Selective prosecution

Levito Baligod, lawyer of Benhur Luy and other whistle-blowers expressed surprise why no senators were included in the latest list of 33 people charged in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

Several congressmen previously mentioned were also not included. Baligod announced that he has 4 more witnesses who will testify on anomalies released through non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and not connected with Janet Lim-Napoles.

The public had expected that 4 more senators would be charged. We are also waiting for the Commission on Audit (COA) report on the Malampaya Fund.

Underestimated

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin admitted the government was not prepared for typhoon Yolanda. He admitted that the government was caught by surprise. Observers noted that PAGASA failed to predict 315 km/h winds and also failed to warn of a storm surge.

President Aquino and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) even underestimated the casualties at a low 2,000–2,500. It is now at more than 7,000 people dead and missing. The latest NDRRMC death toll is at 5,670 and the latest damage estimated at P35.5 billion.

Only 2 years left

By December 31, 2013, the President would have finished three and half years of his term. It’s exactly 26 months to the start of the 2016 presidential campaign. As of today, what major project has the Aquino administration finished? Very few, among them were the 17-kilometer TPex extension, the Quezon Avenue-Araneta Avenue underpass, and the Laguindingan airport which was started by GMA.

No hydroelectric dams were completed. The Mindanao power crisis is showing no signs of solution. The school building shortage has not been solved. We have not achieved rice self-sufficiency. NAIA 3 is not fully operational. PPP projects have not been completed. The NLEX-SLEX connector has not been started. Unemployment is still rising.

Poverty figures are also up. The Philippines has a dispute with China.

There is no peace pact with the NPA, the MILF peace pact is still under discussion. And worse of all, corruption is happening at all levels of government.

Let us see what President Aquino can accomplish in 26 months.

Slow pace

One year after typhoon Pablo hit the Philippines last Dec. 4, 2012, there were 1,462 families still living in tents in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

Construction of 1,380 permanent houses is still ongoing at a cost of P70,000 each; 17,000 homes are scheduled to be built and estimated to be finished in 3 years. At that pace, it will take 15-20 years to rebuild all the 1.3 million destroyed houses by typhoon Yolanda.

The same slow pace is noted in Bohol and Zamboanga where more than 600,000 are still living in tents and evacuation centers.

It took 3 years to build the houses for typhoon Sendong survivors that hit Cagayan and Iligan in 2011.

Lacson ‘rehab czar’

President Aquino appointed Senator Ping Lacson as rehabilitation czar to take charge of the rehab task force. Aquino signed the Executive Order creating the Rehab Task Force.

The President, at present, is the rehabilitation czar assisted by Secretaries Voltaire Gazmin and Mar Roxas.

Appointing a rehab czar implies that the performance of the three is not satisfactory, that they cannot be entrusted to handle the P40.9 billion for the first phase of the rehab program.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is the agency created by law to handle disasters. There is news about creating another agency to handle disasters. Again, the implication is that the NDRRMC is a failure.

Lacson’s appointment puts him in the limelight for the next 3 years and makes him a presidential possibility in 2016. Lacson called on the private sector to lead in the rehab process.

Generous Pacman

Congressman Manny Pacquiao visited Guiuan, Tacloban, Basey, Salcedo, Mercedes, Giporlos, Quinapondan and Marabut distributing relief goods and cash. He also donated P2.5 million to the City of Tacloban and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

Distributing cash is an excellent idea. The government should have done it three weeks ago. It would be nice if those in the top 20 Forbes richest list also went to Leyte and Samar and distributed cash, just like in Makati. Cash aid must be given to senior citizens who are survivors of Yolanda.

Pacquiao slept for two nights in a tent. He was scheduled to visit Palo and Ormoc yesterday.

2,000 families flee

Two thousand families fled the oil spill area in Estancia, lloilo. Residents were complaining about the slow pace of containing the oil spill by the Philippine Coast Guard.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) estimated the rehabilitation of the area to last at least 3 months.

There are reports the bidding for the oil spill clean-up contract conducted by PSALM, is subject to irregularities, with the lowest bidder not awarded the contract. The contract after rebidding was given to a mineral water firm who had only a P65,000 paid-up capital.

Why did Senator Franklin Drilon make the announcement of the winning bidder?

TIDBITS: Another broadcaster, Joas Dignos was shot dead in Valencia, Bukidnon.

18,000 evacuees from Leyte and Samar have arrived in Manila and 4,000 in Cebu.

P-Noy said 171 towns in 14 provinces have been damaged by typhoon Yolanda, evacuees are estimated at 250,000, and 1 million people have been affected by this super typhoon.

President Aquino should ask President Obama for 3 C-130s.

The NPA and PNP clashed in Kalinga, one person killed.

Actress Boots Anson-Roa is engaged to King Rodrigo Jr., eldest son of the late Senator Soc Rodrigo.

Contrary to a previous announcement, Senior Superintendent Elmer Soria is not being reassigned back to Tacloban. He was relieved for saying he estimated that 10,000 people died in Yolanda, more than the 2,000-2,500 estimate of President Aquino.

Vice Mayor Remigio Sioson of South Upi, Maguindanao has escaped injury in an ambush. His driver was wounded.