Control of Meralco Still in the Lopezes

The result of the stockholders meeting yesterday still favored the Lopez family. Although there was tension on the stockholders meeting since the group of Winston Garcia was also there.

The results of the meeting is remarkable since even the small shareholders attended the stockholder's meeting. It seems that every stockholder of Meralco is doing their part in at least solving the crisis in the public utility firm.

Some of the comments from stockholders prove that more are still confident to the existing management. As one of the stockholder said that they dont like Winston Garcia run Meralco. Still the stockholders meeting is a mix of anti and pro Lopez.

The Lopez family also rejected the order of the SEC not to let proxy vote on the said meeting. Gina Lopez said that the decision of the SEC is unfair.

Now that the Lopezes still control Meralco, changes in policies and the rate of services should be taken into consideration. They have to listen to the voices of the people, their clients. Public interest should prevail.

Proposal for Free Text Messages: A Dream

The proposal of the Speaker of the House Prospero Nograles making the text messaging service of the telecommunications firms to make it free is something that the Speaker should think first. This is only a clear politicking. A nonsense proposal?

If you are an intelligent person, making the text messages free to your subscriber would just mean you want to loose income or worst it would lead you to bankcruptcy. The telcos get their bulk of income from this service and making it free would mean a big problem for them. Some of the executives of these telecommunications firms already reacted to this proposal of the Congressman.

If this proposal is insisted by the government just to "help the Filipinos" in their crusade against poverty, I think the government is not thinking intelligently. They will interfere to a purely private business activity. A business entity put up their businesses to gain profit. And asking these business entities to provide their services for free is ridiculous. The country will be loosing investor in this case. Or we can also say that this is a form of harassment to the business sector or maybe this is just another divertionary tactics of the allies of the President.

The intention of some politicians to make text messages for free is a contradiction to their previous proposals wherein they want to include or put a tax on text messaging service. Its confusing.

Should we ask from our lawmakers to just focus on their jobs and stop riding to the issues which sometimes make them funny. Formulate laws that will really help the Filipinos from the crisis that are still plaguing our country.

Why not reduce taxes on Oil?
why not speed up the development of alternative fuels?
Why not stop corruption in the government?
Why not use your pork barrels to more significant projects not just building kiosk, unfinished roads and bridges?
Why not reduce red tape in the government?
Why not implement cost cutting measures to at least they can effectively use the taxes of the people?
Why not reduce the perks and other benefits of high ranking government officials?
why not put competent people that will run the government?
why not lead the people by example?

We have so many questions that our lawmakers and the people in the executive department failed to address. For how long should Filipinos wait for these people to work for the best interest of the country.

I am also in favor of a much lower rates for text messages and in other sevices provided by SMART, GLOBE and Sun Cellular but it should be based on actions and proposals which are not impossible to attain. Just make it lower. Asking them to give it for free is impossible.

Death of RCBC Massacre Suspects is a Rubout?

The employees union and other bank organization claimed that there was something wrong with the latest development on the RCBC massacre. There might be a rubout in the deaths of 3 suspects which a barangay captain is included. Why should the policemen killed these suspects? The victims sustained 5 to 12 gunshot wounds. If these suspects will not be able to talk, they could not anymore give information as to who is the mastermind and other information that will solve the case.

Another development is the possibility that 2 or more police or military officers are involved in the massacre. Although the investigators are not giving complete information on the identity of these suspects. there might be some active or high ranking officers in uniform that may be involve in this case. A really organized syndicate.

I hope the authorities would be able to solve this crime soon. No cover ups, no rub outs. Just do their job - to protect the people.


Update:
The CHR (Commission on Human Rights) made a pronouncement that the deaths of 3 suspects in the RCBC Laguna Massacre is really a rubout. This is based on their envistigation as requested by the relatives and other groups. There is no indication that the suspects attacked the arresting police. Another violation committed by the police is the absence of Warrant of Arrest for the suspects. There is also no clear evidence identifying the suspects to the RCBC bank robbery.

This is again a big question to the integrity of the operation of the PNP or Philippine National Police. It seems that there is a cover up on this case and probably protecting somebody who is in uniform.

Laguna Massacre: The Worst in Philippine History

The country was shocked when 10 people died in a bank robbery in RCBC Laguna a few days ago. The victims were shot point blank according to police reports. It is estimated that the total amount robbed from the bank was around 9- 12 million pesos. The police has some leads on the suspects and are continuing the investigation and pursuit of the suspects.

The reward for the capture of the suspects for RCBC Bank Robbery have already totaled to 2,000,000 pesos. The government already created a task force to facilitate the investigation and the arrest of the suspects.

Another shocking news was the massacre of a family in Hornalan, Calamba. This is another town in Laguna. The lone suspect which according to some witnesses has a grudge on one of the members of the massacred family, used an armalite rifle and made a shooting spree in middle of the night.

The casualties on that massacre includes 4 children and their parents. There are 8 victims who died on the spot and 6 people were wounded. Police had already identified the suspect as Bernabe Fiesta, a caretaker of a farm in the said locality.

This massacre in Laguna is considered as the worst in the history of the Philippines. The Philippine National Police and other government agencies should double their efforts to capture the suspects to these 2 massacres. They should not let these people to do these horrific acts again.

Should the government bring back the death penalty (again) to prevent these kind of acts?

updates:
the police already filed charges to more than 5 suspects on the RCBC Bank Robbery. One of the members of the group who served as the look out is now being considered if he can be a state witness to facilitate the case and the convictions of the suspects. The other suspects in the RCBC massacre are those people who were killed in the previous week, which were alleged to be a rubout.

Passport Scam at DFA: A Billion Peso Scam

There is a one page paid advertisement in Inquirer today exposing the alleged scam at department of Foriegn Affairs. This is about their use of new technology in procesing of Passports. The project, as alleged, is overpriced by at least P50.00 pesos per passport.

The advertisement even included some documents related to the project and documents that even support their allegations. The group behind the expose is the college editors guild of the philippines. The group filed charges to Secretary Romulo and other people involve in the approval of the said project. The project was awarded to a foriegn company and there was no bidding.

If this allegation is true, this would amount to more than a billion peso scam. Since this expose is a paid advertisement, we have to get more information on this. I hope this is not true.

The government is again in the limelight not for good news but for anomalies that President Arroyo would always ignore.

Earthquakes and Storms in Asia:

The recent earthquake that hit China already caused an alarm to other Asian countries. There are already some text messages that the Philippines would be the next one. Although this is not true since earthquakes cant be predicted as to where and when it will occur. The death toll in China is already estimated to reach at least 50 thousand casualties and the number will still rise as there are more bodies found in the hardly hit province of China.

The destruction to Burma of the cyclone a few weeks ago is another issue of how governments would address problems during calamities and other emergencies. the continued reluctance of Burma to accept humanitarian relief from United Nations, U.S. and other countries only adds up to the suffering of its people. Estimated casualties of the storm already hit more than 133,000 deaths including missing persons.

Since these natural calamities can happen to any nation, third world, developing or industrialized countries, governments should have a plan in dealing with these situations. Although the Philippines is frequently hit by these calamities, The country have not yet experienced having casualties similar to these Asian nations. It is still important that safety measures are always there. The Filipinos should be prepared all the times. Government agencies should always on guard on the possibilities that these may happen to our country.

Let us just hope and pray that the Philippines will be spared from these destruction. Its enough that we have dirty politics, poor Filipinos, high inflation and unemployment.

Latest Satisfaction Survey for President GMA

The latest satisfaction survey conducted by Ibon Foundation reveals a very low satisfaction of the Filipinos to the performance of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The result is the lowest rating the President recieved for her years of tenure as the President.

April's results shows a -74 net satisfaction rating which is 10 lower than the previous month. The results showed that 81.67% of respondents said they are unsatisfied, while 7.69% are satisfied.

If we will compare this result to the satisfaction survey conducted by the same organization in April 2004, the President recieves -30 while this year she recieved -70. A big drop on the satisfaction rating.

The net satisfaction rating is the difference between the percentage of satisfied and unsatisfied responses. Ibon Foundation latest survey round was conducted across various sectors nationwide from April 7 to 16 with 1,495 respondents. They used a multi-stage probability sampling scheme with a margin of error of plus or minus three percent.

President GMA's Secret Meeting with ZTE

A new witness interviewed by ABS-CBN presented some photos of the alleged meeting between President GMA and some officials of ZTE Corporation in China. She was with her husband First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

According to former congressman Suplico, if this is really true, the President can be held accountable for the ZTE - NBN Scam. It can be considered a violation of graft and corrupt practices act.

Why meet ZTE official in a secret meeting where you can conduct it in their corporate offices? This would really prove that there is a grand conspiracy in the ZTE-NBN Deal.

I hope those who have the photos or new evidences can really present these evidences in the proper forum. No more politicking. They should not be used by some politicians who also have self-interests.

Again this is a wait and see scenario. Who will take the limelight again. Is it the senate, the lower house, or the activists in the streets ...

What would President GMA do. Deny it or make another issue to divert the attention of public?

Takeover of Meralco: A Political Move

We have seen in the news for the past few days the planned takeover or control of Meralco by the government. Although the President does not directly admit the possible takeover since it is not in accordance with the existing policy of the government which is on privatization.

What is in Meralco that the government is really interested. I really doubt if it is really for the public interest. Why only now. Meralco is charging high on its consumers for so many years but why now? This is a very big question. What is the motive. Should we believe what Mr Lopez have said that the government is just diverting the issues. And they are the victim. It is a fact that the Lopezes are not that close with the present administration.

Another critial issue here is the intervention of GSIS. Garcia wants to have a change in management. He also said that GSIS can purchase the bigger portion of the stocks so that they can already change not just the top management but at the same time the way Meralco is being run. A suggestion that Meralco should be divided into 2 is again a dangerous move. The question is, can GSIS, a financial instituion can run a utility company. Do they have the expertise?

If Meralco is charging above board, there are so many government agencies that should act to make inquiries or investigations but not a takeover.

The issue on the utility rates is a long time issue. Still no concrete actions are taken by the government to at least lower the rates. The EPIRA law and other energy related laws are still there. There are some laws which should be repealed but up to now it is still being implemented.

With the spiraling of gas prices, rice shortage, high ulitility rates, high inflation rates, and poverty, what will happen to us, the filipinos, and the Philippines.

Soaring Prices of Fuels and Food, and 8.3% Inflation: This is the Philippines

With the soaring prices of fuels and food especially rice, what will happen to the Philippines now. An 8.3% inflation rate is an alarming figure. If this will go higher in the succeeding quarters, the Philippines may experience social unrest and riots similar to African nations.

Oil companies are still planning to increase the price of fuels to .50 a liter for the next few weeks. These companies said that they still have to recover at least P4/liter. That would bring the prices of petroleum products to more than P50 pesos a liter.

The failure of the government to import additional rice to support the demands of the Filipinos during lean season is another major concern. Based on some analysts, the price of rice would go as high as P60 per kilo for ordinary rice.


If our government would just lift the VAT(value added tax) on oil, the estimated cut in the price of petroleum products would be P5 pesos per liter. Why is it the government dont want to do this. At least it will have an impact on the prices of our basic commodities.

Again, this is economic development, according to the present administration.

Enterovirus 71 in the Philippines? A threat

A news from one of the TV station yesterday reported about the Enterovirus 71 which now kills more than 20 children and made 1,179 others ill in China. It is already causing an alarm in China.

A report from a website states that the EV71 virus which can cause hand, foot and mouth disease, has appeared before in China but this outbreak was only publicly acknowledged by authorities on lately.The children presented with fever, blisters and ulcers in the mouth, or rashes on the hands and feet resulting in brain, heart and lung damage to some of the victims.

Of the deaths the majority were children under the age of two - another 341 children remain in hospital, 27 of whom are in a critical condition; another 8 are not expected to survive.

Enteroviruses are bad news because there is no vaccine or antiviral agent available to treat or prevent the virus and they spread easily through contact with infected blisters or faeces, causing high fevers, paralysis and swelling of the brain or its lining. Treatment relies on managing these complications, which can include meningitis and heart failure.

Although the Department of Health already assured the Filipinos that the Philippines is still safe from the virus. But still we should be concerned on this since the virus thrives in tropical climate and usually prevalent during summer and rainy season.

Additional information from emedicine.com.

- Enteroviruses belong to the Picornaviridae family of viruses and are further organized into the subgenera polioviruses, coxsackieviruses (groups A and B), and echoviruses.
- Enteroviruses are transmitted predominantly via the fecal/oral route, although respiratory-oral spread and spread by fomites are also possible. Upon entry into the oropharynx, the virus replicates in submucosal tissues of the distal pharynx and alimentary tract. Viral particles are shed in the feces and in upper respiratory secretions for days prior to symptom onset. The average incubation period is 3-10 days, during which the virus migrates to regional lymphoid tissue and replicates. Minor viremia results, which is associated with the onset of symptoms and viral spread to the reticuloendothelial system (spleen, liver, bone marrow). Dissemination to target organs follows, and viral replication in target organs causes major viremia with secondary seeding of the CNS. Target organs include the skin, heart, and CNS.
- Enteroviruses are distributed worldwide and are influenced by season and climate. Infections occur in summer and early fall in temperate areas, while tropical and semitropical areas bear the brunt all year.

Let us all hope that this plague will not cause an outbreak in the philippines. It will just add more problems on our government and to the Filipinos

Philippines Rice Sufficient in 2010?

Todays headlines in the newspapers caught my attention. IRRI assured GMA that the Philippines would be Rice Sufficient comes 2010.

With years of existence of IRRI (International Rice Research Institute)in the Philippines, would you agree that this will materialize in 2010? This is again a strategy of the Arroyo government to ease the Filipino people on the problems of rice crisis in our country today. She's giving us falsehopes, again.

Should we say that IRRI is an ineffective institution in helping the Filipinos solve rice crisis. I do agree that IRRI was able to developed so many varieties and high yeilding rice. They even help other countries in developing and providing them with best variety of palay. But how about the Philippines? We do the research and development but we do not benefit from this.

Or should we blame again the government for failure to address the real problems in the agriculture sector. According to some economists, GMA is unwittingly driving the international prices of rice. Because of our problems here, other Asian countries are now forming rice cartels. We cant even find enough bidders for our rice importation.

How about the current Agriculture Secretary, Arthur Yap? Is he efficient in his job. With months of suffering from high prices of rice, still the agriculture secretary is assuring the Filipinos that there is no crisis. That NFA rice is reaching its intended beneficiaries, the poor. But how about other filipinos, who are not "considered poor" but is also affected by this situation. With so many pronouncement nby the Agriculture Secretary, we can't even feel the effects of his solution to the problems

They have to bear in mind that the Philippines is not a country of poor filipinos only. There are other sectors that should be taken into consideration.