Bad appraisals

Last week I wrote about how traditional biddings on government projects have generally been done on a “Nickel & Dime” or “Baratan” approach where bidders come in on the lowest, cheapest possible bid often times so low that it borders on ridiculous if not criminal.

Last week I praised San Miguel Corporation for making a bid on the NAIA Expressway that was based on actual value and expressed the hope that from now on, all other bidders for government contracts will pay or offer our government the fair value.

What I failed to talk about in the “Nickel & Dime” article is the need for the Office of the Ombudsman, the Commission on Audit, and Congress to conduct investigations and random analysis of biddings past and future to determine if the people responsible for appraising project costs or value are competent and have been performing their duties with integrity.

It is easy for us to assume that bidders who low ball the government are the bad guys, but anyone in business knows that in general, everyone wants to make the most profit at the least cost. How can we begin to demand a fair shake for government when it is government or certain officials who under value their appraisal for projects? It is good that companies such as San Miguel Corporation are living up to their Corporate Social Responsibility, but it would be better if the Office of the Ombudsman and COA spend more time on Internal Affairs rather than totally focusing on political “Big Fish”.

It is the parasite within that causes more damage.

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My colleague James Deakin who writes in the Motoring section has apparently received flak for calling attention to a bunch of high-risk drivers who use the EDSA-Ayala tunnel stretch as well as the SLEX-Skyway as their proving ground for who has the fastest car and the driver with the smallest brain.

In his regular column for motoring, James made mention of the fatal accident that took place when a 500 horsepower Mustang rammed into the rear of an AUV causing a high ranking police officer to slam into or fly out the windshield and die. When Deakin wrote about it, the story sent chills up my spine remembering how only a month or so ago, some idiot in a Porsche nearly rammed into me on the middle lane of the SLEX northbound. Had that occurred, chances are my daughter who always sits in the back seat of our Toyota Revo would have flown out the windshield.

What was very disturbing about the Deakin article was an incident where the Skyway patrol lay in wait for the lawbreakers at the exit of the Skyway on Buendia Avenue. Reports indicate that the group made a U-turn, drove into on-coming traffic and escaped arrest through another exit. After reading about it, I’m hoping for a few things. I hope the Skyway people got the violators on CCTV clear enough to print plate numbers. I hope they give it to LTO Chief Virgie Torres whom I hope will revoke their licenses for life. These irresponsible, immature rich people should be denied the opportunity to kill people on EDSA or the Skyway!

You are rich enough to buy European and Japanese sports cars worth millions of pesos, then you should be rich enough to afford building a clubhouse and workshop in Clark or Subic. That would be cheaper than a funeral, Lawyers or the price of revenge when you kill someone’s child or relative!

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While watching TV, I chanced upon an announcement for a “fun run” where the organizers commit to plant 3 trees for every runner that enlists in the event.  A few days before that someone in my Facebook community posted the observations of their guests from Singapore who noticed that it was a lot hotter in Metro Manila than in Singapore. The Singaporeans believe that the temperature difference was largely due to the difference in tree cover as well as the land area covered by concrete in each Metropolis.

After many years and articles written about it, appeals to plant more trees in Metro Manila have fallen on deaf ears. The MMDA have other priorities, ignorant local politicians think that the more concrete they have in their cities or municipalities the more progressive they will be, Meralco’s tree clearing crews have generally been ignorant about correct methods of pruning trees, and the saddest part is that any tree along sidewalks fall under the endangered list because street sweepers resort to debarking the trees to put an end to leaves piling up on the sidewalks.

Meanwhile, many well-meaning corporations and organizations are devoting their tree-planting activities to so-called watershed, mountain areas, or geo-hazard locations. I admire all these efforts but has anyone been paying attention to the rising temperatures in Metro Manila? Are we so forgetful that we can’t recall the serious floods we experience during the rainy season?

Why not begin a Metro Manila wide – tree-planting campaign including every household or home? If public convenience or safety prevent government from planting along the sidewalks, we can surely plant at least ONE TREE if not several inside our homes. They don’t all have to be giant acacias, Narra etc. but if YOU, yes you dear reader were to join in, I can assure you that it will make a difference in your life.

Consider my experience: I had 2 square meters in front of a rented garage where I planted a “Saba”/ banana tree. As it grew it covered an ugly wall, presented beautiful wide green leaves and soon enough bore bunches of sweet tasting bananas for several weeks per tree! Around it we would “bury” compost material of all sorts and we thank God for such small blessings.

Trees can give you food, cool your house, reduce your electricity bill, etc. You don’t have to run just so trees can be planted. Just plant them in your house, your school, your office etc. As a tip, traveler palms, bananas, mahogany are tough and useful. ONE TREE can start it all.

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