Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Did you know UST has HUGE drainage pipes running alongside it?

Share:
LinkedIn0
Pinterest0

And here’s why we should nag mayors about flooding

Exclusive by Raïssa Robles

There are HUGE pipes that run under España Street. The pipes are big enough for people to walk through, standing upright. They were installed in the 1970s and are meant to drain off rainwater from the streets above .

Yet everytime it rains heavily and water cascades downhill from Quezon City, España immediately floods and the dark, filthy water ends up inside the huge compound of the University of Santo Tomas, turning its campus into a waist-deep lagoon.

This photo of the University of Santo Tomas compound was shared on Facebook by Kat de Castro.

The pipes are now 70% crammed with filth, Public Work Secretary Rogelio Singson confirmed to me during one news forum at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). He said:

May mga drainage (pipes) na malalaki (sa ilalim ng Espana) ang size 2.5 meters by 3 meters. Hindi naman siguro (cars can go through) but people can walk underneath there. But when we started checking, marami dito ang carrying capacity had been reduced to 30% because of the heavy siltation. (At) hindi na kaya linisin ng ordinary equipment diyan. We have to bring in specialty equipment.

Recently, Singson suggested the construction of a “water catchment basin” to ease floods in UST.

The news stories did not mention what Singson confirmed to me about those huge pipes running beneath España, that are now almost totally wasted.

I asked Nathaniel von Einsiedel to tell me more about  España’s drainage system.  Einsiedel was once the planning chief of the Metro Manila Commission (MMC), the all-powerful super body headed by then First Lady Imelda Marcos during her husband’s dictatorship. [Talk was rife then that Ferdinand Marcos gave his wife MMC and the Ministry of Human Settlements as part of his “I’m sorry” for having a scandalous affair with “B” movie actress Dovie Beams.]

After the Marcoses fled, MMC morphed into the now-castrated Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Imelda basked in the glory of being Metro Manila’s super czar, while people like Einsiedel did the grunge work.

Einsiedel, an urban planner and an architect, started speaking out about Metro Manila’s floods last year. I was able to track him down and have the following conversation with him:

ME: Pubic Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said the rain drainage pipes beneath Espana Street near UST are 70% silted over and that special equipment is needed to remove the silt. Why is this?

EINSIEDEL: When the removal of silt is not done on a regular basis, it accumulates and hardens. It will require special equipment. It’s not any different from the clogging of inlets of street drainage. When dust and soil get washed into the inlets drainage and these are not regularly removed, they harden. You can’t just remove it manually. You need a high pressure water jet to break down that silt.

I can imagine in a large drainage canal underground, if the silt and dust are not removed regularly, you will probably need a bulldozer to do it. But I don’t know how they will do that underground.

ME: Where does all that dust come from?

EINSIEDEL: It comes from construction. Pag nakasama ang plastic bags, which makes it worse – when plastic milk mixes with alikabok (dust). It makes it even doubly hard. It hastens the clogging.

ME: How about candy wrappers? Do candy and chewing gum wrappers thrown by commuters and pedestrians on the streets contribute to clogging of drainage?

EINSIEDEL: It also has to do with the volume. There are supposed to be street sweepers. They are supposed to be sweeping all the dust, soil and cigarette butts thrown into sidewalks into the streets. They sweep it, put it in little piles. Sometimes it’s not collected. When rains come they are washed into the inlets of the drainage.

Pag may sumama na construction debris like broken pieces of road islands and planting boxes, this little rubble of stones also get into the drainage. They lessen the capacity of the drainage system to carry the floodwaters.

ME: Who has responsibility for regularly maintaining the drainage system?

EINSIEDEL: If I’m not mistaken, it’s a shared responsibility. Flood control in general is the responsibility of the MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) and the DPWH. But maintenance such as keeping the streets clean and collecting garbage is that of LGUs (local government units).

When you talk of the flooding problem, there are many players involved. Orchestration is a major challenge. They are at different levels. Where does the buck stop? It’s a major management issue. When you say flood control and drainage as a major function, it’s not enough to generalize. Exactly what is the DPWH and MMDA supposed to do?

In the construction (of flood control projects) they define this, when for instance a major pipe is being built, this is the responsibility of the DPWH.

But as to who is responsible for the maintenance of these pipes, that is not well-defined. There’s a lot of finger-pointing.

Just like in waste management, it took a long time to pinpoint responsibilities. Who was responsible for what. Now, collection is done by local governments, collection and transport. But disposal and management of disposal (sites) is an MMDA responsibility.

Compared to waste management, flood management has more components. How do you assign these different components to which government unit? Insofar as flood control is concerned, responsibilities need to be spelled out clearly. This is what I keep harping on – flooding is a management issue.

I asked Einsiedel about other aspects of Metro Manila’s yearly flooding, which is getting worse.

ME: Tell me about the Manggahan Floodway and how it’s supposed to ease floods.

EINSIEDEL: Only one-third (of Manggahan Floodway) is used for floodwaters. Two-thirds are occupied by informal settlers. This is a floodway. Why have people been allowed to build onto it? Here is a classic case of an expensive infrastructure that was put up and it’s not serving 100% of what it’s designed for.

If it was designed according to proper estimation of the volume of flooding, it should have worked: minimized the extent of flooding in Marikina valley. If you take a look at the map, it’s supposed to divert floodwaters from Marikina River to Laguna Lake during high tide of Manila Bay.

It’s specially supposed to mitigate or reduce the flooding along Pasig River and its tributaries.

What has happened? Since Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, the width of the floodway has been reduced by about a third. On both sides, you find structures and houses. So all these structures and houses were all flooded during Ondoy and they’re back there now. According to some people who lived in the vicinity, they just went up the embankment. They just temporarily lived on the embankment, waiting for floodwaters to recede. Then they went back again.

The construction of infrastructure is very, very expensive. But it’s not just a matter of building it. It was designed for a purpose . Yet people are allowed to live inside the Manggahan Floodway.

ME: The Manggahan Floodway crosses which cities and towns?

I know part of it is Pasig, part is Cainta. I’m not sure whether it crosses Taytay (Rizal).

The floodway is like a river. If you visualize Pasig river, may embankment on the left and the right. Instead of having just water, puro tubig siya, on the left side – about one third of the width – you see structures. Only one third of the floodway is where the water flows.

One of the factors behind flooding in Metro Manila are the multiple local governments concerned that cant seem to get their act together. Flood waters don’t respect political boundaries. The solution needs to cut across those political boundaries. They need to get their act together.

ME: So there are informal settlers inside Manggahan Floodway.

EINSIEDEL: I was told there are even government buildings and offices inside the Manggahan Floodway. One time I talked to the mayor of Cainta (about the informal settlers inside the floodway.) He gave me a feeble answer – minana na lang daw niya problemang yon [He said he merely inherited the problem]. In other words he was not doing anything.

ME: What about the flooding of Provident Village in Marikina? Could that have been mitigated?

EINSIEDEL: Provident should not have been developed in the first place. This is one of the examples of what happens, when actions are not synchronized and coordinated.

When the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) declares an area to be alienable and disposable, then it becomes privately owned. Land that can be owned by private people and it can become titled. People feel they have the right to develop it. I think what happened in the case of Provident is that it was declared disposable;e and alienable together with parts of the Marikina River basin.

River basin siya. Talagang babahain. [It’s a river basin. It’s really going to flood.]

ME: Congress has been trying to pass a Land Use Law for decades. How important is a National Land Use law in reducing flood disasters?

EINSIEDEL: My feeling as an environmental planner, we need a Land Use Law so that we develop lands that are safe. We don’t develop lands that are flood-prone.

A National Land Use Act can declare no-build zones and therefore should not be declared alienable and disposable and should not be titled. And people who will allow that to happen should be criminally charged.

ME: Why has Congress failed to pass a Land Use Law to this day?

EINSIEDEL: From what I understand, there are some vested interests being threatened. There are still a lot of Filipinos who believe if you have title to piece of land you can do whatever you want to do with it. The concept of stewardship is lost to these guys.

Comments

  1. That large drainage pipe beneath espana road has to be explored for possible use again. The blockage is due to hard and heavy siltation of waste and debris accumulated since the 70’s but with right type of equipment to unclogged the culverts since it’s about 3 meter in diameter, this would mitigate the perennial flooding in this area after a heavy downpour…

    There are equipment that can do the job of unclogging or cleaning the debris and DPWH or MMDA will have to only refer this to the right consultant and contractor to come up with the proposal… If a tunnel borer could bore or drill through rock and hard earth when constructing a tunnel for a train or an underpass , this siltation is chicken feed or hardly impossible to overcome…. it can be done! With the right planning and determination on the part of those engineers and leaders in the relevant government agencies…

    • “When you talk of flooding, there are many players involved.”

      Thomasians should also be involved.

  2. Mga taga Maynila…narinig na nyo ito: “Walang kamag-anak! Walang mga kon-akin-mga padre! Walang mga kaibigan!”

    Walang …walang atbpa! Same tune…now.

    “Erap’s mission: 100 days to ‘clean up’ Manila

    By Dharel Placido, ABS-CBNnews.com
    Posted at 07/03/2013 10:51 AM | Updated as of 07/03/2013 10:54 AM
    MANILA – Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has a tall order for his subordinates in getting rid of the city’s perennial problems of criminality and poverty.

    Speaking to ABS-CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda” on Wednesday, Estrada said he has given the city’s new chief of police, Supt. Isagani Genabe Jr., 100 days to eliminate all criminals in the city.

    “Eh talagang ang bilin ko sa pulis, sa bagong chief of police, sabi ko within 100 days, kailangan ubos ang kriminal sa Maynila. Kapag hindi, kailangan mag-resign kayo,” Estrada said.

    Likewise, Estrada said he wants to fix Manila’s traffic and garbage problem in his first 100 days as mayor.

    “Nung first day [in office] ako mismo ang nagwalis, kasama ko si Vice Mayor [Isko Moreno]. Talagang iyan ang aking programa dito, na sa 100 days, [magkakaroon ng] peace and order,” he said.”

    Watch IN…!

    • maganda kung matutupad yan. sana nga, sana nga para sa ikauunlad ng maynila.
      abangan natin ang susunod na kabanata mga 100days from now

    • SANA NGA MAGING MAAYOS, TAHIMIK AT MADAKIP MGA MASASAMANGLOOB SA CITY OF MANILA…3 MONTHS MAHIGIT LANG YONG 100 DAYS NA PROMISA NI MAYOR ERAP, MAGBALOT BALOT NA ANG BAGONG HEPE DAHIL NAPAKAHIRAP MABAGO ANG MATAGAL NANG PROBLEMA NANG MANILA…

  3. THE PROBLEM

    To the clueless on our traffic gridlock these they have got to see and answer:
    One—are there jeepneys from Marikina clogging traffic in Divisoria
    Two—jeepneys from Bulacan inside Manila streets?
    Three– jeepneys from Paranaque have routes in Pasay City
    Four—jeepneys from Cavite inside Metro Manila (MM)
    Five — Buses from the Ilocos and Region I Provinces found inside Metro Manila
    Six — Buses from the Bicol Region also clogging EDSA
    Seven – buses from QUEZON, LAGUNA, and BATANGAS inside MM.
    Eight – buses from Bataan? Zambales? Nueva Ecija, Pampanga also in MM?
    Nine — will the Govt also grant franchises to buses from Mindoro, Romblon, Masbate and Marinduque to ply their trade in MM?

    Was it during the time of the Arsenic or the Hizzoner that TRUCK BANS had been started? Color coding for many years continue to punish rich and poor commuters. WHEN will it ever end, the lasting fog in the brain cells of our politicians and bureaucrats.

    BILLIONS of PESOS were plundered in the past so Pres Noynoy now have to approve BILLIONS also to rectify the MAMMOTH problems facing the country. Name the sector (military, transport, health education, welfare) having little problems P Noy inherited from almost five (yes 5) decades of petty to grandiose corruption.

    THERE OUTA BE A LAW to . . . . first abolish the MMDA, then to . . . . and P NOY can do it in two years. . WHAT?

    • THE SOLUTION

      ONE– When lawmakers travel abroad, our hospitable embassy people get a chance as hosts to earn their pay in foreign currencies. They (the lawmakers) come, don’t ride buses, they see and enjoy and take back with them very little lessons to benefit their country. Now get two senators four congressmen members to travel to UK, USA, and CANADA, ALL members of Congress committees on Transport and Let them with little notebooks ride private embassy cars, public city and provincial or state buses. They might noticed that Luton and Bedford public buses never enter London; New Jersey buses don’t roam around New York City Avenues and Streets; Brampton and Oakville buses don’t enter the City of Toronto, nor Toronto buses do business in its satellite cities. While enjoying the sites there they can write the draft of THE LEGISLATION which will wrestle down once and for all the traffic of MM and all other metro cities in Ph, Let them walk around Bus Stations and transfer points.

      TWO — Lawmakers travelling abroad means a lot to the National Budget and sometimes to the personal funds of embassy personnel. IT WILL BE MORE FRUGAL FOR THE COUNTRY for DOTC, DPWH to ask DFA for the materials, the transport systems of such transport common sense countries.

      THREE — Billions of pesos go to where? DoTC and DPWH should know the cost, design and construction of the infrastructure to keep provinces and cities rein in and control the transport business in their own turf and not make a useful nuisance in Metro Manila or their neighboring cities.

      FOUR – THE MONEY, the money? Let Congress allocate 70% of their SLUSH Fund (deodorized as Development Fund) which they don’t need in passing sometimes defective …. Laws. Let Provinces and cities shoulder the remaining 30% . Can you imagine the positive backlash to employment and the massive stimulation of economic activities resulting from the application of common sense plus technology to our traffic problem. Onli in da Plaza Miranda of Raissa.

      THE ABOVE IS JUST A LEAD. Let CPMers ignore, criticize or comment for the sake of saving some taxpayers money and probably many weakened (by traffic) gall bladders.

      • with due respect, you can have lots and lots of transport studies and
        not stumble on the uncommon sense, you can have hundreds of dissected
        divorce cases and not find a solution to broken homes. But many see
        how P NOy’s drop n the bucket solutions can start a ripple.

        • you hit [email protected],
          one of the many problems of traffic in MM are the clogged sidewalks.
          if our local govt units do have a vision, not to say common sense, a lot of obstructions can be removed, transferred or modified to widen the effectivity of our road network.
          and if we can afford, junk all vehicles 20 years and above..
          those pollutants are traffic contributors and many times instigator of traffic rage.

    • @alizarin…YOU GOT IT RIGHT!

      Prov’l buses as far as LaOG, ilocos Norte etc. ENTERS MANILA OR METRO MANILA STREETS! So too LAGUNA BATANGAS ETC BUSES!

      Heck! Maybe GUANDONG CHINA BUSES will also ENTER METRO MANILA STREETS SOON!

      What’s WRONG? No good COMMON SENSE IDEAS! So? Cannot solve this problem.

      What should WE all do? YELL TO THEIR EARS! …with all our ANGER.

      • mga sirs/mam, ang problema po ay ang pagbibigay ng prankisa sa mga bus at jeepney eh hindi naman lumalawak ang mga kalsada. masisikip ang mga lansangan ng buong kamaynilaan at mga kanugnug na lugar. dagdag ng dagdag ng mga saksakyan hindi naman niluluwagan ang mga lansangan. saka wla na lugar para luwagan pa. marami naman pera ang pilipinas. kesa kurakutin ng mga politico (ayan meron na naman mga bagong halal na mangungurakot) ipagawa ng patong patong na kalsada. kahit na ilang patong para yung mga bus ang nasa itaas at para pagpatakbo nila ng matulin MAGSIHULOG NA SILA. MGA PERWHYSIO DIN LANG NAMAN SILA SA LANSANGAN AT MAHIHILIG MAKIPAGKARERA.BAWAS PA ANG MGA PROBLEMANG DRIVERS.

        • aside from daytime truck ban, ngaun na rin ang tamang panahon para magpatupad ng phase-out ng mga lumang sasakyan (12 or 15 yrs old eh pede na siguro iphase-out). wag na rin munang mag issue ng mga bagong prankisa o mag renew sa mga jeepneys for the next 5 or 10 years.

        • phasing out the lumang sasakyan has been on progress, but the problem is theres a lot of debate against the transport group which our governments listens to much. its very hard to understand that giving leeway to few would be a big sacrifice to many by which that is the case our system is on track. they will argue that marami ang mawawalan ng trabaho, but they dont see that mas marami ang napeperwisyo. a very thwarted system and priorities.

        • a lot of people become despondent kung mawawalan sila ng trabaho. they can re-train and get themselves skilled to do other jobs. they already have marketable and stransferable skills in the transport industry, they can apply for similar or related jobs. losing job is not the end of the world. there will be other jobs and new beginnings. many people go through several jobs in a lifetime. the president nga, e, nawawalan ng trabaho after end of term.

        • eto ang ipinagtataka ko sa authority ng gobyerno naten, alam naman nila na un ang makakabuti para sa pangkalahatan eh kung bkit kailanagn pa nilang kumunsulta sa affected sector….ipatupad nila ang nararapat at kung ayaw sumunod ng iilan eh di dapat problema na nila iyon…..ang mabuting adhikain ng ating gobyerno ang dapat manaig at hindi ang kagustuhan ng iilan.

        • maidagdag ko na rin……hindi rin dapat na pagbilhan ng sasakyan ang isang tao kung wala naman siyang maayus at hindi makakaabalang garahe sa kanyang tahanan, ang mangyayari kasi eh sa kalsada nya ito ipaparada pag nagkataon….naipropose na ito dati ng noo’y congressman dennis roldan, natawa ako nung marinig ko pero may katuturan nga naman sa ating lipunan…

    • Alizarin &Leona @26

      According to MMDA, on July 15 a provincial bus terminal in Parañaque will open for those coming from Batangas and Cavite. Two other terminals will be operational by the end of the year in Muntinlupa and Quezon City for those coming from the Southeast and Northern areas, respectively.

      “MANILA, Philippines — With the new provincial terminal in Parañaque City set to open on July 15, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is expecting traffic to ease on main thoroughfares like Edsa and Roxas Boulevard, which used to be “parking lots” for the provincial buses.

      “On the opening of the new terminal, 972 buses who use Roxas Boulevard in front of Baclaran Church as parking lot will be the first to be gone,” MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said during the agency’s weekly radio program.

      “Tolentino was referring to the Cavite- and Batangas-bound buses, which starting July can only be found at a 1.4-hectare lot on the lower ground of the Uniwide Coastal mall along Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque and an adjacent vacant lot the MMDA will convert into an intermodal terminal station.

      “The construction of the terminal at the Coastal mall was the first leg of of the three proposed centralized bus terminal stations on the outskirts of Metro Manila, and thus test the waters for the government bid to ease the capital’s traffic woes.

      “The other two terminals in Alabang, Muntinlupa for buses plying the southeast routes and terminal near Trinoma Mall in Quezon City for the Metro Manila’s northern corridor, are projected to be operational by the end of the year, according to Tolentino.”

      Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/431547/bus-terminal-in-paranaque-city-to-ease-traffic-in-metro-manila-mmda#ixzz2XzQfBcpa
      Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

      • think a look at this;

        Daugpan Jeepneys stays within Dagupan. so also for Urdaneta jeepneys;
        Mandaluyong jeepneeys stays inside Mandaluyong so are Pasig jeepneys
        staying in their respective boundaries. TO EACH ITS OWN TRAFFIC.
        Cavite buses don’t cross its boundaries, goes around and crisscross Cavite
        towns. passenger transfers at border connections ADJACENT provinces;
        how many passengers starts from Legaspi City and goes direct to Manila? How about those going to Naga only? to Daet only? to Calauag? to Lucena? to San Pablo? to Calamba?

        Think of all the provinces, the cities and big towns. NAKAKA-TORETE NG
        UTAK, PERO nandiyan ang challenge kicking the box from outside.
        disdaining, rejecting quantum solutions to a relativity problem.

        See SOCIAL NETWORK film: Zuckerberg has a problem; Too many Harvard
        girls pictures in Harvard cyberspace to pair with the face of an animal; he found
        the algorithm, Harvard went viral and crazy; Harvard internet crashed, Zuckerberg
        got investigated. AND HIS PROGRAM WENT OUT OF HARVARD TO CALIFORNIA AND TO THE WORLD AND facebook was born. never mind
        that zuckerberg is the youngest US $ BILLIONAIRE now.

        • ANG DAGDAG, ANG DAGDAG!

          it is the economy my friend. in any development project (as defined
          by the World Bank) as a particle of progress; you have to wrestle with
          the LEGAL, TECHNICAL (engineering), MARKET, FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC
          SOCIO-POLITICAL and OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITIES.

          So unemployment and whatever may only be quantum (micro) particles of
          of the costs of the endeavor; and may be exceeded by the long term
          economic benefits.

          It’s the economy my friend; not the legal or the political.

        • [email protected]

          You are correct. It is mainly economics. Decongestion of Port of Manila, transfer of cargo volume in ports of Batangas and Subic,dispersal of warehousing and business operation to CALABARZON and Central Luzon, decrease of working population in the Metropolis, eliminating traffic jams in Metro Manila, faster turnaround time for ships and trucks, and the lose of about 1.5 trillion pesos over the years due to traffic jams are directly correlated with the economy. Such activities, projects or plans of action directly affects how we produce and distribute wealth.

          It really is the economy. But I believe that economic strategies, particularly in development economics, may also consider social, political and legal factors in formulating plans.

  4. “A paper by Dr. Jose Regin Regidor of the National Center for Transportation Studies (NCTS) at the University of the Philippines showed that motorists and workers lost close to P1.513 trillion over the years due to traffic jams in Metro Manila.

    “Regidor’s paper factored-in fuel costs and potential man-hours lost while being stuck in traffic, especially during the rainy season.

    “The paper, based on a 2000 NCTS study on traffic congestion, said fuel costs while being stuck in traffic add up to P4.212 billion a year, while time wasted in road jams was computed at P137.519 billion.”

    http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/07/01/960216/dotc-launches-traffic-app-challenge

    We see here the lose in terms of fuel cost and man hours during rainy season as well as “normal” traffic conditions in Metro Manila. To avoid traffic jams in the flooded areas, flood free streets should remain passable smoothly to provide motorists with alternative routes.

    Dr. Regidor proposed that the government should invest more on mass transportation to negate the effect of traffic congestion. Such proposal would surely help as the medium and long term solution. But the immediate solution suggested by MMDA Chairman Tolentino is to impose daytime truck ban. ”

    During the gulf war, daytime truck ban was imposed to clear Metro Manila of traffic and save fuel use. Every time the Port of Manila was closed due to labor strike, traffic in Metro Manila was always smooth. At the latest daytime truck ban during the ministerial summit in Manila, the Metropolis did not experience any traffic congestion.

    • aside from daytime truck ban, dapat na rin magpatupad ng phase-out ng mga lumang sasakyan (12 or 15 yrs old eh pede na siguro iphase-out). wag na rin munang mag issue ng mga bagong prankisa o mag renew sa mga jeepneys for the next 5 or 10 years.

  5. hahaha…side step muna,

    “Gazmin. Thanks to Inquirer for photo.
    Never have I felt so kawawa reading the statements of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin justifying his plan to allow American and Japanese military access to military facilities in the Philippines to deter China’s aggressive moves in the South China Sea .
    Newspaper reports quoted Gazmin as saying: “We cannot stand alone. We need allies. If we do not (seek allies), we will be bullied by bigger forces and that is what is happening now. China is already there, staying in our territory.”
    Gazmin must be referring to the situation in Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal or Panatag, off Zambales which is no longer accessible to Filipino fishermen since April 2012 and Mischief Reef in the Spratlys , which was China occupied in 1995.
    It is feared that China would take over Ayungin Shoal, some 25 miles away from Mischief Reef.”

    A secretary of no defense!

      • I stopped reading E tordesillas a long time ago. If you let the word stand on their heads this is what you will see:

        ““We can stand alone. We don’t need allies. If we do seek (seek allies), we will not be bullied by bigger forces and that is what is not happening now. China is not there, staying in our territory.”

        Of course what I did could be nonsense. but something to think about.

    • But….to think of it, what’s to keep secret about our defense arsenal when ours are of WW II vintage! So, o.k. siguro to show ’em that! hahaha…

      • Its really very disheartening to accept the fact that we really could not defend our shores. While I believe that the pinoys will fight to death even with only stones, pillbox, feces etc., it cannot be denied that we filipinos will not accept to bullied.

        I would really blame the ex president, a General kuno (Ramos) who had not done anything with the AFP puro daldal and he was able to sell the Fort, could not be sure which one and has not used the money earned from that sale to enhance our Armed Forces.

        • he he he he ala na yun pera pinagbentahan ng the fort, nasa maboboteng kamay na yun, mga walang kaluluwa, ni singkong duling di nila madadala sa hukay, mga sakim na ganid at hayok sa pera…hayyyy kainis right???

        • paspasan yata ngayon. PNoy is modernizing and arming the AFP, and our case before UNCLOS. . we need allies, sabi ni gazmin. maybe gazmin needs reminder that we already have allies. USA has been for a very long time, and japan is getting on board. our allies will pat our backs, encourage us, give us ammunition and intel, but it is us as soveriegn nation who will eventually decide which direction we shall go. dapat maghanda-handa na si gazmin, he might be called to higher duties he has not done before.

  6. Most fundamental issue here:

    “The verdict was handed down by a special division of the antigraft court composed of then Presiding Justice Teresita J. Leonardo de Castro (now a member of the Supreme Court), who wrote the 262-page decision, Justice Francisco H. Villaruz Jr. (later became presiding justice, now retired) and Justice Diosdado M. Peralta (now also a member of the Supreme Court).

    Estrada denounced the Sandiganbayan as a “kangaroo court,” and his counsel, Rene A.V. Saguisag, blurted, “The special division was programmed to convict. We never had a chance.”

    So, what do we see in the track record of the 3 justices of the “kangaroo court”?

    1. Teresita Castro – later appointed by GMA to the SC. How has she voted in GMA et al related cases?

    2. Francisco Villaruz – later appointed by GMA as presiding Sandigan Bayan presiding justice. How has he voted in GMA et al related cases?

    3. Diosdado Peralta – later appointed by GMA to the SC. How has he voted in GMA et al related cases?

    “Kangaroo Court” (as in programmed to convict Estrada) or not?

    • Parengtony @23

      IMO Erap did not have a chance to be acquitted. First, the pieces of evidence against him were sufficient to convict him, and he failed to refute them and put any reasonable doubt for his acquittal. Indeed, Jinggoy and other co-accused were acquitted. Second, GMA made sure that Erap could not get out of the hole via technicalities with the Supreme Court. Third, GMA correctly read Erap’s weak character as shown by his acceptance of pardon and foregoing an appeal to higher court. Fourth, GMA required Erap to commit publicly not to seek any elective position. She knew that Erap would renege on that commitment and that she could have used it to discredit Erap.

      The hard fact is that Erap would still be languishing in jail today if not the for the “mercy” accorded him by GMA.

      Another thing. The Filipinos did not give him any vindication on his conviction for plunder as shown by the very wide margin between him and PNoy. Maybe Manilans vindicated him but the rest of the country, overwhelmingly, did not.

      • heto medio pang gulo, comment and analysis without the benefit of hindsight;

        WHY IS THE SILENT MAJORITY SILENT?
        when the silent majority voted an unfit into office is that something like
        the voice of the people is the voice of God?
        When the majority choose their man to walk the walkathon
        and did not the see the gangrene in both legs of the man,
        WILL the larger voice of God just let the man go
        BECAUSE THE LAW CAN TWISTED SO?

        Who punishes those whose brilliance or ignorance twisted
        the law, THE silent majority MAY BE?

  7. Even without flood or clogged esteros, Metro Manila streets would still be congested with vehicular traffic but maybe not as monstrous when flooding occurred. So that the suggested daytime truck ban would be intended to lessen cargo volume in the Port of Manila and increasing that in the Ports of Batangas and Subic. The objective would be to equalize cargo volume in all the said ports. Better if later on Batangas and Subic would have more.

    As a matter of course the trucks coming to and from the Manila port area would decrease significantly. And automatically the vehicular traffic in the metropolis would also decrease considerably. So that even if the esteros were clogged and some streets were flooded the vehicle traffic would be manageable because cars could take detour to other passable streets and proceed to their destinations although slightly delayed.

    My point is that the government must prioritize its moves by starting on more doable and rational projects like declogging Metro Manila of cargoes and trucks, dispersing warehousing and other business operations to CALABARZON and Central Luzon, and decreasing the working population in the Metropolis. Maybe some commercial and financial districts would follow later on. When picking fruits we should start with those reachable by hand before climbing the tree or using a pole.

    The truck ban would be much less expensive for the government – maybe none at all – compared to construction of additional infrastructures and eviction and relocation of squatters from esteros and danger zones. And it is more doable at the least possible time.

    Although more problematic, expensive and less doable, declogging the esteros and danger zones of squatters must be started simultaneous with the truck ban until said areas are cleared. Declogging drainage canals and construction of appropriate infrastructure will follow when traffic becomes smooth to avoid much damage to motorists caused by such projects.

    • The main problem in the proposed daytime truck ban would not be the perceived increase in land transport cost and the purported increase in price of consumer goods. Such cost increases would be immediately erased when importers and exporters start shipping their cargoes in Batangas ans Subic. Transport expenses – land and sea – could even decrease.

      There would be faster unloading and loading of cargoes from/into the ship due to lesser cargo handled in said ports, and faster delivery from/into ports of cargoes by trucks due to fast travel via STAR, SLEX, NLEX and SCTEX. In technical terms there would be much faster turnaround time for both sea and land transport mode resulting to so much savings in time and fuel cost. Needless to say the cost of labor and food in the province is less than that in Metro Manila. And cargo ships need a lot of food provisions for its crews.

      The strongest opposition to the truck ban and eventual transfer of shipping operations to Batangas and Subic would come from various cargo handling contractors in the Port of Manila. These contractors, upon the consent of the government, invested billions to expand, modernize and install state-of-the-art equipment and systems in their respective turf in South Harbor, MICT and North Harbor.

      Apparently, the government especially the previous administration(s), and maybe the present one after three years in the saddle, promoted the chaotic conditions in the Metro Manila streets. It is time that PNoy should exercise strong political will to impose the truck ban.

    • Easing road traffic or lessening it via truck ban does not do away the flooded streets! How can one ride if getting out of one’s house the waters are up to one’s armpit?

      Yes, no or less traffic but streets are still flooded! The problem stays on.

      • [email protected]

        You are correct. As I said, clearing of esteros should be done SIMULTANEOUSLY with the daytime truck ban. Both courses of action are doable. Of course, with or without the truck ban, declogging of esteros and danger zones must proceed without delay.

      • @baycas’…copy –

        “For clarity’s sake, let me copy verbatim the pertinent portion of the “pardon” signed by President Arroyo and Acting Executive Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye:
        “WHEREAS, Joseph Ejercito Estrada has publicly committed to no longer seek any elective position or office,
        “IN VIEW THEREOF and pursuant to the authority conferred upon me by the Constitution, I hereby grant executive clemency to JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, convicted by the Sandiganbayan of Plunder and imposed a penalty of Reclusion Perpetua. He is hereby restored to his civil and political rights.
        “The forfeitures imposed by the Sandiganbayan remain in force and in full, including all writs and processes issued by the Sandiganbayan in pursuance hereof, except for the bank account(s) he owned before his tenure as President.”

        Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/55531/the-estrada-enigma#ixzz2Xj3DTno7
        Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook”

        …actually, no ‘clarity’ instead came out this matter!

        It appears that a grand MESS is here! Is that how our public officials makes their official actions?

        ” ‘Joseph xxx’ has publicly committed to no longer seek any elective position or office” …will this HOLD WATER…legally? Can it be legally binding?

        What is the ‘pardon’ given…absolute or conditional?…some MESSy something here!

        “He’ is hereby restored to his civil and political rights”…right to elective office?…which ‘Joseph’ has done now. What do ‘you’ as a layperson know and understand from this?

        As a judge, what do you or can you know or understand from the above quoted copy of the pardon extended? Which should prevail..(1) the ‘law or the “pardon” as extended or (2) the people’s will as voters of Manila? Can the said ‘will’ by the voters or people be above the ‘law or the document of pardon’?

        If No. (1) prevails…’Joseph’ cannot be validly elected as mayor of Manila.
        If No. (2) prevails…’Joseph’ is duly elected as Mayor of Manila.

        We have a ‘clash’ of interpretations…the law vs the will of people. What is the correct interpretative law on this clash?

        We have to remember, ‘Joseph’ was convicted on a FELONY punishable by reclusion perpetua (like LIFE SENTENCE) charge and not an act non-felony.

        Are ‘the people’ above the law on this matter? Is ‘Joseph,’ by people’s will?

        Give us …your thoughts…please share it with those interested here and there…thanks.
        So far, I find initially a legal mess here created by gloria & co.

        • Ma’am@Leona,,, it seems to me the last sentence of the decision …the restoration of his civil and political rights outweighed his promised that Estrada will no longer seek elective position or office and ALSO although publicly committed – that commitment was against Estrada and in our RAW knowledge about the Criminal Law was that we can not be a witness against ourselves…..please correct us if my interpretation is wrong @ ma’am Leona.Ty

        • I agree with you @Victin Luz! …that is a ‘view’ his attorney will put up.But still the ‘pardon’ is messy!

        • pardon was granted and approved without condition that he will not serve as government employee for his country or his city…even if stated in the documents of pardoning, there was no condition for office removal once elected…

          if one did inserted that conditional phrases, it is the same as a tyranic forviging, when one forgives, let by gone be by gones, forget the past and do the rock and roll…

          if people does not want a leader, then by all means, the leader should resign…(people power)

          see whats happening in egypt? and other places with similar problems for leadership?

          erap did the right thing, be jailed…

          now his out, elected, let his life go on, sooner or later all of us will die, but every one has been given a chance to change as soon as the mighty Sun appears….

          but ones the equilibrum of the planet is gone, all these and those are nothing…..Amen….

        • conflict on the letter of pardon?
          “WHEREAS, Joseph Ejercito Estrada has publicly committed to no longer seek any elective position or office,
          “IN VIEW THEREOF”………..

          “He is hereby restored to his civil and political rights.”

          sa intindi ko, ang pardon ay ibinigay dahil sa commitment ni erap na hindi na kakandidato, pagkatapos sa huli, pwede pa pala.
          marami talagang kababalaghan na nangyari sa admin ni gma.

        • “x x x has publicly committed x x x” does it really have an honorable verse to the public…voters of Manila?

          …therefore, “x x x restored to his civil and political rights” is conditioned to his “publicly committed xxx” agreement not to seek political elective position or office.

          I agree with you on your view too! Still messy though that voters voted him to a public elective position.

    • @sir Baycas ….. To be FAIR with other CPMERs who are PRO ex. President Estrada , we have to ASK the humble opinion of our lawyers HERE in the BLOG like Atty@Rene Ipil who can give us an intelligent lecture on the latest Supreme Court decision on JALOSJOS appeal or motion for reconsideration RE: RAPE case as against the PARDONED PLUNDER CASE of the former President.

      Our RAW knowledge in our Constitution was the DOCTRINE of SEPARATION of POWERs between the Executive and the Judiciary as well as our Legislative Departments…and as we discuss thoroughly on this BLOG the famous CELDRAN CASE ,,, I came along a process of the CHECK and BALANCE ( Executive and Judiciary ) that the executive department thru the PRESIDENT PARDONING POWER , may also modify or SET ASIDE the judgement of the court….. And the VOICE of the PEOPLE ( Manila citizenry who voted for Estrada last election ) confirmed/concurred the PARDON given by GLORIA to Estrada..

      For JALOSJOS ,,, he was never pardoned but his sentence was commuted or SHORTENED by Gloria and his Civil and Political rights was never reinstated SO the Judgement of the Court was NEVER SET ASIDE either…..IMHO the case between JALOSJOS and ESTRADA are not COMPARABLE….

      • We should agree with ma’am@Leona….. Was it absolute or conditional? How was the Pardon reduced into writings by Gloria and her legal adviser?

        A good topic brought out by sir@ Baycas … lawyers HERE must enlighten US..

        • …thanks for the many of you on this.

          I guess it boils down to simply ask or say “What do we or the people of Manila do or can do when a person breaks many times his word of honor? ”

          Which is more valuable in life – one’s honor or one’s life? Would you prefer to ‘live your life’ x x x… or ‘have no honor living your life’? Which is the ‘mess’ therefore?

          What did ‘Joseph’ prefer? The answer is out there already…tsk tsk tsk

        • …there are about 40,000 lawyers out there and 40,000 ‘shooting stars’…of views! One could get lost in the directions of the stars. Messy heavens!

    • Baycas@21

      Ang tawag sa tao na lumabag sa kodigo penal ay kriminal.
      Ang tawag sa tao na lumabag sa kanyang pangako ay balasubas.
      Sa pag kandidato ni Erap ay wala siyang nilabag na anumang batas natin. Subalit nilabag niya ang kanyang pangako sa sambayanan na hindi siya muling kakandidato sa anumang posisyon sa ating bayan.

      In interpretation of laws and legal documents the “whereas clause” is resorted only when the text of the body is vague. But Erap’s pardon is very clear. It says “He is hereby restored to his civil and political rights.” Not even an interpretation is necessary. The meaning of the political provision in the pardon does not have any meaning except that Erap can vote and be voted upon. If Erap were true to his promise, he could register and vote in any election for his chosen candidate, but he should not, though he could, run for any political post. That is if he would honor his public commitment not to seek any political position.

      Besides, the grant of an executive clemency does not need any justification to become effective. It merely needs some mercy from the president. No ifs and no buts.

      The executive clemency given to Erap and Jalosjos differs substantially because Jalosjos’ pardon does not provide, impliedly or expressly, the restoration of his political rights.

      http://www.interaksyon.com/article/63780/crime-in-politics–the-big-fish-who-got-away

      • Thanks sir @RENE for your explanation…..he he WALA SIYANG ……PALABRA DE HONOR………kasi BALASUBAS MGA…….

        • As a whole, Erap shows what kind of values, attributes and qualities he has as a leader – manipulative, untrustworthy, insincere and deceptive.

          Erap, as a newly elected mayor of Manila, has proven time and again that his welfare comes first before of his people…….. the kind of leader who says “do what I say, and not do as I do”. Through and through, he has a decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feelings.

          How can he lead by example when he is convicted from plunder, that somehow gives an implied message to his constituents and people under him that by winning his post, they can also do what he did, that is continue plundering – this time Manila. Well, people who voted for him must be in hopeless situations who see him as their saviour, people, who never learn from their mistakes ( who keep on making mistakes time and again) would never overhaul themselves out of the poverty they are suffering from . Erap is a very opportunistic person who uses the poorness of the people to his advantage.

        • @ letlet,

          Tama ka letlet, Muli na naman naloko at nagbenta nang sagradong BOTO ang mga botante nang city of manila sa taong walang iisang salita, kriminal sa kasong pandarambong, SUGAROL DATI at ang BABAERO…. HA HA HA HA KAWAWANG MANILA….

        • agree with what you said. erap’s past actions are strong indicators of what his future actions are going to be. asyong salonga over again. voting him in, the manilenyos probably saw something in erap and were being hopeful with him. I think, manilenyos knew what they are in for. and cast their lot with erap. if he changes course for the better, well and good. if not, the manilenyos have been promised many things before, and have weathered. since erap is already elected mayor (despite all my oppositions) I wish him well and hope he leads well, put the welfare of manila ahead of his own.

  9. Titles to land have annotations that say what may not be built on the particular lot. Maybe time was when geodetic engineers did their jobs.

    Today the comprehensive land use of a particular municipality/city is vested on the council – -who have no knowledge about the conditions of the land, geographic., geological geohazardous conditions of the land. Maybe the fact mentioned by Urban Planner Einsiedel of a land use plan had already been implemented by the Land Registration Authority in the past but politicians /mayors/ councilors have undone these by ordinances.

    • Haay nako ma’am@Lorena ,,,tama kayo DYAN …. Like what they did to the CUTTING PERMIT of the PINE TREES around SM Mall at Baguio City. If not on this ma’am@RAISAA ‘s BLOG , the city council already approved the cutting of so many number of trees around the mall….when the CPMERs started barking them left and right ,,,,nagpalusot sila naman at hindi raw cutting permits ang approved nila kundi mothballing of the pine trees he he at Hindi raw mamamatay ang trees …. COUNCILAMOT or COUNCILAMON kasi ang iba sa atin if not KARAMIHAN , he he.

      • …same in Tacloban when some ‘people’ cut all the 100 year + old Acacia trees infront of the Sto. Nino Church…fingers started ‘erecting’ to one another who ‘approved’ the cutting idea. If no fingers…elbows to armpits!

  10. “With traffic worsening in Metro Manila, Chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday that authorities are considering a total daytime truck ban.”

    http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/06/24/957443/mmda-eyes-total-daytime-truck-ban

    But the trucking companies warn of rise in consumer good prices as a result of daytime truck ban. Meaning that trucking charges would be increased, and the importers and exporters would pass the additional transport cost to consumers, local or foreign.

    To avoid the rise of trucking expense and eventually the increase in prices of consumer goods, importers and exporters must transfer or ship their cargoes in Batangas or Subic where there is no truck ban as well as traffic congestion due to fast travel via STAR, SLEX, NLEX and SCTEX.

    Btw both container ports in Batangas and Subic have been expanded, modernized and completed since 2008 at the cost of about 17 billion pesos precisely to decongest Port of Manila and Metro Manila of cargo and vehicular traffic, respectively. But the present container traffic in Batangas and Subic ports stands at less than 7% of their capacity.

    Chairman Tolentino, Go for the truck ban. And make it permanent until the ports in Batangas and Subic get the lion share of international (import and export) cargoes destined to and coming from Metro Manila, CALABARZON and Central Luzon.

    I also suggest that CPMers abroad and their relatives and friends should ship their articles through shipping companies that use the Batangas or Subic ports.

    • we ought to support tolentino, his decision may have the president’s blessing but tolentino will be standing alone and may even lose friends. he will be hounded, attacked left, right and center, with many businessmen baying for him to reverse trucking ban decision. they are already scaremongering that prices will go up and people will be worse off, but they did not say that their profits could very well go down and they could lose businesses as well as livelihood. they seemed to be entrenced in the old ways that could no longer meet the needs of modern times. they need to adjust and evolve, go with modern times, find better ways and solutions.

      change is painful for many, uncomfortable too, scary at times for we shall be breaking new and unprecedented grounds. many feared the unknow, their consequences and what will happen, but I say, let’s go forward, let’s do something better for all of us, let’s go with the truck ban. it may be chaotic at first, but we will get there, be optimistic and we might have progress.

      • @ moonie & Rene lpil,

        Tama kayo, Napakahirap na panukala ni chairman francis tolentino na ipatupad ang total truck ban during daytime at siguradong mga kawawang mabubuting driver at negusyante ang matatamaan at mahihirapan kasama maging ang mga consumedores.

        Bakit kaya hindi ang mga pasaway na mga illegal settlers/ squatters ang paalisin sa delekadong lugal na nagpapasikip sa trapiko at nagdudulot nang BAHA dahil sa walang awang pagtatapon nang BASURA at Sampahan sila nang KASO kong KAILANGAN…

        Bakit kailangan mga mabubuting mamamayan ang palaging maaapektuhan sa ganitong kalagayan? Takot ba at walang bayag mga opisyal nang D.P.W.H., M.M.D.A. at L.G.Us. sa mga illegal settlers/ Squatters na patuloy na nagmamatigas sa mga programa nang PAMAHALAAN para sa kabutihan nang nakararami…Dapat nang ipatupad ang BATAS sa kong sino ang lumabag at ikulong at pagmultahin maging sino man ang nagkasala…

        • thanks, jorge, dapat mag-cooperate na sila ang DPWH, MMDA at LGUs and coordinate their efforts, hwag yong walang pakialaman sa bawat isa, sobrang delikadesa yata at ayaw na may mga damdamin na masasaktan, mabibigo at baka magkatampuhan pa. hwag biguin ang isa sa kanila na may forward thinking, one who is determined to solve old problems with better and newer solutions, divert efforts and mamumulitika, not supporting efforts na hindi galing sa kanila dahil hindi sila ang makakabida. I think this is the hurdle we are facing and you hit it, jorge. we need people with stronger backbones who dont put too much personal emotions, religious and political affiliations before their jobs.

    • @Rene Ipil…truck bans won’t do…bans can be forgotten or lifted later.

      …as it is not the ‘bans’ that clogged the sewers but GARBAGE thrown into!

      …just like the ‘Smoking’ ban’…in oblivion now.

      So with GARBAGE in sewers…NO POLITICAL WILL in action is in the making. Get ‘money’ before political will.

  11. No amount of cosmetic changes along metro manila can address the perennial flooding of the streets, mainly the city of manila.

    Metro Manila is sinking — geologist

    KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMA NewsAugust 16, 2012 4:07pm

    A geologist and University of the Philippines professor revealed during a Senate hearing on climate change that Metro Manila is gradually and noticeably sinking.

    “Lumulubog ang lupa sa Malabon at hindi lang Malabon. Actually the entire Metro Manila is sinking…not slowly. It’s sinking at several centimeters per year,” said Dr. Fernando Siringan of the UP Marine Science Institute at Thursday’s climate change committee hearing on the state of disaster and climate risks in the country.

    He said that in Malabon, some areas have been sinking by 10 centimeters a year and others by as much as one meter in four years.

    He said that the subsidence is easily noticeable, as several places that used to be flood-free now experience flooding.

    “May kalye na itinaas ng isang metro wala pang tatlo, apat na taon, binabaha na naman ng tubig dagat, hindi tubig ulan. Bakit ka papasukin ng tubig dagat kung ‘di bumababa ang lugar?” he said.

    Siringan also noted that apart from the region’s sinking, the sea level is also rising by almost one centimeter per year because of global warming.

    The geologist explained that one of the causes of Metro Manila’s sinking is the over-extraction of ground water.

    Senate climate change committee chair Senator Loren Legarda added it is also being caused by the conversion of fish ponds into other structures.

    “Pag bumabagsak ang lupa, pagdating ng ulan ay siyempre lumulubog…napupuno rin ang ating karagatan and siltation ng mga tubig na ito ay nakakadulot din ng baha,” she said.

    “Ito ay dapat ini-input sa pagplano ng mga public works project at pati pagplano sa mga flood control project,” she added.

    Siringan mentioned Metro Manila’s sinking after saying the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) did not follow scientists’ suggestion to widen the rivers to address flooding in Metro Manila.

    “Imbes na luwagan, sinikipan pa ang mga ilog. Walang bisa na laliman nang laliman ang ilog because it will be filled up by sediments anyway,” he said.

    “Ang point ko lang, kung may mga projects, dapat ikonsider [na] tumataas ang dagat at bumababa ang lupa at ang pagbaba ng lupa ay hindi pantay-pantay at hindi mabagal ito, ito ay mabilis,” he added.

    Legarda said the DPWH has committed to change phases 1 and 2 of their flood control projects affecting Malabon, Navotas, Caloocan, and Valenzuela, but did not specify the changes.

    65 0 0 211

    • legarda seems to have problems with follow-up. she ought to make imprumtu visits and check if project are really done, not jjust talked and proposed and then talked again. see if things implemented are indeed implemented. she left many things for others to do, then others left things for others to do as well, and then, nothing gets down. for a woman of caliber, I dont want more explanations and more explantions from legarda, I want final solutions from her.

      • @ moonie,

        Tama kayo moonie, kailangan talaga ni sen.loren bisitahin palagi mga programa niya dahil napakaganda at malaking tulong ito para sa ikabubuti nang kalikasan. ngayon kong hindi niya maipatupad nang maayos ay mag resign nalang siya para makahanap nang iba? joke lang para matauhan….ha ha ha….

  13. Hi guys,

    I have been invited to be a panelist tomorrow at the JV Ongpin Journalism Seminar on “covering the campaign and elections.”

    Here’s the link –
    http://www.cmfr-phil.org/2013/06/25/covering-the-campaign-and-elections-is-2013-ongpin-seminar-topic/

    The panelists are:

    • Deo Almazan-Bugaoisan
    GMA Network Inc.

    • Henry Omaga Diaz
    ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.

    • Pia Hontiveros-Pagkalinawan
    SOLARtv

    • Lynda Jumilla
    ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.

    • Malou Mangahas
    Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

    • Raissa Robles
    raissarobles.com : inside Philippine politics and beyond

    • Ryan D. Rosauro
    Philippine Daily Inquirer

    I just want to say , it’s all mainly thanks to you guys that my writings got shared and shared all over the Internet.

    We still have a lot to do to make Philippine democracy deliver on its promise.

    And we all will, together.