A win by Noynoy Aquino will represent any or a combination of the following:
- the political awakening of the upper middle-class and middle class;
- a rejection of graft and corruption at the highest levels of government;
- the continuing political clout of the old rich and the intellectual elite; and
- a second chance for the edsa people power revolt of 1986.
A win by Manny Villar will represent any or a combination of the following:
- a second chance of the poor masses to put in power someone they perceive to be their champion after the downfall of their former champion, erap estrada;
- the start of the weakening of the hold of the intellectual elite and old rich on national politics; and
- the alignment of the middle class with the poor.
However, more reflective of the true political maturity of Filipino voters will be the results of the senatorial elections.
If Jinggoy Estrada, Lito Lapid, and Bong Revilla get re-elected, performance and competence are certainly not among the qualities most voters look for in a senator. In my view, they are among the most incompetent officials ever elected into office by Filipino voters.
If Juan Ponce Enrile, Bongbong Marcos, Sergio Osmena, Lito Osmena, Susan Ople, Ramon Mitra, Miriam Santiago, Ruffy Biazon, Sonia Roco, and TG Guingona win or get to within striking distance of the top 12, these remnants and offspring of the Martial Law generation continue to reap the fruits of labors made in previous Senates by their parents, spouses or their own efforts. Their wins will also mean political dynasties will be part of national politics for many years to come.
If Risa Hontiveros, Liza Maza, and Satur Ocampo win or land in the next few rungs after the top 12, the militant activists from the left are slowly but surely blending into and gaining the acceptance of mainstream society.
If any candidate of the Ang Kapatiran Party wins or gets a few million votes, they have made great progress as a party.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Bullet-proof helmets for the NBI
Not one of the NBI agents who stormed the home of Jason Ivler wore a helmet. And they said they were prepared for the raid, knowing that their target is armed and dangerous. If Jason were more accurate during his close quarters firefight with the NBI, he would have instantly killed the two NBI agents he hit with armor-piercing bullets.
Education is the best Family Planning Method
The higher the educational attainment of a Filipina, the lower the level of unmet family planning needs. The 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) shows a declining level of unmet family planning needs as the woman's education level rises. The range is from almost 29 percent (no education) to about 20 percent (with college education or higher).
Education
No education 28.6
Elementary 24.5
High School 22.4
College 20.2
I support effective natural family planning methods. Withdrawal is a natural way but it is not effective. The Young Adult Fertility Survey of 2002 found that 7% of young Filipinos practice withdrawal as a natural method.
The NSO also says in one of latest news releases about the NDHS:
"One in three births (36 percent) in the Philippines is either unwanted (16 percent) or mistimed (20 percent), according to the results of the 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Unplanned pregnancies are more likely to occur among older women than younger women. The survey data reveals that more than half (53 percent) of births to women age 40-44 in the 5 years preceding the survey were unplanned; the majority (84 percent) of such births were unwanted. Among women age 15-19, 31 percent of births were unplanned, of which, only 21 percent were unwanted. These findings are based on the responses of women age 15-49 years to the question as to whether each of their births in the five years preceding the survey was wanted at the time of birth, mistimed or wanted but a later time, or not wanted at all."
Only 3.6% use the Rhythm Method and only 0.1% use the Mucus Method. On artificial methods, use of the Pill is at 19% for young Filipinas while condom use is at 4.9% for young males. The family planning burden is borne mostly by women, which is not fair and not right at all.
Analysis of the 2002 YAFS by the Philippine Center for Population and Development revealed that church attendance and familial religiosity are weak predictors of contraceptive use and that the choice of contraceptive method is a decision made independent of religiosity. I see here the weakness of churches in the Philippines (not just the Catholic church) to teach the inseparable link between faith and action.
Another PCPD study this time focusing on Payatas revealed that four years of effort (started in 2003) to teach NFP, yielded only 27 couples (out of 390 recruits) who practice NFP. Trainer failure was identified as the weakness of the NFP in Payatas.
The 2006 Family Planning Survey shows that "(m)odern natural family planning methods, which includes Mucus/Billing/Ovulation, Lactational Amenorrhea Method, and Standard Days Method were used by 0.3 percent of married women." Only 0.3%. How many parishes are teaching natural family planning? Looks like only a handful have effective NFP.
Education
No education 28.6
Elementary 24.5
High School 22.4
College 20.2
I support effective natural family planning methods. Withdrawal is a natural way but it is not effective. The Young Adult Fertility Survey of 2002 found that 7% of young Filipinos practice withdrawal as a natural method.
The NSO also says in one of latest news releases about the NDHS:
"One in three births (36 percent) in the Philippines is either unwanted (16 percent) or mistimed (20 percent), according to the results of the 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Unplanned pregnancies are more likely to occur among older women than younger women. The survey data reveals that more than half (53 percent) of births to women age 40-44 in the 5 years preceding the survey were unplanned; the majority (84 percent) of such births were unwanted. Among women age 15-19, 31 percent of births were unplanned, of which, only 21 percent were unwanted. These findings are based on the responses of women age 15-49 years to the question as to whether each of their births in the five years preceding the survey was wanted at the time of birth, mistimed or wanted but a later time, or not wanted at all."
Only 3.6% use the Rhythm Method and only 0.1% use the Mucus Method. On artificial methods, use of the Pill is at 19% for young Filipinas while condom use is at 4.9% for young males. The family planning burden is borne mostly by women, which is not fair and not right at all.
Analysis of the 2002 YAFS by the Philippine Center for Population and Development revealed that church attendance and familial religiosity are weak predictors of contraceptive use and that the choice of contraceptive method is a decision made independent of religiosity. I see here the weakness of churches in the Philippines (not just the Catholic church) to teach the inseparable link between faith and action.
Another PCPD study this time focusing on Payatas revealed that four years of effort (started in 2003) to teach NFP, yielded only 27 couples (out of 390 recruits) who practice NFP. Trainer failure was identified as the weakness of the NFP in Payatas.
The 2006 Family Planning Survey shows that "(m)odern natural family planning methods, which includes Mucus/Billing/Ovulation, Lactational Amenorrhea Method, and Standard Days Method were used by 0.3 percent of married women." Only 0.3%. How many parishes are teaching natural family planning? Looks like only a handful have effective NFP.
The 1987 Constitution puts reins on the President's Power to Appoint the Chief Justice
The Philippines' 1987 Constitution gives the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) up to 90 days to submit its shortlist of nominees for vacancies in the judiciary, including the posts of Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court.
The JBC's power to nominate holds at bay, for up to 90 days, the power of the President to appoint.
So when Chief Justice Reynato Puno retires on May 17 upon turning 70 years old, there is no hiatus yet in that post in the 'eyes' of the Constitution because the Constitution gives the JBC 90 days to perform its duty. When the 90-day period expires and no nomination is submitted, that is when the President can take the initiative and exercise the appointing power. Any presidential appointment before the JBC nominates and before those 90 days come to pass will be a violation of the Constitution as usurpation of power or exercise of authority not vested in the President at that particular moment.
The JBC's power to nominate holds at bay, for up to 90 days, the power of the President to appoint.
So when Chief Justice Reynato Puno retires on May 17 upon turning 70 years old, there is no hiatus yet in that post in the 'eyes' of the Constitution because the Constitution gives the JBC 90 days to perform its duty. When the 90-day period expires and no nomination is submitted, that is when the President can take the initiative and exercise the appointing power. Any presidential appointment before the JBC nominates and before those 90 days come to pass will be a violation of the Constitution as usurpation of power or exercise of authority not vested in the President at that particular moment.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Fuel Pricing and Supply Alternatives
There are two options the Department of Energy and Congress may want to consider as counterpoints to market-based deregulated fuel pricing.
First, I propose a Strategic Fuel Inventory System (SFIS) run by a government agency with oversight by a public-private entity. It can function the same way that the National Food Authority (NFA) maintains extra stocks of rice and palay which are released whenever there is an urgency to stabilize fuel prices or supplies. This mode will mean government has to have the capability to store the fuel supplies. Building the storage facilities and maintaining them will entail costs though. Initially, we could store the fuel in existing fuel depots that are not owned or run by any of the local oil firms. The facilities should be located outside Metro Manila. Perhaps have them in Subic or Clark. This SFIS should have the added mission of promoting the development and use of alternative fuels.
Another option that could be tied to or separate from the SFIS is a better Oil Price Stabilization Fund (OPSF). The OPSF is the fund that government used during the Marcos and Aquino administrations to keep fuel prices from fluctuating too much. The old OPSF caused deficit problems for government back then and was vigorously opposed by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
Instead of resurrecting the old OPSF, let us have a much better one. We can learn much from the energy security policies and initiatives of the European Commission. For the long-term, the Philippines should propose that the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) have a coordinated energy security policy and implementing structure.
First, I propose a Strategic Fuel Inventory System (SFIS) run by a government agency with oversight by a public-private entity. It can function the same way that the National Food Authority (NFA) maintains extra stocks of rice and palay which are released whenever there is an urgency to stabilize fuel prices or supplies. This mode will mean government has to have the capability to store the fuel supplies. Building the storage facilities and maintaining them will entail costs though. Initially, we could store the fuel in existing fuel depots that are not owned or run by any of the local oil firms. The facilities should be located outside Metro Manila. Perhaps have them in Subic or Clark. This SFIS should have the added mission of promoting the development and use of alternative fuels.
Another option that could be tied to or separate from the SFIS is a better Oil Price Stabilization Fund (OPSF). The OPSF is the fund that government used during the Marcos and Aquino administrations to keep fuel prices from fluctuating too much. The old OPSF caused deficit problems for government back then and was vigorously opposed by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
Instead of resurrecting the old OPSF, let us have a much better one. We can learn much from the energy security policies and initiatives of the European Commission. For the long-term, the Philippines should propose that the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) have a coordinated energy security policy and implementing structure.
Friday, February 20, 2009
The good that P320 million can do
What can P320 million do, buy or pay for? This question occurred to me as I did some wishful thinking about the expected record-high Super Lotto jackpot come Sunday, February 22.
I did some checking and number-crunching and learned that P320 million can:
1. Pay for the enrolment fees of 8,421 nursing students at the University of Santo Tomas for one semester;
2. Buy Compaq Presario notebook computers (assuming non-availment of bulk purchase discount) for 8,888 high school and college students;
3. Double the P8,000 monthly salary of 6,666 nurses who will sign up for six months of countryside service under the Department of Health's NARS program;
4. Help the Department of Social Welfare and Development serve an additional 21,333 families for one year through its Pantawid sa Pamilya program;
5. Sustain the operations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish - Kamuning for at least 42 years at current prices; and
6. Build 721 units of e-jeepneys (P400,000 per unit) and charge their batteries for one whole year at P120 per day.
Looks like P320 million can do a lot of good if spent wisely. I hope whoever wins it will.
I did some checking and number-crunching and learned that P320 million can:
1. Pay for the enrolment fees of 8,421 nursing students at the University of Santo Tomas for one semester;
2. Buy Compaq Presario notebook computers (assuming non-availment of bulk purchase discount) for 8,888 high school and college students;
3. Double the P8,000 monthly salary of 6,666 nurses who will sign up for six months of countryside service under the Department of Health's NARS program;
4. Help the Department of Social Welfare and Development serve an additional 21,333 families for one year through its Pantawid sa Pamilya program;
5. Sustain the operations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish - Kamuning for at least 42 years at current prices; and
6. Build 721 units of e-jeepneys (P400,000 per unit) and charge their batteries for one whole year at P120 per day.
Looks like P320 million can do a lot of good if spent wisely. I hope whoever wins it will.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Lotto wish list
Libre pa naman ang mangarap nang gising kaya heto ang aking mga pangarap kung tamaan ko ang super mega sa laki na P320 million jackpot ng PCSO Super Lotto.
Executive medical check-up sa St. Luke's Medical Center para sa aking kapatid na si Clarence at sa aking tatay, para sa akin, para kay Lola Garding, Tita Nida at mga iba pang malapit na kamag-anak na maysakit, at sa nanay ni Noel na si Tita Des, at sa kaibigan kong si Miro Valera at sa mama niyang si Tita Vilma, at sa tatay ni Raymond na si Tito Pons. Damay na rin si Fr. Greg at Beth Liao ng Kamuning parish at mga SVD CKMS seminaristang sakitin. Daming kuwarto yun sa ospital. Isang buong floor na yata yun. Siyempre, kasama ng check-up ay lahat ng gastos sa gamot at ospital. Health is wealth nga naman. Tapos i-request ko sa St. Luke's na ipasok ang pinsan kong si Doc Nuel at ang mga kaibigan kong nurse na sina Jepoi M., Mark R (nurse to be) at si Lalay. Aba, sa laki ng gastos ko sa ospital siguro naman may konting weight yung 'recommendation' ko. Sure naman akong qualified sila na makasama sa hospital staff. Pa-admit ko na rin sa maternity at OB-Gyn ang mama ni Rellini na buntis. Pa-check-up na rin papa ni Rellini na may high blood.
Pagawa ako ng educational trust fund para sa aking mga pamangkin at mga anak ng ilang close friends na kailangan ng tulong.
Pagawan ko ng medical office si Nuel at yung mga nurse friends ko sa Medical Arts building ng St. Luke's para marami silang clients-patients.
Bilhin ko yung bahay at lote sa tapat ng Qazo (Quezon City High School) sa kanto ng Dr. Lazcano at Ybardolaza. Tayuan ko yung ng building. First floor ay fastfood para sa mga estudyante ng Qazo. Mura lang ang food para affordable. Kung pobre talaga, sila ang maghugas ng kanilang nagamit na pinggan, baso, kutsara at tinidor. Fair na yun. Sa second floor ay barber shop at computer shop. Sa third floor ay opisina at quarters ko. Sa rooftop may covered court para sa basketball, etc.
Donations para sa Kamuning parish at sa Shrine of the Divine Word at SVD Mission Areas sa Palawan at Smokey Mountain. Milyones para sa educational assistance program at social services. Yung totoong full scholarship para kahit yung mga mahirap pero masipag mag-aral (di kailangang pang honor student) ay makapag-aral. Kumpleto matrikula, libro, pang internet, pamasahe, baon, damit, gamit, etc. Mga 144 parish scholars (12 x 12) sa Kamuning pa lang. Pagawa ako ng educational trust fund sa BDO o BPI para mahusay ang management ng scholarship fund.
Parish at Shrine pharmacies para may libre at murang gamot para sa mga mahihirap ng parokya. Medical-dental clinics para sa mahihirap na residente ng parokya at service area ng Shrine.
Paaralin ko yung mga bataan ko sa parokya na natigil sa pag-aaral at yung kulang sa funds para makapag-aral. Ipasok na rin lang sila sa mahusay na schools para may quality ang aral at hindi waste of time. May kondisyon nga lang. Bawal bisyo: smoking, drugs, gambling, etc.
Scholarship para sa mga SVD seminarians sa CKMS para focused sila sa aral. Donation para sa Villa Cristo Rey retirement home ng SVD Philippines.
Ito na yung medyo mahirap na part. Housing projects. Bahay at lupa para sa tatay ko, kay Emmanuel at sa mama niya. Pagawan ko ng bagong mga bahay doon sa aming Landicho family residence sa Lemery, Batangas. Damihan ng kuwarto para may place para sa lahat ng mga dapat. Lipat muna sa apartment for rent habang ginagawa ang mga bahay doon sa lote. Dapat may house and lot din kami doon sa Milagros, Masbate. Modest pero maayos para merong uwian sina Papa at mga kapatid niya. Parang retirement villa.
Housing rin para sa akin at sa mga bataan ko sa parokya at shrine. Isang malaking lote sa Kamuning o malapit sa Kamuning, tapos tayuan ng mga ilang duplex. Marami sa mga pamilya ng bataan ang walang sariling bahay o hindi maayos ang current na tirahan o apartment lang. Binalla, Labustro, Cezar, Barrios, Bardaje, Badoy, Merin, Arenas, Francisco, Manongsong, Aliscad. Anim na duplex. Kasya ba yun sa isang lote?
Ito naman yung fun part. Biyaheng abroad. First trip. Rome-Vatican, Euro Disneyland, Lourdes, at Paris para sa aking mga bataan. Kasama ang mga magulang nila kung gusto ng mga magulang at kung hindi malaking abala sa pagkuha ng visa at passport. Pa-asikaso sa travel agency lahat ng travel arrangements. Puedeng sa summer vacation o sa Christmas vacation ang biyahe. December 25/26 to January 4/5 kung during Christmas. Solo flight ko naman, o puede ring may kasama na isa o dalawa. Ontario, Texas, New York, Washington DC, California. Tokyo, Singapore.
Pondo at mga libro at sports gear para sa mga kaibigan ko sa PSBA at sa Junior Marketing Practitioners.
Pang sarili. Sangkatutak na libro, dvd at music cd. Suportahan ko ang ilang charitable causes like World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), PCIJ at CMFR. Magpa-scholarship rin ako sa Manila Times College where I was the consultant who helped them set-up. Gawa ako ng isang media production firm tapos kasama ko doon mga kaibigan ko sa media profession. Tulungan ko yung production outfit ng Gourmet Everyday. Donations rin sa Don Quintin Paredes High School, Roces High School, Kamuning Elementary School, Tomas Morato Elementary School, at Quezon City High School. Mag invest ako sa catering business ng pinsan kong si Michael. Magtayo ako ng NGO for education, human rights, environment, at economics.
Executive medical check-up sa St. Luke's Medical Center para sa aking kapatid na si Clarence at sa aking tatay, para sa akin, para kay Lola Garding, Tita Nida at mga iba pang malapit na kamag-anak na maysakit, at sa nanay ni Noel na si Tita Des, at sa kaibigan kong si Miro Valera at sa mama niyang si Tita Vilma, at sa tatay ni Raymond na si Tito Pons. Damay na rin si Fr. Greg at Beth Liao ng Kamuning parish at mga SVD CKMS seminaristang sakitin. Daming kuwarto yun sa ospital. Isang buong floor na yata yun. Siyempre, kasama ng check-up ay lahat ng gastos sa gamot at ospital. Health is wealth nga naman. Tapos i-request ko sa St. Luke's na ipasok ang pinsan kong si Doc Nuel at ang mga kaibigan kong nurse na sina Jepoi M., Mark R (nurse to be) at si Lalay. Aba, sa laki ng gastos ko sa ospital siguro naman may konting weight yung 'recommendation' ko. Sure naman akong qualified sila na makasama sa hospital staff. Pa-admit ko na rin sa maternity at OB-Gyn ang mama ni Rellini na buntis. Pa-check-up na rin papa ni Rellini na may high blood.
Pagawa ako ng educational trust fund para sa aking mga pamangkin at mga anak ng ilang close friends na kailangan ng tulong.
Pagawan ko ng medical office si Nuel at yung mga nurse friends ko sa Medical Arts building ng St. Luke's para marami silang clients-patients.
Bilhin ko yung bahay at lote sa tapat ng Qazo (Quezon City High School) sa kanto ng Dr. Lazcano at Ybardolaza. Tayuan ko yung ng building. First floor ay fastfood para sa mga estudyante ng Qazo. Mura lang ang food para affordable. Kung pobre talaga, sila ang maghugas ng kanilang nagamit na pinggan, baso, kutsara at tinidor. Fair na yun. Sa second floor ay barber shop at computer shop. Sa third floor ay opisina at quarters ko. Sa rooftop may covered court para sa basketball, etc.
Donations para sa Kamuning parish at sa Shrine of the Divine Word at SVD Mission Areas sa Palawan at Smokey Mountain. Milyones para sa educational assistance program at social services. Yung totoong full scholarship para kahit yung mga mahirap pero masipag mag-aral (di kailangang pang honor student) ay makapag-aral. Kumpleto matrikula, libro, pang internet, pamasahe, baon, damit, gamit, etc. Mga 144 parish scholars (12 x 12) sa Kamuning pa lang. Pagawa ako ng educational trust fund sa BDO o BPI para mahusay ang management ng scholarship fund.
Parish at Shrine pharmacies para may libre at murang gamot para sa mga mahihirap ng parokya. Medical-dental clinics para sa mahihirap na residente ng parokya at service area ng Shrine.
Paaralin ko yung mga bataan ko sa parokya na natigil sa pag-aaral at yung kulang sa funds para makapag-aral. Ipasok na rin lang sila sa mahusay na schools para may quality ang aral at hindi waste of time. May kondisyon nga lang. Bawal bisyo: smoking, drugs, gambling, etc.
Scholarship para sa mga SVD seminarians sa CKMS para focused sila sa aral. Donation para sa Villa Cristo Rey retirement home ng SVD Philippines.
Ito na yung medyo mahirap na part. Housing projects. Bahay at lupa para sa tatay ko, kay Emmanuel at sa mama niya. Pagawan ko ng bagong mga bahay doon sa aming Landicho family residence sa Lemery, Batangas. Damihan ng kuwarto para may place para sa lahat ng mga dapat. Lipat muna sa apartment for rent habang ginagawa ang mga bahay doon sa lote. Dapat may house and lot din kami doon sa Milagros, Masbate. Modest pero maayos para merong uwian sina Papa at mga kapatid niya. Parang retirement villa.
Housing rin para sa akin at sa mga bataan ko sa parokya at shrine. Isang malaking lote sa Kamuning o malapit sa Kamuning, tapos tayuan ng mga ilang duplex. Marami sa mga pamilya ng bataan ang walang sariling bahay o hindi maayos ang current na tirahan o apartment lang. Binalla, Labustro, Cezar, Barrios, Bardaje, Badoy, Merin, Arenas, Francisco, Manongsong, Aliscad. Anim na duplex. Kasya ba yun sa isang lote?
Ito naman yung fun part. Biyaheng abroad. First trip. Rome-Vatican, Euro Disneyland, Lourdes, at Paris para sa aking mga bataan. Kasama ang mga magulang nila kung gusto ng mga magulang at kung hindi malaking abala sa pagkuha ng visa at passport. Pa-asikaso sa travel agency lahat ng travel arrangements. Puedeng sa summer vacation o sa Christmas vacation ang biyahe. December 25/26 to January 4/5 kung during Christmas. Solo flight ko naman, o puede ring may kasama na isa o dalawa. Ontario, Texas, New York, Washington DC, California. Tokyo, Singapore.
Pondo at mga libro at sports gear para sa mga kaibigan ko sa PSBA at sa Junior Marketing Practitioners.
Pang sarili. Sangkatutak na libro, dvd at music cd. Suportahan ko ang ilang charitable causes like World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), PCIJ at CMFR. Magpa-scholarship rin ako sa Manila Times College where I was the consultant who helped them set-up. Gawa ako ng isang media production firm tapos kasama ko doon mga kaibigan ko sa media profession. Tulungan ko yung production outfit ng Gourmet Everyday. Donations rin sa Don Quintin Paredes High School, Roces High School, Kamuning Elementary School, Tomas Morato Elementary School, at Quezon City High School. Mag invest ako sa catering business ng pinsan kong si Michael. Magtayo ako ng NGO for education, human rights, environment, at economics.
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