Wednesday, August 3, 2011

ZUBIRI'S RESIGNATION PRE-EMPTED KOKO PIMENTEL'S TAKEOVER

The resignation of Migz Zubiri as Senator of the Philippines could have been recorded in our history as a noble act of statesmanship if it was done with utmost sincerity. I could only surmise that the resignation of Senator Zubiri was more of face-saving and a propaganda in preparation for the 2013 elections. Although he mentioned that he has nothing to do with the alleged fraud in the 2007 elections, he should have stated that if he was a benificiary to the alleged manipulaton of the elections specifically in Maguindanao, he was resigning out of delicadeza 

However, his resignation speech tend to undermine the assertions of his adversary, lawyer Koko Pimentel. He could have been appreciated more if he mentioned that his resignation is irrevocable. The statement of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that he will study the matter (Zubiri's resignation) sent a wrong signal to the ordinary Filipino. As if everthing is "moro-moro."

Humility should have spelled the magic in Zubiri's resignation. But, the lack of it made the affair a tactical move to pre-empt the possible assumption into office of  Koko Pimentel as senator.

For others, Zubiri's resignation is an implied admission that he did not really win the 2007 senatorial race.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

WATER POLLUTION MIGHT BE THE REAL CAUSE OF FISHKILL


Up to this this time, there is no official word from experts and authorities as to the real cause of fishkill in Batangas and Panagasinan. This is not the first time that fishkill occured in different parts of the country. However, it seems that we only get alarmed by this when it is already happening, when the disaster is right before our eyes. A logical conclusion that comes to one's mind is that most of the bodies of water like rivers, seas, lakes and the like are polluted. Government, especially the local governments units can do something about this. Waste water directed into our rivers and seas should be regulated properly. Waste water treatment should be employed by the local governments. If local officials allot millions of pesos for roads and public buildings, they should also focus on environmental protection such as the promotion of clean water.

Waste water treatment like the reverse osmosis system is nowadays affordable. Taxpayers won't mind if public funds are spent to protect our waters. The money is worth spending to make our rivers, seas, and bodies of water clean and unpolluted. If this happens, the bounty of our aquatic resources will become sustainable. Fishkill will just become a thing of the past.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

RH BILL DEBATE: MOOT AND ACADEMIC?

Salient provisions of the Reproductive Health bill have found its way in the respective gender and development code of many local government units. Coupled with a memorandum circular mandating for the passage of a gender code, pro forma ordinances were distributed by the DILG several years ago which were adopted by various local government units. If local laws have been passed to this effect, the on-going debate might already be moot and academic.