Some good news

The 1st two days of the 45th Annual ADB Governors meeting brought good news to the Philippines and Asia.

Leading Economist, Professor Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia and Harvard Universities predicted that Asia would now lead the world economy with the continued weakness of the US and European economies.

Predictions of a 4.2% - 4.7% GDP growth in 2012 for the Philippines was made. Better than last year’s 3.7% but still much less than the 7-8% GDP needed to eradicate poverty.

Professor Sachs, however, warned that Asian economies must look beyond their traditional export markets and attract investors to maintain their growth.

The ADB announced that it was increasing its assistance and loan funds by $12 billion.

So far so good on the peace and order front. None of the 4,300 delegates has been victimized by criminals.

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PMP STRENGTHENS . . Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile swore into membership in the PMP former Senator Migz Zubiri, Manila Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno and 28 Councilors, former Solicitor General Frank Chavez who comes from Negros Occidental, Governor Joe Zubiri at Club Filipino last Thursday.

Enrile also announced that his son Rep. Jack Ponce Enrile (Cagayan 1st District) would also join PMP.

The affiliation of Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno with the PMP clears the way for the Erap-Isko team-up for Manila’s Mayoralty fight with Mayor Fred Lim. Erap showed on TV his new residence at Manga Avenue, Sta. Mesa. Erap said he will make his decision on May 12.

Enrile in his speech firmly ruled out any further coalition with other political parties like the Nacionalista Party, LDP and Lakas NUCD.

Enrile and Vice-President Jojo Binay expressed confidence that the conflict between Sen. Koko Pimentel and Migz Zubiri would be amicably settled by the UNA Executive Committee.

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FIESTA TIME . . The month of May is Fiesta time. Celebrating its Provincial Fiesta today is Ilocos Norte. Governor Imee Marcos is highlighting this year’s fiesta with the enthronement of the La Milagrosa Virgen de Badoc as the province’s Patroness. The statue of the Virgin was washed ashore from Japan in 1610 AD.

Also celebrating their fiestas this week are the towns of Sarrat, Currimao and Piddig.

The Sarrat town fiesta presided over by Mayor Editho Valentona and his wife Imelda featured 4 nights of celebration sponsored by different organizations.

Last Wednesday night sponsored by NGOs and the Local Council for Women headed by Clara Ver was a colorful affair with about 600 women all wearing native costumes woven from Binakol. The Fiesta queen, Mrs. Merly Barroga and 23 Princesses representing 24 barangays were crowned in a colorful setting of flowers.

Sarrateño balikbayans from Hawaii and California were in attendance. Also co-sponsoring the event was the Dangal ng Guardians headed by Teodoro Paz.

 The La Milagrosa Virgen de Badoc was brought to Vintar on Thursday where it was welcomed by Mayor Jose Foronda and Fr. Jojo Saturnino. Vintar is the most environment friendly town in Ilocos Norte and has progressed to be a 1st class municipality.

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SHOCK . . The SWS survey reported a shocking increase of 11 million joining the ranks of the poor. Self rated poverty figures jumped from 45% in December to 55% in March.

As expected, power crisis ridden Mindanao recorded the biggest jump from 38% to 72%. Visayas jumped from 52% in December to 61% in March.

In a lame excuse, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said it is taking “some time before the positive effects of Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program is felt.”

Economists and UP professors were agreed that the main cause of poverty — the lack of jobs is the main cause for the increase of poor families.

One other cause pointed out is the slow implementation of infrastructure projects as DPWH is confronting a serious problem of lack of contractors bidding for its announced projects.

Even the National Housing Authority is experiencing a similar problem of a shortage of qualified contractors.

One of its big projects, a 9-building complex at Smokey Mountain is not attracting bidders because the cost has been placed at only P12,000 per square meter with a short 270-day contract term.

The bidding for school buildings by DepEd is also encountering difficulties and has not been finalized.

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BEGGARS . . Sen. Joker Arroyo is correct when he said the Philippines acted like beggars when DFA Sec. Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin met with Sec. of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Sec. Leon Panetta.

Del Rosario confirmed this fact when he announced that the United States has committed to increase its Foreign Military Financing (FMF) allocation from $15 to $30 million for 2012, a measly amount.

The US, however, conditioned the release of FMF funds on more effective efforts to prosecute those responsible for extrajudicial killings.

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BAD NEWS . . The numbers of college graduates is going down. NSCB reported that the total number of graduates increased by only 2.9% in 2010, threatening the country’s supply of qualified human capital.

The increasing tuition fees in colleges and universities will continue to decrease college enrollment as poor families can not afford to send their kids to college.

It’s not going to help alleviate the problem that the administration has reduced the budgets of state colleges and universities.

It’s good to institute program of state subsidy to private colleges and universities in exchange for no tuition increases.

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TIDBITS . . . CAAP Director General Ramon Gutierrez said he will cut down domestic flights into NAIA. That’s a backward step for tourism. Light up more provincial airports and have more night flights.

Finally, the Philippines had placed tourism ads on CNN.

Greetings to avid readers Lilia Echiverri, president of the Philippine Group of Law Librarians and Officers. Milagros Ong, Jonas Sahagun, Lyn Madeja, Nora Rey, Nancy Tuazon, and Susima Lazo Gonzales. Also to ex-Mayor Tony Foronda and Editha Gamiao of Vintar.