNCURBED CRIME. . Robbers took P5 million cash and valuables from the house of Victorino Vargas, president of Maynilad Water Services in gated luxury subdivision Ayala Heights, QC.

SPO3 Arnold Yu, 46 was shot dead at a car repair shop at Visayas Ave., QC. Hardware store owner, John Meneses Ki, 35, was shot to death by a lone gunman in front of his store on C.M. Recto in Manila, Friday night. A policeman and a soldier were shot dead in Batangas.

Dr. Beatriz Pereiro, 35, of Bilbao, Spain was stabbed 15 times with an icepick by a robber inside her room at the Green View Hotel in Pasay. She survived.  In Tabuelan, Cebu a suspect stabbed to death his six-year-old nephew, opened him up and ate his liver.

Jaime dela Cruz, 58, an accountant survived three gunshot wounds by two men as he opened the main gate of his house in Victoria Village, Barangay Canumay, Valenzuela. An identified Tau Gamma Phi fraternity member was shot dead in Quiapo, Manila.

Four robbers posing as MMDA enforcers hijacked a truck carrying P1 million worth of kerosene inside the UP compound in QC.

DZRK-Radio ng Bayan in Tabuk, Kalinga was bombed with Molotov cocktails.

In Caloocan, Rommel Moles, 35, a construction foreman, was critically wounded by two motorcycle gunmen who grabbed the P40,000 payroll he had withdrawn. The Landbank Capitol branch in Pasig City was robbed Saturday. A 40-year-old woman was shot dead by two motorcycle gunmen in Sun Valley, Parañaque.

In Dasmariñas, Cavite, the Western Union branch was held up by two men who got P1.2 million cash.

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CUSTOMS CORRUPTION UP. . . The National Federation of Sugarcane Planters has taken out newspaper ads asking President Aquino to stop the widespread smuggling of sugar, a fact confirmed by the Sugar Regulatory Administration. They are asking President Aquino to discipline corrupt Customs officials.

Customs brokers confirm that P180,000 is paid per container of sugar smuggled in. Oil smuggling is continuing big time.  

In another complaint, US exporters of balikbayan boxes delivered door to door said they are asked to pay $5,000 or about P225,000 for every container they send to the Philippines.

So far, President Aquino and DOF Secretary Cesar Purisima have turned a blind eye on the wide open smuggling and corruption in the Bureau of Customs.

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TIDBITS. . . Tita Tingting Cojuangco, wife of Uncle Joe filed her certificate of candidacy for Vice Governor of ARMM with Sultan Kudarat Pax Mangudadatu as candidate for Governor.

We wish a speedy recovery and prayers for Mayor Teresita Antonio of Alcaya, Cagayan, wife of Governor Alvaro Antonio who suffered a heart attack on the day of the predicted end of the world.

Congratulations to Sen. Bong Revilla and Congresswoman Lani Mercado Revilla on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary on Saturday at the Shrine of St. Therese, Villamor Airbase, Pasay City. For a couple in show business, that’s quite an achievement.

Special greetings to Camiguin Governor Jesus J.J. Romualdo and his wife Mambajao Mayor Maria Luisa  and Mayors Nestor Jacot, Helenio Abecia, Alex Jajalla and Domingo Talian for being avid readers of our column.