Ping wants out

Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) Panfilo Lacson wants out of his job by January.

Panfilo said there should be a permanent agency equipped like the National Disaster Risk Recovery Management Council (NDRRMC) to take over his job to handle all functions related to preparedness, recovery, and rehabilitation because the OPARR’s obligation covers only the Yolanda-affected areas, not those newly affected by Typhoon Ruby.

Lacson earlier complained that some Cabinet members were not cooperating and sabotaging his efforts as PARR.  He added that his appointment as PARR has no “legal weight” and has no power over the budget.

For such a huge job, just to coordinate without any real power to enforce, to implement, it’s gonna be tough.  According to Lacson, one of his biggest frustrations is his inability to do what he wanted to do, to implement. “There is so much responsibility but not enough authority,” he added.

The PARR secretary also noted the snail-paced decision process on the rehabilitation efforts. Budget Secretary Butch Abad has not released adequate funds for Yolanda post-rehabilitation projects. It appears that to date only P18 billion has been released out of the P100 billion promised. The people in Yolanda-affected areas have hardly felt the efforts of government.

The transition plan he is preparing will be implemented early next year, according to Lacson. He added that this changeover will also aid Congress in identifying the required remedial legislation to make the Philippines’ response and recovery from disasters faster and more efficient, which will institutionalize lessons learned from the Yolanda disaster.

Recusal refused

Senator Jinggoy Estrada is grateful that the Sandiganbayan, in a special en banc session, has refused to allow Fifth Division Justices Roland Jurado, Alexander Gesmundo and Ma. Theresa Dolores Estoesta to inhibit themselves from continuing to handle his graft and plunder cases on account of “personal reasons.”

But Estrada expressed hope that the three justices would be impartial in their handling of his cases.

De Lima out of order

Now that warrant of arrest has been served to Marine Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton in connection with the killing of transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude,   the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has accepted the United States Embassy’s decision not to give up custody of Pemberton.

It is surprising that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is still insisting on the transfer of custody of Pemberton to the Philippine government. That’s out of order.

Pemberton was earlier transferred from the US Navy ship USS Peleliu docked in Subic to a detention facility at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters. The US Embassy in Manila maintained Pemberton is still under US custody despite being detained in a Philippine facility.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senators Francis Escudero and Miriam Defensor-Santiago are right to call for a review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Build evacuation centers

Since two years ago, we suggested – beginning with Albay – to build permanent evacuation centers which could have a multi-purpose use, beginning with a sports coliseum.

The bleacher area can be built to serve as sleeping areas, together with the main floor.

It should have many bathrooms and many toilets to serve at least one thousand families.

Congressmen Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar) and Rodel Batocahe (Ako Bicol Partylist) have filed 2 separate house bills calling for the construction of permanent evacuation center in every big town and city.

The program should be scheduled to start with the places usually hit by typhoons, such as Albay, Camarines Sur, Aurora, Isabela, Cagayan, the three Samars, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Northern Negros, and Iloilo.

Erap’s pet project

Mayor Joseph Estrada has inaugurated the Manila Dialysis Center (MDC) at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Hospital in Tondo.

It has an initial 26 new dialysis machines, with 34 to be added in 2015, and another 40 to complete 100 machines before June 2016.

First Lady Loi Estrada had established dialysis centers at the Malacañang clinic in 1999.

Mayor Estrada is completing his projects one by one.

No money left

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said Wednesday that only P2.8 billion is left for Yolanda rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Early this year, Abad announced that P100 billion was appropriated this year for Yolanda relief and rehabilitation programs and projects. No wonder thousands of Yolanda survivors are still living in tents.

Meanwhile in Zamboanga, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman admitted the government missed its deadline to move the displaced families to transitory houses by Dec. 15. There are still 1,000 families staying at at the Enriquez Sports Complex.

Guns belonged to politicians

Four of the guns recovered from the Kubol of drug lord Peter Co at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) were traced to politicians.

A caliber .22 caliber Walther pistol was registered in the name of Rep. Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava of the lone district of Guimaras.

A high-powered rifle Bushmaster caliber 5.56mm belongs to Valenzuela losing congressional candidate Carlitos Tiquia.

A 9mm Browning pistol was registered to barangay councilman Vicente Alindada Jr. of Caloocan.

Another 9mm Browning pistol belonged to Antonio Nicanor, a government employee.

A fifth gun seized from Peter Co had its serial number defaced.

Secretary Leila de Lima said that the NBP controls as much as 50 percent of the illegal drug trade.

Tidbits

Ebola death toll is 6,900.

Conrado Hernandez, an owner of a car rental firm, was shot dead by holduppers in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

Christmas greetings to Ramon Ang, Roberto Coyiuto Jr., Andrew Tan, George Yang, William Gatchalian, Chairman Zeny Ducut, Charlie Gonzales, Gomer and Lee Amurao, Jessie Ejercito, and Bishop Bong Baylon.