Cha-cha train

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. will meet with President Aquino to discuss Charter change. That’s a good move. If President Aquino makes it clear that he is against the idea, then the Congressional leaders should drop it.

Senator Panfilo Lacson expressed his support for Cha-cha but only for the amendment of the economic provisions. The main issue here is to allow foreigners 100% ownership of the land.

Rep. Rodolfo Biazon raised objections to allowing foreigners 100% ownership as it will threaten our food security.

Cha-cha will be expensive too. It can cost as much as P5 billion for a constitutional convention.

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CONSTRUCTIVE . . MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino has proposed a constructive solution to the vendors problem. He proposes to set up mini flea markets or tiangges where street vendors can ply their trade.

The initial mini flea market is being setup in cooperation with Mayor Lani Cayetano in Taguig.

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LOWER CONVICTION RATE . . PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez complained that the low conviction rate in drug cases is hampering the fight against illegal drugs.

In the past, many cases have been dropped by the Department of Justice. Secretary Leila de Lima should look into this matter more seriously. She must ask prosecutors who dropped cases to explain.

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ENTERPRISING ENTREPRENEUR . . 41-year-old Zaldy Co from Albay is one of our rising entrepreneurs.

Better known as the owner of Midas Hotel (formerly Hyatt) and 5-Star Misibis Island Resort in Albay, he has embarked on a developmental project of putting up mini hydroelectric plants in rural villages.

He has put up so far 2 in Catanduanes, 1 in Sorsogon and 2 in Bugasong, Antique. He taps rivers putting up mini hydroelectric plants producing from 3 to 10 megawatts. His charges are P3 lower per kilowatt than NPC.

Zaldy Co owns Sun West Water and Electric Corp. with a capitalization of P1.5 billion.

His president is Jose Silvestre Natividad. They plan to put up 34 mini hydroelectric plants.

Co and Natividad are providing the cheap answer to the lack of electricity in the rural areas. We take our hats off to them.

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UGLY HEAD OF CORRUPTION . . 2 LTFRB Board Members were replaced for a questionable approval of the transfer of 480 expired Pantranco franchises to Victory Liner.

3 PNOC officers, Lourdes Gelacio, vice president for corporate affairs, Raymundo Sevilla, PBAC chairman and Maria Rita Dayleg, human resources manager were charged with graft before the Ombudsman for the overpricing by 9.000% of a P55 million project to renovate the PNOC headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.

ExPagcor chairman Efraim Genuino, president Rafael Francisco, former president Rene Figueroa and Carlota Manalo Tan were charged with plunder before the Ombudsman for a P258 million overprice in its coffee purchases.

Billions of revenue have been lost in the undervaluation of rice imports by the Bureau of Customs.

There are reports of anomalies at PCSO and NFA. Purchases of equipment and supplies by AFP and PNP are said to be overpriced. 

The COA found that executives of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, PICC and directors of PCSO paid themselves irregular allowances which should be reimbursed.

The PICC board of directors paid themselves allowances and reimbursable expenses totalling P702,000 in 2011 and P593,000 for 2010.

Questionable deals and allowances have been raised against the MWSS board of directors. A complaint for syndicated estafa has been filed against MWSS, Maynilad and Manila Water officials.

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FORECASTERS LEAVING . . 22 weather forecasters have left PAGASA to accept better paying jobs abroad. The forecasters complain that after deductions, they take home only P3,000 - P4,000 a month. The same situation exists among aircraft controllers.

This twin problem must be immediately resolved. Thousands of lives are at stake here. 

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POLITICAL UPDATE . . Camarines Sur Gov. L’Ray Villafuerte is running for Congress against Rep. Dato Arroyo in the 2nd District. His father, Luis, who is graduating from Congress, will run for governor against his grandson, Miguel, son of L’Ray.

Deputy Speaker Noli Fuentebella is graduating and will field his son former Rep. Felix “Wimpy” Fuentebella in the 4th District against actor Aga Muhlach.

Rep. Hermilando Mandanas (Batangas 2nd District) is thinking of running for governor under UNA against Gov. Vilma Santos.

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MORE SENIOR CITIZENS . . There is an estimated 8 million senior citizens in the country. Their principal need is medicine and medical attention. The senior citizens discount should be increased to 30%. They should have priority in the listing of CCT beneficiaries. Government should always create jobs for senior citizens.

The Department of Health must make more free medicines available to senior citizens.

Senior citizens should get representation in the Sangguniang Bayan and Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

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TIDBITS . . . President Erap Estrada vowed to assist jeepney drivers as he called for a new index of transport fares which will automatically adjust depending on the price of oil.

Vice President Jojo Binay has called the attention of PNP for its failure so far to arrest Delfin Lee and 5 other persons for syndicated estafa. Pag-IBIG offered a P1 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

VP Binay left for Tokyo to address the Secure Asia 2012 Cyber Security Conference. 

The suicide rate in the Philippines is at its highest in 20 years. The DOH has no registry. The NGO offering counseling services is the Natasha Goulborn Foundation.

Six thousand policemen to secure President Aquino during the SONA, Why? Is there an active threat to his life?

Greetings to avid readers Sylvia Reynoso-Gala, Fr. Mars Andres who is now the chaplain of the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Mayor Vic Amante of San Pablo and Mayor Rene Gaudiel of Bayawan City.