Down, down, dropping

While Malacañang drumbeaters dismiss President Aquino’s slumping satisfaction ratings and the country’s increasing joblessness as insignificant, the 2nd quarter business confidence index of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recorded a big drop of 33 percent to 31.8 percent from 47.5 percent in the 1st quarter. The BSP also reported that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) dropped 30 percent for the first two months of 2011.

Both foreign and domestic investors cite high operational costs as a major reason for reduced optimism. They also pointed out the slow disbursement of government funds, delayed PPP funding and government inefficiency as negative factors.

In an Asean Business Advisory Council survey of 355 top business executives in Southeast Asia, none were interested in the Philippines. The Philippines was the last among 13 Asia Pacific countries in the World Competitiveness Yearbook for 2011 released May 19 by the Institute of Management Development (IMD) way behind Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. The WCY pointed out the “marked decline in government efficiency”.

In the International Finance Corporation (IFC) business survey, the Philippines is in the lowest 19th percent, ranking 148th out of 183 economies reviewed.

Note that in the latest SWS March survey, the President’s satisfaction ratings dropped 43 percent among the ABC classes with the almost unanimous comment that nothing is happening, everything is so slow.

In the 5th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) prepared by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the Philippines dropped to 136th in the bottom 20 nations classified as “least in peace”.

Even in education, DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro reported a decline in achievement levels and survival rates among elementary and high school students. Here again, we are lagging behind our Asian neighbors.

Blame the columnists, blame the Central Bank, blame the international survey agencies, blame everybody, then go out and have a drink.

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PERFORMING SOLONS. . . 80 percent of members of the House of Representatives are members of the “Committee on Silence”. Only 10-20 percent show up at committee hearings and floor debates.

As Congress is set to adjourn next week, among the top performers are Neil Tupas Jr. (Iloilo, 5th dist.); Janette Garin (Iloilo, 1st dist.); Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro, 2nd dist.); Joseph Abaya (Cavite, 1st dist.); Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (Cavite, 4th dist.); Danilo Suarez (Quezon, 3rd dist.); Tobias Tiangco (Navotas, lone dist.); Joseph Victor Ejercito (San Juan, lone dist.); Roilo Golez (Parañaque, 2nd dist.); Rodolfo Fariñas (Ilocos Norte, 1st dist.) and Maria Milagros Magsaysay (Zambales, 1st dist.).   

Among the party list representatives’ active solons are: Teodoro Casiño (Bayan Muna); Neri Colmenares (Bayan Muna); Arlene Ag-bao (Akbayan); Emerencia de Jesus (Gabriela); Luzviminda Ilagan (Gabriela); Raymond Palatino (Kabataan); Teodorico Haresco (Kasangga) and Antonio Tinio (ACT).

House officers are excluded from this list.

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MAR vs. JOJO OCHOA. . . The fight for turf between incoming Chief of Staff Mar Roxas and Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo’ Ochoa has begun.

Ochoa got President Aquino to sign Executive Order No. 43 creating 4 Cabinet Clusters each to be headed by President Aquino, ES Ochoa, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman. While Roxas maybe added as a member to a Cabinet Cluster, he certainly will not head one.

On the other hand, Mar Roxas got President Aquino to agree and announced that the Administrative Order creating the position of Chief of Staff is not being prepared by ES Ochoa. Traditionally, all executive and administrative orders are prepared by the Executive Secretary. Let’s watch what other functions will be transferred to the Mar Roxas/Julia Abad turf.

Meanwhile, another Jojo, the Vice President is enjoying the battle on the sidelines.

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CRIME UP, UP. . . Rep. Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao reported to the House of Representatives the killings of tribal leaders Elenita Caya in Monkayo, Compostela Valley on April 27 and Domagat Chieftain Armando Maximino in Aurora province.

PO1 Oliver Ilagan and PO1 Christopher Tria were shot dead at a checkpoint they were manning in Balayan, Batangas by three armed men in a jeep they stopped. NPA rebels are the suspected killers who also took the firearms of the two dead policemen.

Kim Jing Jun, 23, a PWU student and her boyfriend Andrew Monteagudo, 26 were shot to death with multiple wounds in the Eurotel hotel in Ermita.

Cebu City businessman Kenneth Teo was shot dead after a third slay attempt when a lone gunman shot him in the chest and neck in his water refilling station.

Robert Sabang, a member of Caloocan City’s Public Safety and Traffic Manage-ment Office and his lover Marylyn de Leche, 27, were shot dead inside a restaurant in Camarin by two motorcycle riding gunmen.

Christopher de Castro, 36, accountant of Excellence Security and Investigation Agency was shot by holduppers who took his P240,000 payroll money in Quezon City.

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WASTE OF TIME. . .  The House Committee on Justice headed by Cong. Neil Tupas Jr. has formally opened its proceeding on the impeachment case against SC Justice Mariano del Castillo. This is a dubious move, legally speaking. Some Congressmen doubt that plagiarism constitutes “betrayal of public trust”. It’s a literary offense, not a criminal one.

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TIDBITS. . . Mrs. Thelma Gana has texted close friends that the wake for Tony Gana will be on June 4 and 5 at the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park.

BUCOR Director Ernesto “Totoy” Diokno has filed a leave of absence in the wake of public clamor led by DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima that he resign. But he may be back at work next week as he goes on an official trip to Malaysia.

Greetings to Congresswoman Rachel Arenas who has completed a superdome project in Malasiqui, Pangasinan, her mother Baby Arenas, Congressmen Martin Romualdez and Magtanggol Gunigundo, former Congresswoman Carissa Coscolluela, Mayor Evelyn Fuentebella and Manuel Bondad.