Let Arroyo docs, not lawyers, talk

The government’s plan to build 91 bridges nationwide in the next two years is commendable. It would be a 50-percent increase from the past decade’s average of 33 bridges a year.

But still the 91-bridge target is a far cry from the actual number of spans needed nationwide. As far back as 1995 the National Economic and Development Authority had listed 17,000 bridge projects for national, provincial and barangay roads. The Department of Public Works and Highways was able to build 2,000, mostly from foreign assistance. Not even a peak construction pace of three spans a day for some weeks during the Estrada tenure could stem the shortage. Compounding the backlog is the need to replace or repair an average of 60 old bridges per year.

The dire need for bridges was highlighted by fatalities from floods in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in Sept.-Oct. Particularly heart wrenching was the drowning of five schoolchildren aged 7 to 14, three of them siblings, whose path home included a river crossing. There was a storm that day, and the five tried to wade across the swollen river. Similar deaths occurred in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Maguindanao.

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Malacañang truly is a snake pit. Through patrons there, a ranking SEC official and a nominee to the stillborn Truth Commission are presenting themselves to be incoming Solicitor General. And yet the position is not even vacant. The present occupant is doing a fine job winning big court cases for the government.

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Justice Sec. Leila de Lima bases on medical opinion her deferment of allowing former President Gloria Arroyo’s foreign travel. Health Sec. Enrique Ona, after examining Arroyo, had said she is recovering very well from cervical spine surgery so there’s no need to rush any decision. Arroyo’s lawyers decry de Lima’s delay. Supposedly she urgently needs bone biopsy abroad, although Filipino orthopedic or neurosurgeons can do it. Why aren’t doctors instead speaking for Arroyo?

Such docs can tell de Lima and the public what the cause is of Arroyo’s hypoparathyroidism. If she has long had it, then the endocrine gland disorder is rare. Lifetime medication is needed.

But, not far-fetched, her operation could have caused it. Surgeons can traumatize the parathyroid glands while setting aside neck tissues to get to the spine. Another possible cause: internal bleeding, post-surgery, say, when the patient moves the neck. Even a relatively small amount of blood, 100 cc, can compress the tiny parathyroid. Says veteran thyroid surgeon Ed Clemente: “Before ascribing obscure or uncommon medical conditions to a post-operative patient, doctors first rule out run-of-the-mill complications, like trauma or injury to the parathyroid or the blood supply.”

In such cases when hypoparathyroidism was triggered by or after surgery, it is usually reversible. Diagnostics can take a month. Arroyo’s third and last surgery was in August; the ailment was detected October. Only her docs, not lawyers, can say if she still needs bone biopsy. Lawyer-orthopedic surgeon Leo Olarte of the Philippine Medical Association offers free second opinion: have non-invasive bone scan instead. Arroyo had applied for indefinite medical leave; the House of Reps granted her six weeks.

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Amid strife in Mindanao, a college freshman has been awarded for countering the culture of guns with books. Arriza Ann Sahi Nocum, administrator of the Kristiyano-Islam (KRIS) Peace Library, was cited “for her exemplary and invaluable contributions in the field of library and information services by building libraries, distributing books and promoting reading to underserved children.” Arriza Ann is an Oblation Scholar at the University of the Philippines. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the National Library gave her a plaque and book donations during ceremonies to mark the 21st Library Month.

At her ripe young age Arriza Ann runs the peace foundation that her parents Armand Nocum and Annora Sahi set up in their war-torn Western Mindanao. KRIS Peace Library has established five book centers, two of them in Moro separatist enclaves in Zamboanga Sibuhay and one in a known jump-off point for Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Zamboanga City.

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Can you teach an old Hotdog new tricks? A Yahoo News reporter asked that of Dennis Garcia of the 1970s band, after learning that he was to hold his first one-man exhibit of paintings.

“I’ve been working on the pieces since last year,” replied bassist-songwriter Garcia. “These are mostly acrylic paintings over giclee prints: images I shot and manipulated on the computer, then printed on canvass. I was inspired by the witty graffiti works of Banksy and the undiscovered gems on canvass of Paul McCartney.” Through Hotdog, Dennis and brother Rene had made famous Filipino rock and pop, called Manila Sound.

As the exhibit’s title, “Rakenrol,” suggests, the paintings revolve around music and band musicians. On till Nov. 22, at GallerieOne, Suite 324 LRI Design Plaza, Nicanor Garcia St., Bel Air II, Makati City.

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Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., DWIZ, (882-AM).

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