And what you can do about it
Exclusive by Raïssa Robles
Tens of thousands dead, buildings and homes toppled, a mega-city in ruins. You’ve probably heard and read this description of Metro Manila if it were hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake generated by the West Valley Fault.
What you haven’t read are the specifics, which for some reason the mass media have refrained from publishing. Details, such as the fact that much of Loyola Grand Villas in Quezon City could be flattened. Or that the east-most side of the neighboring upscale La Vista Subdivision could crumble.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recently announced it was releasing to every city and town in Metro Manila or the National Capital Region quake risk assessment maps funded by Australia. Interestingly, the maps shown on TV news are not detailed. They merely show the towns and cities, not the barangays.
UPDATE: A commenter named @JMD has just sent me this link where you can access the risk assessment maps funded by Australia. Thanks! Just click on the link of this geoportal site.
This article is intended to prod authorities to release “catastrophe maps” of Metro Manila, which could give predictions of the fate facing specific barangays and subdivisions that have the misfortune of being near, or across the West Valley Fault,
It’s based on the 2004 Study for Earthquake Impact Reduction for Metropolitan Manila in the Republic of the Philippines or MMEIRS.
A fault is a fracture on the earth’s surface. According to this website on earthquakes, “stresses in the earth’s outer layer push the sides of the fault together… Eventually enough stress builds up and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the rock to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake.”
Filipino scientists have confirmed that the West Valley Fault is ripe for a slip.
The 2004 MMEIRS study noted:
“Many faults are identified around Metropolitan Manila; the West Valley Fault (WVF) and the East Valley Fault (EVF), which run north to south along the west and east edge of the Marikina Valley, are thought to pose the greatest threat to Metropolitan Manila due to their proximity.”
The graph below from the MMEIRS study shows which Metro subdivisions could be most affected since these are “transected” or cut across by the West Valley Fault:
This article is not meant to scare you, but to help you plan out a disaster mitigation program, working with your barangay officials – you just voted them into office last Monday Oct 28, remember? Your city and town officials, whom you also elected this May.
Here are four things you can do for starters:
1. Find out when your home, office building and school where your children study were built.
I asked that question of Franklyn Santos, an architect from the University of Santo Tomas who had designed and built our home with a team of UST colleagues . He told me that by chance, it was built AFTER the 7.2 magnitude Kobe earthquake of 1995. And it so happened that the structural engineer who was his friend and consultant then was studying and working in Japan when the quake reduced Kobe to rubble.
Franklyn recalled that after Kobe, building contractors in the Philippines started incorporating the lessons of Kobe. He said, though, that enforcement by city and town building officials in NCR of this practice has been spotty.
Buildings and homes constructed before that period can be retrofitted. Ways to strengthen structures are provided at the end of this piece.
2. Nag your LGU (local government unit) to inspect every building, assisted by structural engineers from the private sector.
Merely asking building officials to conduct inspections would not be a good thing since they were supposed to certify these in the first place.
Franklyn also stressed the need to make sure glass used in high rises and schools are quake-proof to avoid slicing up people on the ground.
3. Ask your barangay to dig a deep well for communal use during disasters.
Franklyn also said that if a 7.2 magnitude quake struck, NCR should anticipate that water pipes would be broken and there would be no power and possibly phones for days. The 2004 MMEIRS study actually calculated the extent of the damage:
Franklyn noted that while NCR residents could live without power and phones, water was a necessity. He recalled that some barangays in Quezon City previously dug deep wells as a result of their experience following the Mt Pinatubo eruption and the 1990 earthquake as well as a series of deadly typhoons that interrupted water and power supplies. He wondered what had happened to these deep wells, which he suggested should not be used daily but merely in times of emergency.
4. Compel cities, towns and barangays in Metro Manila to identify safe evacuation sites.
The other day, while wrestling with words to write this, I had a thought – if a very strong earthquake occurs, where could my family run to until the ground stops shaking. I realized there is no open space near my house that is safe from falling power wires or collapsing houses.
I also realized why quake-beleaguered Tokyo has lots of pocket parks – green open spaces with trees only at the fringe. These are for people to stay in during earthquakes.
We don’t have those because our politicians have left city development to commercial real estate developers who place profit first.
The MMEIRS study, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was completed nearly a decade ago but only its executive summary has been released to the public, and only recently.
I suspect a not-so-noble reason for the non-release of the complete study. Real estate developers and sellers did not want you to know they had sold or were selling land in dangerous zones.
It’s high time we, the people of Metro Manila, had a say in how our metropolis grows.
“Model 08, as the worst case, 170,000 residential houses will collapse, 340,000 residential houses will be partly damaged, 34,000 persons will die, 114,000 persons will be injured. Fire will break out and burn approximately 1,710 hectares and totally 18,000 additional persons will be killed by this secondary disaster. Moreover, infrastructures and lifelines will also be heavily damaged.”
Model 08 refers to the West Valley Fault System slipping and generating a 7.2 magnitude quake.
If such a quake occurs, seven bridges are likely to fall.
“Metropolitan Manila will possibly be separated into four regions by the earthquake impact,” the study said.
1. The western part will be isolated from other parts of Metropolitan Manila by fire and building collapse
2. The northern and southern part will be separated by building collapse and by its geography: “The intersecting area between Mandaluyong and Makati has a high possibility of building collapse; moreover, Pasig River is running through east-west which is naturally disadvantageous in terms of separation.”
3. As for the eastern part, “all road networks running east-west, which are on the fault will be broken due to the movement. Other roads running North-South in fault areas will be difficult to use, due to the high number of building collapse.”
Aldo R. Mayor, chief of public safety division, MMDA
Before I go on, I would like to thank Aldo R. Mayor, chief of the Public Safety Division of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) who gave me a copy of his power-point presentation entitled “Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Earthquake Preparedness.”
It was Mayor who drove home to me for the first time the urgent need for all NCR residents to prepare.
And for residents to nag their barangay officials, city and municipal governments, the MMDA and the national government to do likewise. Because the costs of an earthquake and lack of preparation will be huge since NCR is the heart of the nation’s economy, politics and business.
I have debated with myself for months whether I should publish this.
The recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol nudged me to do so. It is the same magnitude that the MMEIRS study labelled as “the worst case scenario” for this metropolis of 11.8 million people.
The data below, which I obtained from Aldo Mayor’s power-point presentation, gives some answers to the following questions:
1. Which areas in NCR are likely to be hit hard?
2. How can we check ourselves whether our homes and offices can withstand a 7.2 magnitude quake?
3. What can we do to prepare?
4. What should we demand of the barangay where we live and work, the city governments and the national government, including the MMDA, to prepare?
You can read at the end of this piece the MMEIRS executive summary.
The MMEIRS study examined all the known earthquakes that have shaken NCR since 1599. Drawing from this historical data, it then selected the three most damaging “scenario earthquakes.” These are:
Model 08 (West Valley Fault)- the worse case scenario
Model 13 (Manila Trench)
Model 18 (1863 Manila Bay)
This is the West Valley Fault scenario:
It noted the following secondary consequences of an earthquake:
MMDA’s Aldo Mayor provided the following examples:
The MMEIRS study then estimated which areas in NCR are likely to be hit hardest by these consequences [Note – the roman numerals refer to the quake magnitude]:
Here is an explanation of the quake magnitude:
Here is the possible building damage in NCR cities and towns under the worst case scenario. Quezon City, Manila, Pasig and Marikina in that order could bear the brunt.
In terms of deaths, it’s Manila, Quezon City, Pasig, Marikina, Makati, Taguig and Muntinlupa, in that order:
Aldo Mayor’s slides show further which barangays in five cities of NCR could have the most or least collapsed and damaged buildings and homes:
In other words, the cooler the color, the less damage structures will likely sustain. The colors range from gray, blue, green, yellow, brown, red. In red areas, from 500 to 3,000 structures could collapse in a 7.2 magnitude quake.
Here’s Makati City:
Quezon City:
Mandaluyong City:
Las Piñas:
South Caloocan (1st District):
South Caloocan (2nd District):
Sorry. Those are the only areas included in Mayor’s power-point presentation. If you live somewhere else, I suggest you ask MMDA or Phivolcs to release the data about your area. Ask your mayors, too, since they will soon get the latest risk assessment maps.
I wonder what Marikina would look like.
This is how the entire NCR could look in terms of building damage:
As for the outbreak of fire that follows an earthquake, here are the likely areas to be hit hardest in NCR:
The map below shows the areas where liquefaction could occur:
What we can do to prepare for a big earthquake
MMDA’s Aldo Mayor suggested the following:
Ever noticed these orange and blue steel containers parked in the middle of Edsa and other major roads?
These actually contain tools to rescue quake victims and lime to sprinkle on the dead:
But just a thought. Wouldn’t these containers be useless if the overpass or MRT were to collapse on them?
And how can a mere dozen such containers help a metropolis of 11.8 million people?
The answer lies in our LGUs and barangays, which need to come up with disaster mitigation plans and have equipment and first aid available for such a catastrophe.
The MMDA has been quietly training LGU and barangay officials for disaster but it seems some LGUs are NOT interested:
Here are links to affordable tips to quake-proof homes:
How other countries quake-proofed homes cheaply – from the National Geographic magazine
Here is the executive summary of the MMEIRS study. It details on page 5 all the earthquakes that have struck or affected Metro Manila since 1599:
Sustainability Guru says
Great eye opener for QUAKE PREPAREDNESS. But more than anything, IMMEDIATE ACTION must be done by ALL concerned regarding PREVENTION, MANAGEMENT AND RECOVERY. With personal experiences of major quakes in Peru & Tokyo, I have had this advocacy for SUSTAINABLE LIVING with ENVIRONMENTAL & CLIMATE RISK for almost a decade now! CITIZENS should start at home: quake-proof your house as per article; always prepare your EMERGENCY KIT & SUPPLIES. Demand GOOD GOVERNANCE. By law, All LGUs from BARANGAYs to CITY to PROVINCIAL level must have a Disaster Emergency Response and Preparedness with Early Warning Systems and a WORKING ACTION PLAN, as well SIMULATION & DRILLS conducted periodically to ENSURE minimal CASUALTY if and WHEN, so there will a smoother, organized response and Information. Likewise, communications systems and central disaster prevention media network MUST BE ORGANIZEDc to connect local disaster management organizations and residents. Measures for support to disaster-affected people should be in PLACE. along with Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction Measures. LEARN the lessons. SAVE YOUR FAMILY. Be PREPARED. Be very prepared. Please read and share – More on DISASTER PREPAREDNESS -> http://sstdi.org/tag/disaster-preparedness/
chiwee says
Back in 1st sem SY 2011-2012 at SURP, my group in our ArcGIS class had Brgy. Bagong Silangan for our study area. The West Valley Fault System runs through it and is around 3.6 kilometers long. Using ArcGIS, and in a Model 8 scenario from MMEIRS, we generated 822 structures to be heavily damaged, 2,224 to be partially damaged. After computing the number of deaths and injuries from other factors – fire, the earthquake itself and those affected by structure damage, a total of 22,208 people of the community will be needing an evacuation area of about 7 has. Population growth at that time was 11.94% annually. In the next ten years therefore, granting that the growth rate remains constant, 21.62 has has to be allotted for evacuation. I believe we have furnished the community with our study which also has a road map towards our identified areas for evacuation. Very scary indeed.
tulisanes says
very impressive! well-researched and informative! after reading all this maybe what is on people’s minds are “where the heck really is the faultline? am i one of those poor souls who up to now are clueless of their situation?
if there is a “disconnect,” perhaps i can help in closing or bridging this gap. i have in my blog each house and building including schools, churches and a popular mall even that are in the grip of a disaster should the marikina valley faultline (God forbid!) now move.
i’d say i’m about 90% finished in my, in a sense, many kilometers long, pixel-level mapping of the infamous faultline (it’s an advocacy). to demonstrate, kindly step into my blog here:
http://tulisanes.wordpress.com/
you have good information. thanks for the stuff you’re sharing!
raissa says
Thank you for sharing.
Kixx says
With the corrupt PH government officials, I wonder if they do any inspection at all?
Kalantikan says
This is a very very informative post, imagine it took someone from Moldova for me to see this! I was just alerted by some friends who got the information from visionaries, and it really is very very scary!
I am sharing this hoping individuals at least have some preparations. My only worry is, who will man the disaster group when most of us are affected, and those from the provinces who will help will not be able to come because the physical structures and communications are down! It will be just like the Visayas after Yolanda, authorities are nowhere because they are equally affected.
raissa says
Hi.
I like your blog.
I grew up with the plants you featured.
Welcome to Cyber Plaza Miranda.
Lorena says
After going to link supplied by @netty says Oct. 31,2013t 1:11am and viewing the video entitled Humongous Tsunami devours Office building…I shall say this is a good argument against the reclamation being proposed at the Roxas boulevard area which for all and sundry is a DISASTER RISK INVITATION.
baycas says
Janet Lim-Napoles testifies at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing
November 7, 2013
10:00 AM
(Preliminaries of stating the agenda for the day, swearing in and introducing JLN started and ended.)
10:18 AM
TGG: Madame Witness, I judge that you were already instructed of the proceedings and informed of your rights by the high-caliber PAO lawyers assigned to you?
JLN: Yes, your honor. Uhmm, Mr. Chair, I wish to just represent myself and will no longer be needing the services of the PAO lawyers. However, I thank you and the respectable ‘Public Atorni: Asunto o Areglo’ (TV5) Persida Acosta for the PAO-wow-derful gesture of assisting me today.
TGG: All right, I will allow. The PAO lawyers are excused. (Commenting on the side) Wow, I didn’t know that the PAO head has now a TV show glow!
10:20 AM
(A slight commotion happened while the PAO head entertained autographs.)
baycas says
10:20 AM
(A slight commotion happened while the PAO head entertained autographs.)
TGG: Order! (Commanding the sergeant-at-arms to put order in the gallery.)
10:22 AM
TGG: As I said earlier, Madame Witness, I will allow your request.
JLN: Thank you very much, your honor. Now, may I just produce a prepared testimony for the hearing today, your honor?
TGG: Proceed.
10:35 AM
JLN seen rummaging through her Louis Vouitton for some time then waving to the Senate Committee a paper presumably her prepared statement.
TGG: Please go on, Madame Witness, so as not to waste precious time.
JLN: I’m sorry for the delay, your honor. (Proceeding to read her statement)
10:36 AM
JLN: Mr. Chair… (Reading while trembling)
(A long pause)
10:41 AM
TGG: Please go on, Madame Witness.
JLN: Your honor, I am already invoking my right…my RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT.
10:42 AM
(Now, a bigger commotion in the gallery is happening.)
Senate Sgt-at-Arms: (Shouting) SILENCE! SILENCE!
1:30 PM
(After almost three hours of complete silence, the hearing was adjourned.)
baycas says
(The hearing was adjourned in anticipation of ‘Yolanda’, to give all present at the Senate hall to prepare…)
kalahari says
In an ambush interview, SP Drillon seemed not be interested in unearthing the truth from Napoles but instead indirectly coached her that “she can refuse the services of the PAO lawyers. Even without the PAO people, she must attend the hearing and refuse to answer any question due to the absence of a counsel”.
It is queer for the SP to give such an advice as if he is afraid of what may transpire if she talks the whole truth. Could he be the reported King of Porks coming from the rumor mills?
baycas says
Senate Pork…este, President…Drilon realizes the inevitable…
Janet’s silence in the Senate is just the lull (or calm) before ‘Yolanda’…
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/lull+before+the+storm
yeheywter says
It could be a sense of duty for a senator to inform Napoles’ rights, Drillon is no different.
Neo Canjeca says
34.1 Baycas Says
Did PNoy push the ‘savings‘ (aka DAP) envelope?
http://www.gov.ph/2013/10/07/qa-on-the-disbursement-acceleration-program/
Every good government NEEDS NO PROPAGANDA WEBSITES BUT must have a web page to answer and explain burning issues of the day to counteract media mis- and disinformation.
I clicked and glanced at the content of the link. I FAILED or have missed the essence of the issue.
The write up seem to provide an economics explanation to a political (legal) question storming the constitutionality of the DAP. If there are no legal dissection and analysis of the issue, WHERE THEN are the legal crows este eagles of Malacanang sleeping in the pancitan? I’ll be happy to be informed.
Rene-Ipil says
[email protected]
To get a better picture, I correlated the DBM website about the DAP with the article of Atty. Mel Sta. Maria that Baycas also posted before.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/72106/mel-sta–maria—the-dap-may-be-constitutional-after-all
Neo Canjeca says
Thanks Rene-Ipil, I got probably a better picture.
first time for me too to visit INTERAKSYON.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE DAP IS CONSTITUTIONAL
IT BECOMES AT LEAST TO ME UNCONSTITUTIONAL
ONCE DAP is used for petty thievery and PLUNDER. BUT
that’s not a better picture.
Neo Canjeca says
When Jinggoy was falsely, jokingly reported being arrested in
San Francisco for carrying dough, they said it was satire.
Is there a satirical blank verse like this, though
NOT really with Jinggoy in mind?
When a Thief I am Not
A Thief comes in the night to steal peanuts
Because not interested and I dislike peanuts
And knowing I am no thief of peanuts
The owner gave me the whole plantation.
How can I be a thief
The people elected me
Of one hundred million people
I am number 7 one who rides car # 7
Rightly I am called and am Honorable
It is unthinkable really insane
to call me a thief like a pickpocket
a holdupper, a shoplifter, a snatcher;
because I am not a THIEF
I must be something else
And that is not my fault.
For every two fingers that accuse me
Six fingers are pointing back to the accusers
But the courts will prove I am not a thief
Because in a larger sense I am somebody
And a lot better.
taurusius says
One of the many scenarios should Janet Napoles appears in the Senate inquiry:
http://opinion.inquirer.net/64831/janet-answers-questions-at-the-senate
kalahari says
TG and his barkada are not after the truth but only for publicity – however, the public may be amused nonetheless.
Neo Canjeca says
DID NOT CPMers notice AT ALL? TG is most handsome, TV or Hollywood actor,
very foreign looking, not so senatorial looking like Claro Recto, Tanada, Primicias,
Laurel and Amang Rodriquez. Ang layo, di mukhang Pinoy. Some wise guys
might question his citizenship.
Neo Canjeca says
Mr Taurusius, a Roman citizen contemporary of Cassius and Julius Caesar, I suppose? Thanks for the link.
I read the link scenario above and turned it on its head and what did I see? Napoles is smarter than the inquisitor. The answers were more intelligent than the apparent idiotic questions. Fools truly believe ASK A STUPID QUESTION TO GET A STUPID ANSWER. No Sir, stupid answer is a slap across the face of the stupid one asking the question. Why does the Senate wants it members to be slapped around for the sake of remedial legislation, este PUBLICITY?
HUDAS este who does the Senate think got more bread from the scam, their colleaques or Napoles?
IF CPMers Johnny Lin, or Andrew or Baycas or the Ipil tree etc. write the Socratic scenario, that will be the day when forensic thinking will approximate the truth and shame pseudo-intellectual vaudeville.
Neo Canjeca says
BUT WHAT IS THE POINT . . . .
The point unseen by clueless purchased voters of the members of the present Congress is that if only 50% of their members will seat down and do their jobs of lawmaking or making laws, just sit down and review for amendments or repeal to update existing funny, dysfunctional or oppressive laws (if any like the VAT, though probably many), these lawmakers WOULD HAVE EARNED 50% of their own legislated atrocious pay and other emoluments. For the poor taxpayers, the price is too high, even exorbitant paying for their glamour and respectability their fashions and façades in their high society.
leona says
‘Guingona: We are not getting anywhere. This is a mistake. I declare this session adjourned.’
from @taurusius’ link above.
‘He’ [TG from a dream of Mr. Cruz] …got into somewhere…an unmistakable adjournment!
Here’s mine:
‘State your name please’. Answer: You subpoenaed me, you don’t know my name?
TG… ‘Aha, okay.’ Question: ‘Did you give money to “Tanda?” Answer: Why ask me…he’s your colleague…ask him!’
TG…’aha, yes.’ Question: ‘To ‘Pogi’…you gave him money, isn’t it?’ Answer: ‘Where’s Pogi?…You’re Pogi too…to you I gave you money?’
TG…’AHA!’…yes. We’re getting somewhere!’ Question: ‘Sexy got some money from you. How much?’ Answer: ‘You are sexy like everybody here…did I give money to all the sexy here?’
TG…’Aha! We’re getting lost here!’ TG: Recess, 5 minutes! [ TG powders and combing his hair as the tv footage catches him].
Cha says
Raissa mentioned above the value of having green open spaces that can serve as refuge for when an earthquake strikes. (They also help ease flooding as they absorb storm water.)
Below are ten such oases of open space identified by the architect Paolo Alcazaren in an article, 10 Oases in Metro Manila (we need to save) published by Philstar, July 6, 2013. Don’t let those private developers get their hands on these:
1. Nayong Pilipino
2. Camps Bonifacio, Aguinaldo, and Nichols
3. Veterans and V. Luna Memorial Hospitals
4. UP Diliman/ Balara
5. North and South Cemetery
6. NAPWC/ Quezon Memorial Circle
7. Manila Zoo/ Rizal Memorial Complex
8. Rizal Park
9. Roxas Blvd. and the CCP
10. The National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong
Cha says
Link to Alcazaren’s article :
http://www.philstar.com/modern-living/2013/07/06/962014/10-oases-metro-manila-we-need-save
vander anievas says
those oases, imo, are ripe for our businessmen to be acquired and be converted to profitable centers. BGC is a very good example.
we might wake up one day also that manila bay has no more sunset to be watched by the boulevard.
moonie says
they’re going to make concrete jungle right in the heart of manila bay. already, a reclamation project is being proposed and likely to be approved. heritage hotel has already eaten a chunk of nayong pilipino. our supply of green oases is getting lower. manila zoo is being revamped, mayor estrada wants it renovated with more and bigger enclosures for animals.
Lorena says
The way to supply the materials for filling such a large area of water???
Get soil /,stones from quarry — READ: Flatten the mountains. No more stormbreakers.
Plant Buildings instead of trees, o di ba para mas mataas kesa baha???
Pero first CREATE THE BAHA– How—, cut the trees, so the area can be flattened to build subdivisions.
Then wait for the landslides
greenpea says
Hi Cha,
Thanks for sharing this interesting info. Actually there is another big beautiful open space that we have tended to overlook so far. It is the c-6 dike road which I have been advocating to be turned into a national park that can be a legacy of the PNoy administration and which I propose to be called the matuwid na daan park.
I feel frustrated though that I seem to be alone in advocating for this place to be turned into a seriously beautiful park to rival other famous parks abroad. I hope you can share my sentiments and be a fellow advocate.
There is an effort by the city gov of taguig to turn the south end portion of this dike into a park but only a portion and I don’t think they can afford to turn the entire stretch into a world class park. That is why I believe we should clamor to make this a national park. Please see link: thanks
http://fidelismo.blogspot.com/2012/01/c-6-dike-road-tragedy-of-wounded-lake.html
Cha says
I think you have a great idea there @greenpea. Have you approached anyone from the local govt or even the MMDA about this?
I hope Raissa and the other CPMers can have a look at your link also and maybe help get things rolling. I’ll do some digging up myself. Thanks!
greenpea says
thanks cha.
as a citizen speaking to government my voice is nothing. That would be like Kafka’s Emperor’s Message story in reverse. However together with other citizens speaking in unison, maybe we stand a chance to be heard and make a difference.
I did not think of writing or talking to MMDA but I wrote to LLDA once since its head is supposed to be a champion of the environment. Wala lang, deadma lang ang response. I also wanted to write to the Senate and Congress to enact a law to create the said park but I so far never got to do it.
Again thank you for being supportive and encouraging. And thanks too for Ms. Raissa that through her blog, this communication became possible.
all the best to everyone
vander anievas says
@greenpea,
i agree. the stretch is slowly shaping up. it may turn into an enviable highway and promenade.
if the hundred meter run thru the “lupang arenda” area could be widened, it shall become an efficient thoroughfare.
taguig city can tap landscape architects to have a more practical rendition.
however, c-6 is becoming a haven for many sort of “kalakal” too. population is growing noticeably.
the place is becoming a recipient of backfill materials that may, without proper drainage planning, trap floods ala Habagat.
greenpea says
Hi @vander anievas Thanks for commenting.
Cha says
Hi again @greenpea. I did a search for established environmentalist groups in the Philippines yesterday and just realized there’s actually a dearth in that area. And I couldn’t find even one that might be interested in this particular type of advocacy, i.e. urban greening.
Looking at the government side, there is the National Parks and Development Committee which is responsible for Rizal Park and which includes in its charter (at least per their website) , the development of other national parks. So that’s probably one route for getting your idea into a national forum. But given how most Philippine government agencies are slow to react or even unable to just respond (at the very least) to private citizens like you and me (as your experience with the LLDA shows) , that might not be the best venue to air this out at the moment.
So I looked at the author of the article I posted. I actually learned about Paolo Alcazaren through my nephew, an architect based in Singapore, who posted on Facebook an invitation to Mr. Alcazaren’s talk about ‘Urban Design and Urban Greening – The Philippine Experience’ this Nov 8 at a forum in Singapore. It got me curious (even though I am not based in Singapore but Australia) , wondering what’s been going on in the mother country in this field and what Mr. Alcazaren’s role was. That’s how I was led to his article on the Metro Manila parks.
Given that this seems to be his advocacy and from the looks of it, his professional expertise as well, I thought he just might be the person to pitch your idea to. I thought of starting a communication with him on this but decided against it as you probably are the best person to do this. He posted his email address at the bottom of the philstar article just in case you want to pursue this avenue : [email protected]
Cha says
Addendum:
He is also on facebook (where you can get a better glimpse of the man’s work and thinking):
https://www.facebook.com/paulo.alcazaren/posts/10152040860849488
Hope this helps.
greenpea says
@cha
Thanks. Will try to write to Mr. Alcazaren.. But please feel free to own the park idea and share it with people who are more in a postition to do something about it. This could even be a project of professional expats for the Philippines.
macspeed says
@green pea
The reason is time which is so short for PNOY and his HSE cabinet members to see such as this. The main agenda at the moment is to kill the bloody corrupt officials who raped and bastardized peoples money…this is more important…perhaps later beautification will come into picture, however there are already development somewhere else:
http://www.neda.gov.ph/PDP/2011-2016/
http://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/Worldbank/document/EAP/Philippines/PDRFullReport.pdf
he he he wish i may, wish i might…
greenpea says
Hi @Macspeed. Thanks for your comments and link.
Having a park is not just about beautification. It is part of building our country from the ground up. It is like giving lungs to a community which was deprived of it before because money for public/community spaces was stolen.
On the other hand, fighting corruption is a never ending work in progress. It is an illusion to think that after your have punished the plunderers who pillaged our country, you would have ended corruption once and for all so you can attend to other matters. Besides the fight against corruption starts with ourselves. How many of us can say that we have rid ourselves of the mentality of rent and entitlement which is at the root of all corruption? How many of us are conscious of personal productivity so that we can say we help create wealth for the country instead of just partaking it from what others have created?
I support the current administration in its arduous battle against graft and corruption. But I will be very sad to hear, for instance, the Sec of Health say that he is prioritizing cleaning up the DOH of scalawags instead of working on a national healthcare plan or the Sec. of Environment saying that there is very little time to save endangered environments because he has first to rid the department of crooks.
We simply must do what we have to do and when it comes to doing the right thing, the right time to do it is always now.
We can not all be political animals all of the time. We need art and beauty to remain humans.
peace
macspeed says
@greenpea,
That is what PNOY is doing, while removing the corrupt officials and corrupt system, he and his cabinet were also busy building the country and correcting errors of the past. One cannot have a project without removing the scalawags, that is Health, Safety and Environment. How can you build a park when the SEC or congressman or senator assigned to it will just do magic and money is gone??? If you are driving on a road full of holes, how much speed you will atttain? You need to pave the road flat. Any Project started by corrupt, will never reach a good end…
In our very little own ways, we will continue to work for personal development, somehow we are not a burden to Philippine society, that is already a big big plus to PNOY’s agenda. See a simple math on how the OFW contributes to Philippine economy:
Say an OFW spend 100US$ a month in Philippine x 1,000,000 in a month x 12 months in year wow, a whooping 1.2 trillion US$ in a year he he he
Do you know that i spend 2000US$ in a month for my family bills for food, clothing, electricity, water, gas, groceries, gasoline etc…how much more if each OFW will spend more than 100US$ a month?
Very little own way of contribution, somehow it helps our economy…
macspeed says
@greenpea
if you just keep saving your money, you are not contributing to Philippine economy, one needs to spend it in any ways…he he he
Beside, when one die, he cannot bring his savors and to the grave, the alibaba senators and tongcressman keeps on robbing the peoples money, yet when they die, not a dollar can they spend to buy a candle…
Economy is growing when one spend, see Telecomunication developments? One cannot call or text if he does not have a LOAD he he eh
Now while c
Lorena says
Dear Advocate, could you please check id this large area you have identified is not within the course of the West Valley Fault since that fault stretches toTaguig.
greenpea says
Hi @lorena. Thanks for your comment. Maybe it is. Maybe not. But in case of an earthquake, a park or an open space is a good place for people to go for safety (especially right after a strong one)
leona says
@Cha…it is really nice to have ‘parks’…green spaces. It gives relief for all. We should really have it in every place, cities or towns. Problem is: even ‘dividing lines’ of main roads are made into ‘green parks’ that needs watering or when no water or tamad na, are left to wither to dusts!
In Tac City, authorities and/or their agents cut down the 100 years old+ Acacia Trees infront of the Sto. Nino Church…and when the public started criticizing them, FINGERS STARTED ERECTING like the Acacia Trees pointing the blame to …who?
God created trees and plants…Man hates them, cuts trees and plants for profit. We get back floods, lots of it.
Logging, legal and illegal, still flourish. Ban, No Ban, Ban, No Ban…when will this stop? When there are no more Trees. No more Plants.
The waters of the oceans are rising and our profiteers are helping it…cutting down the trees. Floods! Who cares [ they say].
Thanks for calling everyone’s concern. LOVE TREES!
Cha says
Hi Leona,
In Australia, they use native plants for those traffic ‘islands’ that you mentioned. Those native plants trees are very hardy and don’t need much watering. Also, the newer developed suburbs have water recycling facilities so that recycled water is what is used for gardens. Rainwater tanks are also installed in a lot of houses now to collect water from up above. :) again, to be used for gardens.
Neo Canjeca says
Sorry to disagree with CHA. Those listed are not open but used and NOT CONSERVE spaces. Sad to say we have now very very few open spaces in Metro Manila. Some of those in the list are degradations, examples of abused or neglect (ask any environmentalist). It is defeatist not to see a flicker of light in the darkness. But a sense of humor tells us the souls of the dead in the North and South Cemeteries can not rest in piece because of the living dead who share their beds. Is not the Manila ZOO mistaken for a specialized hospital for animal malnutrition?
Private developers have good though profitable but controllable intentions. The root of the problem are in the PERMIT issuing departments. They should go to the gallows ahead of the developers.
Except for tsunamis, 100-year floods and earth swallowing, open spaces like parks offer the safest refuge against earthquakes in the Philippines. To be ready just think of about 8 million people running for safety in those 10 listed open spaces.
In the case of open spaces, to conserve is to use wisely; to preserve is NOT to use at all or to strictly use sparingly. In Europe, USA or Canada, a park is a PRESERVE. Please forgive the presumptuousness
Because I did conservation work for about a decade. And recognize with gratitude utmost concern from CHA and other CPMers.
Neo Canjeca says
Last word on parks and open spaces . . .
Imagine (like Paul McCartney singing) if all the LEAKAGES (in billions of pesos) from PDAF were spent on even just Mini parks in municipalities and appropriate barangays. Walang pera diyan AH. Sa basketball courts meron boto pa eh. Ang pera pare ko ay nasa mga multo, sa mga ghost projects.
Have people ever wondered why the first Seven Wonders of the World were all works of men while the latest Seven Wonders are all works of nature which luckily may have escaped the degradations of man?
bebotsky says
is this true? Mga taga SF pls validate…
http://sowhatsnews.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/jinggoy-estrada-arrested-after-trying-to-smuggle-money-inside-his-breast-to-us/
raissa says
Satire
taurusius says
Karma is starting to catch up on this thief.
taurusius says
hahahaha, it’s not true.
kalahari says
What is true – as opposed to his original reason that her missus needs breast checkup – is that he went there alone.
I have a feeling that he wants to be away when the sandiganbayan issues the non-bailable warrants of arrest for 38 lawmakers belonging to Batch # 1.
leona says
Mr. Diokno former DBM officials cites a 1987 case by the SC –
“In G.R. No. 71977, the Court ruled that Section 44 of Presidential Decree No. 1177, then known as the Budget Reform Decree of 1977, was null and void because it “allows the president to override the safeguards, form and procedures prescribed by the Constitution in approving appropriations.”
This decision was decided under the 1973 Constitution and not under the 1987 Constitution. The two constitutions have different provisions on PD 1177 [if relevant under the latter Const.].
In the latter Constitution it says “xxx however, the President, xxx may, by law, be authorized to augment ANY ITEM in the general appropriations law for their respective offices from SAVINGS in OTHER ITEMS of their respective appropriations.”
‘Any item’ means from ‘anywhere’ in the GAA as long as ‘savings’ from ‘other items’ anywhere also. It has no relevancy [from my opn] re PD 1177 or the 1973 Constitution. The issue there is not the same issue as what is pending now before the SC.
No. 5 Sec. 25 ARTICLE VI 1987 Const vs Sec. 16 (5) 1973 Constitution.
leona says
link of Mr. Diokno’s news article – http://philnews.com/headlines/2013/headline_news_1105ac.htm
link of the case on PD 1177 Feb. 27, 1987 by SC – http://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1987/feb1987/gr_71977_1987.html
raissa says
I’d like to know how the Erap presidency did it.
leona says
If [or it is the basis] EO 292 based on PD 1177 is the ground for DAP now, under the 1973 Const. it will be unconst., but under the 1987 Const., a different or favorable answer maybe sustainable for DAP. But let us wait from SC what is the decision on it. tsk tsk tsk.
baycas says
Did PNoy push the ‘savings‘ (aka DAP) envelope?
http://www.gov.ph/2013/10/07/qa-on-the-disbursement-acceleration-program/
We shall see
What will be
The finality
At the SC
leona says
@baycas…Yes PNoy ‘pushed’ the savings (aka DAP) funds as they believed it is legally allowed by the 1987 Const. (5) SEC. 25 Art. VI.
But, on the matter of ‘legislators also endorsing programs/projects’ where the DAP funds are used, this may be another issue under the SEC. 25: 1st – it interferes with the president’s power or prerogative in the implementation of the GAA; 2nd – individual legislators cannot usurped Congress’ powers on the GAA etc.
Many ‘items’ constituting ‘sub-issues’ on the DAP’s use will surely be strictly screened if violative of the law.
But maybe the use of DAP funds generally, will be alright under the law.
Tsk tsk tsk. Thanks. Are you referring to that ‘brown Manila envelopes’ or the ‘letter envelopes?’
leona says
Abs-Cbn news –
‘The DOJ and whistleblowers are also busy preparing for the much-anticipated face-off with alleged “pork barrel” scam architect Janet Lim Napoles at the Senate on Thursday, De Lima added.
Baligod told ABS-CBN News that the cases will be filed next week.
He bared that more or less 10 lawmakers will be part of the second batch of respondents, compared to only 5 during the first batch.’
‘More or less 10 lawmakers’…could be 3-4 senators kasi higher or more ‘sutures’ to sew ’em up as they get more funds than others; congressmen/women maybe 5 from LPs at least. My info I got… from…my…mind!
If only ‘opposition lawmakers’ are charged it will reflect a bad image in the pending cases before the SC; a charge of ‘unequal treatment’ under the law.
As to ‘when’ or ‘how long’ will charges be filed with the SB court, the Maguindanao massacre cases will be forgotten…maybe.
Tsk tsk tsk…let us just justi-iS to wait.
leona says
This is non-relevant here but of utmost concern for soldiering here –
‘Five soldiers accused of looting a councilor’s house at the height of the Zamboanga City crisis last September will be held to account for their alleged actions, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Tuesday.
“Nasa court martial na… Court martial proceedings are ongoing,” AFP spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said.
Zagala refused to name the five soldiers to protect their rights. Their names will only be released if they are convicted, he added.’ GMA news today.
Why is there a ‘blackout’ who are these soldiers alleged to have looted? To ‘protect’ their rights or violate their rights? Which is it?
Just asking DND or Col. Zagala.
Rene-Ipil says
[email protected]
Before, Egco immortalized Puno who is a lapdog of GMA.
Now, Egco beatified Diokno who is a lackey of ERAP.
Reading the articles of Egco reminds me of the columns of Tiglao, Doronilla, Magno, Cunanan, Olivarez, etc. before I stopped reading them eons ago.
leona says
Raissa, the Erap presidency bc it was cut short appears nil on this except this very short info –
‘Unlike other presidents, President
Estrada has not created his own anticorruption body and has allowed the
Ramos’ created PCAGC to continue in
office. He seemed to be inclined to use
instead the Inter-Agency Anti-graft
Coordinating Council, composed of the
Commission on Audit, Civil Service
Commission, the Ombudsman, the
Department of Justice, the National
Bureau of Investigation and the
Presidential Commission against Graft and
Corruption.’
The link below follows…
leona says
link Erap’s presidency –
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/apcity/unpan019122.pdf
moonie says
he is only prolonging the inevitable. he’s not only short of stature, he’s also short on courage. made himself unavailable, therefore, cannot be issued with warrant. must be estilito mendoza’s advice.
moonie says
jinggoy is what I mean, estilito mendoza is his lawyer.
moonie says
nanlamig ako when I saw on tv the interview of jinggoy in the airport just before he left. the woman walking nonchallantly behind him, wearing dark glasses (inside the airport?), black trousers and creamy shirt looked like the wife. her body language was all wrong to me, she appeared reluctant and have to walk few steps behind him. like she did not want to go but have to for the sake of peace. jinggoy was all smiles though. glad and looking forward to be out of the pot and straight into the kettle! the interview he gave was lame. not once did he mention mammogram, o, ultrasound. the lump whether it was the size of a coconut, smaller than a grain of rice, or less than a millimeter. wala talaga. the location whether anteriorly, laterally, proximal or distal, wala rin. this man did not know what he was talking about, and the interviewer let him get away with it. more questions could have been asked. phew!
raissa, can you please verify if jinggoy went alone?
Neo Canjeca says
out of topic pa, pero malapit nang pag usapan dito.
IMAGINE (like a song by Paul McCartney) readings of the new developments on the PDAF brouhaha in the Senate:
One—Perry Mason may yet LATER request the SB court to issue a subpoena to Lorna Kapunan in the interest of justice to testify to augment or validate the testimony of Jeane Napoles; Lawyers must KNOW and
must not incriminate clients but must reveal the truth about others known to the clients. Lawyers please comments.
Two—When Napoles testify before the Senate Investigating Committee, she will be like an inmate of death row forced to testify against her peers, so SOME OF THEM can have a piece of her meat;
Three—if the proceedings is televised no matter HOW IT GOES, the Sandigayan Bayan if it watches like the people who will certainly know only one thing: the truth, nothing but the whole TRUTH. From what it has seen the SB Court can CONVICT OR ACQUIT all the accused in only one or two days.
Four—regardless of the genius of a staged-managed drama to favor the dirtied who are present in the stage, the people and the SB Court in the audience will watch the unfolding of the tug of war between good and evil with Napoles as the rope in-between.
Five—As in Quantum Physics, there is nothing in-between good and evil, only a cosmic void separates them; one is either good or evil and that’s it. As the TV Cameras will demonstrate there is nothing between guilt or innocence not even a rope like Napoles. The audience, the people deep in their hearts perforce must acquit or convict.
emong says
Hi Guys – What can you say about Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco? He’s a known critic of the current adminitsration. Is he not corrupt? How is Navotas?
Thank you!
kalahari says
Who is the bossing of toby? di ba ang billionaryong (kuno) maligno taga makati, ang mayor ng manila convicted of plunder and the principal actor in the pork barrel scam whose sweetie chief of staff is now enjoying the sunshine in California.
leona says
Speaking of ‘bossing’:
11 justices SC were appointed by Boss GMA;
4 justices SC were appointed by ‘boss’ PNoy.
To pronounce PDAF & DAP unconstitutional or not = majority of 8 justices required [No. (2) Sec. 4 Art. VIII Constitution.
If DAP is unconstitutional how does it affect PNoy’s administration? PDAF’s former decision will get a review? Or PDAF is pronounced this time as unconstitutional? If only 7 justices do this PNoy is safe.
PNoy still has his ‘Boss’… the people.
leona says
PDAF was pronounced constitutional and it is until now. PNoy and Congress ‘modifiedly’ abolish it for the next fiscal year as approved by Congress. So, valid. ? !
How about DAP since acc to Sec. Abad this is by ‘executive order’ only, no Congress approval. Can Congress now also approve DAP in ‘a law’ for the next fiscal year? If yes, then DAP becomes constitutional.
If from the above 2nd paragraph, all of it happens, what is the SC going to declared unconstitutional for the next fiscal year?
moonie says
have you seen the mansion toby tiangco is building in wack-wack? kapitbahay pala siya ng ka-feather niyang si jinggoy estrada. nagpalakihan sila ng mansion, jinggoy’s is estimated to be more than 120million! so much space! so much rooms! you need gps or satnav just to get around!
kalahari says
How could toby afford a mansion at wack-wack when he was born to a middle-class family. He helped his parents by working at an early age together with his brod john rey, the present mayor of navotas. (wikipedia)
His rag-to-riches story is quiet similar to the maligno from makati as he was mayor of navotas from 2000 to 2010, then congressman from 2010 to date. Let some journalist analyze his SALNs.
Rene-Ipil says
“Pare-parehong magnanakaw ang mga politiko.” It has been ingrained in Filipino’s mind that all Filipino politicians are thieves. That was the gist of Jinggoy’s privilege speech in the senate. And PNoy is a politician for sure.
Indeed, the opposition and usual critics of the present administration fully believe that PNoy is also a thief. But they are so hypocrite that they are mouthing what the overwhelming majority of the people, including foreigners, think that PNoy is really honest. These hypocrites are now publicly professing that PNoy is not a thief but they announce that PNoy’s allies are thieves like them who partook of PDAF and government savings spent through DAP.
So that many Filipinos think now that maybe PNoy is also a thief due to the popular adage that “birds of the same feather flock together”. “Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.”
Even right thinking newspaper columnists are now saying what usual critics and the opposition are pronouncing. That the issue is not about the honesty of PNoy. That the issue is the constitutionality and legality of PDAF and DAP. The unmitigated hypocrites even have the gall to question the Presidential Social Fund, Calamity Fund, Intelligence Fund, Contingency Fund, Malampaya Fund, ETC. and mislead the public that said funds are together with the PDAF in the barrel of pork.
These hypocrites deliberately hide the truth that the pork barrel is primarily intended for political purposes of garnering votes in the future elections. In fact the president uses PDAF to pass his legislative agenda for the benefit of the people. Needless to say the other funds are mainly for social, security and economic needs of the country. In other words all these money are alright if used properly. But thievery of these funds is always possible, and that should be the concern of everybody, including those hypocrites.
But the real concern of the opposition and PNoy’s critics is to make a lame duck of the president so that his anointed one in 2016 would lose the presidency. This is done by misleading the people that maybe, just maybe, PNoy is also a thief so that his choice is likewise a thief. Never mind the tremendous social, economic, security, etc. gains achieved by PNoy’s government.
IMO at the rate of achievements that the present administration gains, anybody whom PNoy endorses as president in 2016 will win.
baycas says
When they thought PNoy is already down and out, the magnanakaws were ready for the kill because they thought the people are outraged enough to even worship the magnanakaws…like a fattened golden pig (calf, in biblical times).
The magnanakaws are mistaken.
They will not be restored to power. They will not remain in power. They will not earn the power.
moonie says
if only these hypocrites change their focus and give their all to help our kababayans na nasalanta ng earthquake sa bohol at cebu, to our kababayans also in zamboanga victimized by that idiot misuari who thinks he can just grab a piece of phillipine soil and claim it as his own, to our kababayans still struggling victims of previous typhoons na until now, hindi pa nakabangon at nanganga-ilangan pa rin ng tulong – these hypocrites would have gotten people’s trust and admiration.
so they should go out and get people’s trust and admiration. how? by being less laging kasalungat, go to the people and help, instead of just being behind their desks and plot ways and means to bring down the government, and maybe, themselves too. show you care and not only during election. walk with the people and talk with them, rather than talk them down, use less hurtful words. show kindness. hard to do when no one has shown you kindness before. but you can make a break and change from the norm. others may think you weak and ineffective, but not the people. they can tell the difference between true sincerity and faked sincerity. help them without being gullible, and they’ll help you. hurt them, and they’ll hurt you in return.
so use kind words, and people will speak of you with kindness. or, we people here in raissa’s blog will show our own brand of kindness.
jorge bernas says
@ Rene- Ipil,
You are 100% correct Rene that whoever Pnoy endorses come 2016 presidential election will unanimously WIN…. Because most people believe in Pnoy’s Tuwid na Daan Advocacy and in his drive to prosecute those that pockets the Billions of Money of the PEOPLE…
leona says
@Rene…
In the misuse of all these funds: PDAF, DAP etc., is not in hundreds of millions but already in the arch of billions of pesos. ‘In fact the president uses PDAF to pass his legislative agenda for the benefit of the people.’
We were of the belief that the intent of these funds are for good but not what we later learned.
‘To pass his legislative agenda’… any president for that matter, would need his/her agenda passed by the majority members of the legislature. But how does any president actually do about this to accomplish the agenda?
Is it to distribute or share substantial portions of these funds? Like via NGOs? And then some lawmakers when criticized says “It is not our duty anymore to find out if the NGOs or implementing agencies are fake or bogus!”
To ‘endorse’ by lawmakers their allotments of these funds does not impose upon them a simple duty of verifying that the implementing agencies where their allotments or share are given to – are not fake NGOs or bogus?
Are these lawmakers not at all held liable or responsible for neglecting such verification? Many people believe they are held responsible or liable because the amounts are so huge in hundreds of millions and into billions of pesos.
To their ‘alibis’ of non-liability or responsibility, is it not an empty excuse that the money was never at all used for the intention and that the money went somewhere else, thus not even the DBM can pinpoint the ‘specific projects’ alleged to have been intended cannot be proven or shown to the public?
The COA in it’s report even said “The DBM refused to furnish us documents of bla bla bla.” Why was that so?
Money is so vital that for one person entrusted to hold it and spend it can just lamely say “Not my duty anymore if I gave it to someone to implement the intent for it.” A very empty responsibility!
Thus, people of many ideas on this misuse of the funds have surmised something really is rotten here.The proof of the pudding is – the money is lost. Who really got it nobody now knows. Everybody is finger-pointing.
Some if not many of the lawmakers are suddenly seen to be neo-rich, buying here and there, building mansions here and there etc. The opposition are marked and identified. Nothing yet from people in the Administration or not yet clearly identified or even charged.
Is this ‘game of hiding’ the money from these funds being played in both the present administration and the opposition? It looks like it is. Who cares! It’s people’s money anyway.
This is the public complaint – WHERE IS THE MONEY? Who got the money? Why is there not a good answer to this? What the public is hearing is – ‘The DAP is valid. The DAP is legal. Bla bla bla.’ So also the PDAF, which recently is the initial scandal revealed. The DAP is following that trendy too.
The Constitution says all government expenses originate from Congress as approved. The DAP is a creation of or by an executive order [ DBM Abad?] and not by Congress. Is this right? … no need for Congress to approved it as law?
To agree to an ‘executive order’ for DAP as a sample, will it not embolden future administrations to do more of it likewise…in order to ‘spend people’s money’ in same manner? Without Congress’ approval?
The painful result is this spending is mixed-up with corruption, and can only happen in government. It becomes ‘Money is the root of all evil.’
For sure, hoping for progress for us all is more on the negative picture. The money in billions is missing and will continue to be so. And no one yet is clearly held responsible: some opposition lawmakers or DBM or who?
The fingers-pointing keep on growing pointing to others. Is politics too much involved in these funds? It appears so. Then it is: Money Plus Corruption Plus Politics!
MPCPP! Imagine for us: each senator got about P50M after the conviction of Mr. Corona. DBM Abad says the money came from DAP! Just like that. Why give such amount? For political reasons? It appears so.
Is such giving of money ‘to pass the legislative agenda?’ What is the agenda? P50M each and did this went to where? Nobody knows. Not DBM. Does COA know where? We haven’t been told yet.
That is in the Senate. How about in the Lower House, how many are getting these ‘PERKS’ and going to ‘scholars’ daw, ‘basketball courts,’ ‘invisible roads,’ ‘half-finished bridges,’ name other ‘alibi projects’ is all we get.
For ‘legislative agenda.’ Really? Or this is an old animal-trick just resuscitated from the voidness of our minds.
I believe we are all being ‘cooked’ here on this. The more divisive we all become the better the chances this trick succeeds.
Money. The one evil thing. Sauce: Corruption & Politics.
Rene-Ipil says
[email protected]
My vision is clear insofar as PDAF is concerned.
If I were PNoy I would do what Abraham Lincoln did in order to pass his legislative agendum concerning the abolition of slavery in the U.S. Lincoln caused his loyal lieutenants to “bribe” the opposition to pass the bill on anti-slavery.
Thaddeus Stevens, one of the most ardent radicals in U.S. Congress remarked: “The greatest measure in the nineteenth century was passed by corruption, aided and abetted by the purest man in America.”
Knowing fully well the historical and contemporary meaning and significance of the pork barrel, I think that only the PDAF is contained in the barrel of pork. Only PNoy’s opposition and critics as well as the hypocrites and clueless would lump Malampaya Fund, Social Fund, Calamity Fund, Contingency Fund, Intelligence Fund, etc. together with PDAF inside the barrel of pork. To my understanding the PDAF is for disposition of solely the legislators for political purposes, and that is why it is called the pork barrel.
If I were PNoy, I would use the funds other than that contained in the barrel of pork to buy warships, ammunitions, weapons, fighter jets and helicopters, etc. and to rebuild Zamboanga, Bohol, Central Luzon, etc.. I would also urge COA to conduct an honest to goodness audit of all these expenses. And more importantly, I would stay the course and not mind the hypocritical opposition, critics and clueless. I know that the military and police are solidly behind me because they were recipients of a huge chunk of funds other than PDAF. Mamamatay ang mga kalaban ko sa INGGIT. So, I would tell them: BRING IT OOOOOON!
macspeed says
@leona
when it comes to spending peoples money, it seems no one is interested in transparency except PNOY’s administration in whom they can do it easily publish via web government ad such as database of expediture, however no matter what goodness this current government aspire to, mga hayupak na contra haharangin ang kahit na anong magandang gawain…
sa tindi ng speed ng news via net such as this Raisa’s space, mababawasan na ang mga ANIMAL na yan, every improvement of technology, these alibaba politics will become less and less, di naman papayag yun mga inosenteng mga anak nila na kutyain sila kaya more or less pinagsasabihan din tong mga ulopong na mga magulang nila.
Innocent Kids today are different from when i was borne….mahihiya ka sa kanila pag sinabihan ka ” wag naman papa, paano naman kami??”
Kaya nga nagpakamatay yun ibang nangurakot, general pa naman, because it was unbearable.
What about kung di nagpakamatay?? Like Napoles??? Because she told everyone around her that the money were BAD, in that case, wala ng kahihiyan, bakit pa magpapakamatay??
a sonnet to corruptors:
You, people of the politics, trust were the reasons, we vote for you,
with simple good deeds these strengthens our belief in you;
like one of the pillar of solid foundations, but nay,
greed has caused you corruptions, deny the accusations….
he he he in the left of your brain, hu hu hu in the right of your thoughts…
should you kill yourselfself or should you run and hide?
What have you done to ruin your kids? your wife?
Too late to say i’m sorry, but not too late to tell the story,
truth will set you free, undo and return at the count of three,.
it maybe shameful, yet an honour, for repentance is powerfull,
to delete the bad memory and restore your energy…
every one makes mistakes, just admit all it takes,
no one will cast the first stone, for everyone has a false tone,
sooner or later, its now or never…
moonie says
loved your sonnet, macspeed. pro-PNoy ako.
the children of the corrupts are rebelling, many are changing their names. and want clean slate, not tainted slate. either the fathers leave behind a clean name or . . .
kids nowadays want honest labor and capable of providing for themselves. they dont want stolen inheritance that can be taken away from them with a stroke of a magistrate’s pen. already, some are being bullied at school, isolated and not invited to parties. or if they got invited, they became the brunt of corrupt jokes, and with their bottomless pocket, they were made to shoulder expenses. refused, and they lost friends. greedy daw kasi.
do not involve the children, innocent daw sila, says who? in the bible, even newborns share the sins of the father and have to be baptised to rid themselves of original sin. in ancient egypt, god smite the first sons of pharaos just so mosses and his people can go. abraham was asked to sacrifice isaac. children are involved in many ways.
macspeed says
@moonie…thanks….i just felt sorry for those kids…
dont get me wrong, the original Bible is holy till the righteous inherit the Promised
Paradise…but the revised ones which favored the Roman empire or should i say the Rome…is not Holy at all, see Jesus Preaching to his disciples about children:
http://www.christianbiblereference.org/jkingdom.htm
The disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (NAS, Matthew 18:1-4)
See? Children of Lost parents are innocent, until they knew what is sex, losing their shield for innocense he he he laike Napoles daugther, isnt she guilty?
God is the only one who can kill or smite, he is the owner of our spirit, Allah or God knows the future and we know not…hence pharaohs children were smiten he he he
God did not provide me sixth sense, if i did have that, for sure, i have killed all the corrupt official right before and then…God knew i am terrible….perhaps a murderer, but Allah loves me, because bad actions is prohibited beyond my inner space of cpu, but i do know hate and love, sadness and joy, forgive and forget, work and be paid he he he…
Neo Canjeca says
Have you ever read this somewhere:
LOVE IS BLIND
And GOD IS LOVE
Therefore GOD IS BLIND
Here is the logic of the meurons:
Filipino politicians are thieves
President Noy Aquino is a politician
Therefore he is a thief.
A thief is one who steals
when no one is looking
A thief is a pickpocket, a shoplifter,
A snatcher, a robber
I am not a thief.
They gave me the checks
They put it my bank accounts
They delivered the bags
I did not even sign my name
As agreed someone did
I did not steal money
from the treasury
money bags found their way to me
Ask my wife and children
For God’s Sake I AM NOT A THIEF.
moonie says
love means never having to say you’re sorry. heard that from a song.
love is blind and lovers cannot see, but not for long. they wake up soon enough, realized their mistake, and ask for divorce, annulment, others separation. it’s easy to fall in love, and out just as easy.
god is blind, he stood by while his only begotten son was being killed. took him 3days to resurrect the son when he could have done it in one day.
so far as I’m concerned, PNoy is never a thief. the rest nanggaya lang at hindi rin daw sila thief. but need the security of valid passport in case they have to scurry in a hurry, lumps or no lumps.
Neo Canjeca says
HEAR! HEAR!
good on yah!
man!
Neo Canjeca says
For God’s Sake I AM NOT A THIEF.
I AM A SENATOR.