Tighten your belts

After Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda and Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras declared that the President is helpless to deal with high oil prices with oil companies now increasing their prices twice a week, Malacañang must have realized the negative implication of this admission as Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte came out with a statement that the President is not helpless as there is money to fund the subsidy to public transportation. At the same time, she shot down the idea of suspending the VAT on oil products.

Valte went so far as to advise consumers to tighten their belts, again implying the government cannot do anything to stop the excessive prices of gasoline and oil products.

The President, Ms. Valte and the Cabinet must set the example by shifting to four-cylinder cars instead of eight-cylinder Lexus, Porsche, Mercedes Benzes, Chevy Suburbans, Expeditions and BMWs. The size of the Presidential convoy must be reduced.

It is noteworthy to remind the palace that when the VAT on oil was being debated, the opposition then opposed it as recalled by Senator Ralph Recto and Cong. Teddy Boy Locsin. Now that they are in the Administration, they have changed their stand, the same way they reversed their support for the Freedom of Information Bill.

Ok, so Malacañang now insists the President is not helpless. The bottom line is: Stop the excessive price increases of oil products. As stated in our last column, oil companies will make an estimated P30 billion in net profit this year.

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17th RESIGNATION. . . Philamer Torio, the Executive Director of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) program has resigned. Secretary Ricky Carandang confirmed Friday. This adds to the delay in the implementation of the program which after 15 months of P-Noy has not resulted in a single project awarded.

Previous Presidential appointees who have resigned were: 1) DOT Sec. Alberto Lim; 2) DOTC Sec. Jose de Jesus; 3) Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Jose Amorado; 4) Malacañang Legal Adviser Magdangal Elma; 5) DOT Usec Vicente Romano; 6) DOTC Usec for Land Transportation and spokesman Dante Velasco; 7) DOTC Usec for Legal Aristotle Batuhan; 8) DOTC Usec for Planning Ruben Reinoso; 9) DOTC Usec for Metro Rail Transit Glicerio Sicat; 10) Malacañang Asec Reginald Tongol; 11) Bureau of Corrections Director Ernesto Diokno; 12) LLDA Gen. Manager Rodrigo Cabrera; 13) LTFRB Chairman Nelson Laluces; 14) LTFRB Board Member Samuel Julius Garcia; 15) Board Member Manuel Iway and 16) Executive Director Dante Atienza.

It looks like more resignations are forthcoming.

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EXCELLENT RESOLUTION. . . Kasangga sa Kaunlaran Party List Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr. has filed House Resolution No. 1646 seeking an inquiry into the multi billion loans extended by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to big private corporations.

Haresco pointed out that DBP was established primarily to assist small and medium scale industries.

“DBP should prioritize lending to micro enterprises and micro entrepreneurs if it really recognizes MSMEs as a potent force in spurring development,” Haresco said.

He cited reports that DBP has just granted a multi-billion peso loan to a private corporation to finance its capital expenditures. DBP is starting to have a bad reputation. A case for plunder has been filed against ex DBP Chairman Patricia Santo Tomas and ex DBP President Reynaldo David in connection with the loan of P660 million to Roberto Ongpin.

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60th ANNIVERSARY. . . The Ateneo Law Journal celebrated its 60th anniversary, Saturday with a dinner at The Tower Club in Makati when it launched its 60th commemorative issue. The issue chronicles the history of the law journal and features articles by Chief Justice Renato Corona, Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee, Justice Adolfo Azcuna, Justice Ameurfina Melencio Herrera, Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J. and Dean Cesar Villanueva.

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TAKE NOTE, GENERAL. . . Newly appointed PNP Chief Nicanor Bartolome should take note of the remark of US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. at the 20th Mindanao Business Conference last Thursday in Pagadian City.

Thomas declared: The United States will not lift its travel warning on the Philippines “as long as bombs explode in the Zamboanga airport, as long as kidnap-for-ransom gangs dominate the headlines, as long as bus owners are extorted through violence, and as long as political feuds are resolved through bombs and assassinations.”

To date, the Aquino Administration appears helpless too, in preventing major crimes. Big job, General Bartolome.  

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TIDBITS . . . Gov. Tet Garcia expresses the view that the adoption of the Value Added Tax (VAT) in lieu of the sales tax was a bad move because it is subject to leakage. He points out that the US does not use the VAT system.

DOH Sec. Enrique Ona reported that from January 1 to Sept. 3, dengue cases recorded have reached 63,741 with 373 deaths. That’s still too many.

A special cage is being built for “Lolong”, the 20.1 feet male crocodile. Agusan del Sur officials say they estimate 5,000 crocodiles living in that province.

TV hostess Shalani Soledad has admitted to Funfare columnist Ricky Lo that she’s dating Pasig Congressman Roman Romulo, son of Sec. Bert Romulo. Both are single and matured. She’s 31, he’s 44. Looks like a good match. Both being in politics, they can understand each other. Shalani is running for Congress in 2013.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda devotes 54 percent of his budget to education and the arts. With Mayon Volcano, it is drawing many tourists, too.

Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona has filed a bill to prohibit mining in his province.

Greetings to our readers Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes, Antique Gov. Exequiel Javier and former Vice Governor Rhodora Cadiao.