In your face!

During the many debates on the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), its proponents promised us that the country would be treated well by Japan with this pact. And that we will gain much in trade, aid and investments, among other things.

Ngek!

What is this P1.3 billion loss?

This clearly shows that the Philippines is not a favored nation in spite of the JPEPA as Tokyo cuts its aid to Manila next year.

Time to make those who voted for JPEPA accountable. Remember them on May 10, 2010.

Washington Sycip in Davao

The SGV, the country’s and perhaps Asia’s best accounting and business consulting firm, marked its 50th year in Davao with a lavish dinner last night at the Marco Polo Hotel.

The golden anniversary was complete with songs and dances, tributes to past and present employees, thank yous to all clients and guests, and sumptuous dinner with an open bar.

What was unique about the event was the message of its founder, Washington Sycip, one of the most respected business leaders in the country and in the Asian region.

His words were not about the glory of the firm he built after the war to become was it is today. His speech was a tale of lament and a challenge.

He said the country was seen 50 years ago as the leading country in Asia after Japan. He said being democratic and a Christian nation were seen as the country’s asset for development. But now, he said the country lagged behind our neighbors, and has become a bottom-dweller in almost all categories in Asia. He cited though that the Philippines was No. 1 in corruption!

He expressed worry about the continuing decline in the quality of education, the rising poverty, and the ballooning population.

He said the country is now realizing that being “democratic” and a Christian nation have become instead obstacles to development.

The anniversary may not have been appropriate to promote his passion for certain advocacy such as education and raising the living standards of the Filipinos.

Yet, he said he was concerned about the country that we will leave behind for our children.

It was a message that struck the hearts and minds of most in the audience of accountants, business leaders and government officials.

SGV gave out copies of his new bio “Wash: Only a bookkeeper” as the program closed. I rushed to get mine and had it autographed by this great man, who at 88 was still sharp and witty. His citation of statistics during his speech was admirable.

I told him his speech was great. He just smiled knowing that he has inspired or challenged another human being, a fellow Filipino.

Presidentiables and JPEPA

I was totally surprised that my post on October 9, 2008 on the Senate vote on the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) would attract interest these past few days.

I noticed that this particular post “Only 4 voted ‘no’ on JPEPA” was getting many hits.

Well, in that story, I wrote Senator Noynoy Aquino “a new hero,” Senator Mar Roxas a “wimp,” and in the comments section, I added Senator Manny Villar being “more presidentiable” and Senator Chiz Escudero having “more major league balls.”

You too might want to revisit the story in the light of recent political developments.

Incidentally, it might interest you to know that surveys among so-called presidentiables between December 2007 and December 2008 revealed an interesing fact.

It showed that only two such “presidentiables” lost ground, while a number made more headway.

Who are these two, you might ask?

Believe it or not, the two Ilonggo senators – Miriam Defensor Santiago and Mar Roxas, the main proponents of JPEPA.

Mar has not recovered from this slide. I believe he was punished for his JPEPA stand.

Go check your stats.

Inventors Week

Today starts the celebration of Inventors Week in Davao City. I authored the City Council Resolution declaring such last November to help promote science and technology and local inventors.

The week’s celebration include the opening today of the Mindanao Inventors Competititon & Exhibit at the SM Mall. We expect about 200 inventors and science students to showcase their various inventions and science projects.

Intellectual Property Director General Adrian Cristobal will lead guests at the opening this morning. Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro will award winning inventions during the closing on Wednesday. She would also inaugurate along with UP President Emerlinda Roman the P20 million Biotech Laboratory at UP Mindanao on Friday.

Makati Mayor Jojo Binay is the guest during the inventors dinner tomorrow.

Aside from the exhibit, product demonstrations and competition, there are science quiz shows and cultural presentations.

Kudos to Sam Abrenilla, Vir Sangutan and Edgar Delibo, the chair, president and vice president, respectively, of the Filipino Inventors Federation, DOST Region XI Director Ed Tesorero, Rene Estremera of UP-Mindanao for spearheading preparations for these activities.

Big bang on May 9

Local fair trade advocates opened a mini-fair at the Matina Town Square yesterday to prepare for the big bang on May 9 to mark the World Fair Trade Day.

Activities for the mini-fair includes a forum, product exhibits and demonstrations and an evening concert.

Thanks to Katakus, an award-winning micro-enterprise NGO and volunteers of the UK-Philippines Global Xchange for organizing the mini-fair.

Join the big bang on May 9 by beating drums against poverty, against the global economic crisis and against climate change.

Finally, Cebu Pacific cuts surcharges

In town today in Davao are the officers of the National Halal Accreditation Board of the Philippines, Inc. They are holding a team building seminar courtesy of the Department of Trade & Industry at the Waterfront Insular Hotel starting today up to Friday.

Also in town is Consul John Rivas from Northern Territory, Australia. Darwin, capital of NT, is hosting the Arafura Games this coming May 9-17. He is set to meet officials of the Philippine Sports Commission and the city government.

Welcome to all our guests.

Thanks to ICT Davao, Inc. for a post-New Year gig last night at Riverview in Maa.

And finally, Cebu Pacific has heeded our call to remove or reduce its fuel surcharges. We have been calling for this move since oil prices started to plummet a few months back.

PAL late again

Thanks, but Philippine Airlines is late again.

Many airlines have been cutting their fuel surcharges as early as two or three months ago as prices of crude oil in the world market started to tumble. I delivered a privilege speech at the City Council September 9 urging local airlines to adjust their fuel surcharges in fairness to their passengers.

PAL is heeding this call only now. Just like big oil players, which have been slow in adjusting fuel prices corresponding to the decline in crude prices by more than 50 percent from a high of $147 to $69 per barrel recently, PAL has been shortchanging its passengers.

To add salt to our financial injury, PAL is lowering its fuel surcharges not today but “early next month.”

Oh well if there is highway robbery, then this one is sky robbery!

The Civil Aviation Board should look into this matter. There ought to be a law that should automatically peg the increase and decrease of fuel surcharges to the rise and fall of crude prices in the world market.

This practice of milking passengers with high fuel surcharges when prices of oil and gas are substantially falling is patently criminal.

Consumer fair

We opened the Consumer Fair yesterday at the Gaisano Mall Of Davao to usher in our consumer welfare and protection month celebration.

With the theme “on the healthy and safe side of living,” the exhibitors are categorized into the “healthy” and “safe” products and services.

Activities for the next three days at the Atrium of the Mall include the annual poster-making contest, lectures on consumer rights and responsibilities and organic farming, cooking demos, seminars on utilization of kitchen waste, and healthy exercises.

The activities are spearheaded by the DTI and the Consumer Net, composed of government and non-government consumer groups.

At the ribbon-cutting yesterday, I got the commitment from fellow city councilor Pilar Braga to help fund this annual consumer fair after my term ends in 2010. I have been assisting the DTI mount this activity with P100,000 contribution from my Annual Development Fund.

Councilor Braga, who once served as executive director of Konsumo Dabaw, promised to continue the funding assistance starting 2011.

5:48 a.m.

Now he is an expert on Mindanao!

Ha ha ha! This is interesting.

Former President Joseph Estrada revealed last Friday that Rodolfo Lozada Jr., the Senate’s star witness in the cancelled national broadband network (NBN) deal with ZTE Corp. of China, has sought his help as his relationship with the civil society group Black and White Movement (BWM) has turned sour.

Estrada, who visited The STAR office, said Lozada showed him a PowerPoint presentation of the controversial memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain which the Supreme Court stopped from being signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front early this month.

“The Americans have a hand on the MOA on ancestral domain according to Lozada. He visited me with the sisters (nuns) last week,” Estrada said. – Estrada says Lozada sought his assistance (Philippine Star, August 31, 2008)

Ha ha ha! Akbayan Mindanao must be praising high heavens that its “hero” is now also – ha ha ha – an expert on the Mindanao peace process.

Ha ha ha! I say let’s nominate this guy to the London Olympics. We can enter him in at least two events – Finals of scene stealing and Finals of biting the hands that feed him (please see my post on New Olympic events for GRP). He can handily win the gold in the latter event with his vast track record.

To name a few: First, he enjoyed all the pomp and perks while he was in the corridors of power but made an instant u-turn when about to get caught. Second, he turned snitch on his co-conspirators in “moderating their greed” to save his own skin. To him the tongpats is ok kung hindi bubukol until the scandal became too hot to  handle. And now, he is severing ties with the civil society that paraded him before altars and campuses and made him a “hero.”

Ha ha ha!

After squandering public funds, taking advantage of “sanctuary funds,” and enjoying Senate “security funds,” now this guy is turning to the man thrown out of office for gambling “slush funds!”

Ha ha ha!

This guy is not only after fortune and fame. He wants to dip his fingers in Mindanao too! And goes to the president who waged a “total war” in Mindanao.

Ha ha ha! So, this is the “hero” of Akbayan Mindanao!

Incidentally, did I mention that I resigned from Akbayan last April due to this “fake hero?” Aw, but that’s another story.

Let me just state that I simply cannot stay a minute longer in an organization that prefers fake heroes and attacks persons like me for standing up for our overseas workers whom I described as our “genuine national heroes.”

Ha ha ha!

Let me please enjoy my last laugh. Ha ha ha!

6:41 a.m.

Halal food ecozone

I sent this letter to the Sultan of Brunei last year:

February 22, 2007

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah,

the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

Warmest Greetings of Peace!

Re attached News Item on Brunei’s plan for a Halal Food Processing Plant:

Allow us to offer Davao City as the site for this investment.

Davao City is the largest city in southern Philippines and acts as the de facto center of the BIMP-EAGA. The Asia Institute of Management (AIM) has named it as the most competitive metropolitan city in the country.

It has excellent supply for halal meat products. The city has a Halal Food Council. The city is free from hoof-and-mouth disease and free from bird flu virus.

It has excellent labor force in the food processing industry manifested by the presence of big food processors with ISO standards.

It has air and sea links with its neighbors in the BIMP-EAGA region.

Moreover, the city government offers fiscal and non-fiscal incentives on top of the tax holidays provided by the national government through the Board of Investments. Part of our non-fiscal incentives is to help potential investors look for suitable sites, local suppliers, local managerial and labor force, process various government regulatory permits, among others.

Should you wish to come to see what our city can offer, feel free to contact us. We shall be most happy to assist you.

Thank you very much.

Councilor Peter Tiu Lavina

Chair, City Council Committee on Trade, Commerce & Industry

Room 3, SP Bldg., Davao City

I cced Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

I am glad that his office is pursuing the plan for the halal food processing center here in Davao.

5:56 a.m.

Cyberally

The last protest rally I attended was against child labor two months ago.

Today, I just joined another. But this one is in cyberspace – a virtual rally against the VAT or value added tax. Let your voice be heard.

Makibaka! Join the “cyberally” here!

5:19 a.m.

Unity; change

Unity

The latest Pulse Asia survey on the 2010 presidential derby once again highlighted the need for the opposition to unite and field a common candidate.

Of ten presidentiables included in the survey, 7 are identified with the opposition. Their combined preference rating is an overwhelming 71 percent. The 3 pro-administration bets have a combined rating of only 23.2 percent, although the whole pack was led by frontrunner VP Noli de Castro.

I share the optimism of former president Erap Estrada that the administration would “eat the dust” of the opposition in 2010. However, I also worry that next year’s gargantuan P1.4 Trillion budget would be used by the administration to ensure a victory, deserving or not, for GMA’s successor.

I heard former president Fidel Ramos assuring the nation after the SONA last Monday that GMA would end her term – as well as “her immunity” – in 2010. That is pregnant with meaning. Was Ramos’ delivering a veiled message to the current Palace occupant to ensure a friendly successor in 2010 or was he giving the opposition counsel to run after GMA once she loses her immunity when she steps out of Malacanang?

I am certain that GMA, by hook or by crook, would ensure the administration’s victory in 2010 to save her own skin. Hence, the need for the opposition to galvanize under a single flag to thwart the expected massive vote-buying and cheating in 2010. They may be able to fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but they certainly cannot fool all the people all the time. It would be foolish for the administration to rig a 70-23 percent margin if the opposition is united.

Change

Already the second-longest resident of the Palace by the Pasig after the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, GMA is not about to leave just yet. She would want to ensure that her rule would continue beyond 2010 either via a puppet in Malacanang or herself pa rin via charter change. Yup, we should all watch out for the administration moves to revive term extension via amendments to the Constitution. Malacanang is exploiting the peace process in Mindanao as its key to unlock charter change.

Of course, this is not the change that we need. What we need in this country is character change.

Barack Obama’s highly popular “Change. Yes we can!” campaign has reached the Philippine shores. The Ateneo School of Government appears to have borrowed from it in launching its Kaya Natin! Movement. It is an attempt for reforms through exemplary models of ethical leadership and good governance in four local government officials, namely, Ramos Magsaysay awardees Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga and Governor Grace Padaca of Isabela; Governor Ed Panlilio of Pampanga, and Mayor Sonia Lorenzo of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.

The movement is targeting the youth, just like Obama, is this crusade to create “Islands of hope.” It has launched a campus tour for the four outstanding local officials. I look forward to their visit to Davao to lend my support.

8:05 a.m.

Troubles

The trouble with exposing graft and corruption in this country is that the whistle blower gets into trouble.

There is a long list of journalists and activists who are now six feet under, for instance, because of exposing and opposing graft and corruption.

For the lucky ones who are still living, tables are turned against them. The Court of Appeals justice who exposed a P10 million bribe over the Meralco-GSIS court battle is now the reverse target of finger-pointing. He is now being accused of actually demanding P50 million! Tsk tsk!

I believe this is a ploy to destroy his credibility as the Supreme Court steps into the matter. This anomaly is a big blow to the judiciary.

This is truly not a good week for wheeler dealers.

At the Senate hearing on the swine scam, a huge “arranger’s fee” was exposed in the loan by the Land Bank to Quedan Corp to fund the government’s swine program. The two incidentally are both government owned so why was there a need for a “loan arranger?”

Senator Jamby Madrigal named Davaoeno Jose Nograles, brother of the Speaker, as the alleged wheeler dealer. Jose Nograles was a senior VP at the bank before his appointment recently as president of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation.

The Speaker has denied any wrongdoing by his brother. But just the same this is major headache for the government.

Another trouble in my list today is Cebu Pacific flying into turbulent skies.

Last June the low-cost carrier announced plans for direct Davao-Hong Kong and Davao-Singapore flights. It was featured in newspapers and its website. In gratitude for this service, the City Council passed a Resolution, which I authored, commending the airline.

Last Wednesday, I learned from Baby Montemayor, who runs a travel agency and chairs the Southern Philippines Tourism Council, that Cebu Pacific has canceled these direct flights. I told her I did not read any notice in the papers or in the airlines’ website.

I believe Cebu Pacific invited trouble in not informing its passengers about these cancellations.

Last night, I received one such complaint via email from a Davaoeno who booked a flight for 18 persons for a group vacation to Singapore. To their dismay, their Davao-Singapore flight was re-routed to Davao-Manila-Singapore and then later to Davao-Cebu-Singapore without officially notifying them.

My advise to those aggrieved is to consult their lawyers. We can bring this matter too to the attention of the Department of Trade & Industry, the agency implementing the Consumers Act, and the Civil Aviation Board, which supervises the airline industry.

A simple public notice of the flight suspension would have forewarned the public. Now, Cebu Pacific is in trouble. Not only to those who have canceled flights but to many of us who were mis-informed.

I pray I will not get into trouble for writing this. Amen.

5:42 a.m.

Davao-Bangkok airlink

The timing is bad given the dim prospects of the travel industry due to rising cost of fuel.

However, I believe local tourism industry players should strike the iron while it is hot.

The recent air agreements signed by the country has finally included Davao as a new gateway. I have been batting for this during the past five years and finally the Civil Aviation Board has acceded.

Short of our desired “open skies” policy for Davao, these new air agreements gave flight entitlements for the city from Thailand, Netherlands and Hong Kong.

My particular interest is Bangkok. As one of Asia’s main regional hubs, I have been proposing for air links between Davao and the Thai capital since 2003. Bangkok receives more than 1 million tourists a month. If we can lure even just 1 percent of that throng, Davao could easily double its foreign tourist arrivals annually! And that is not counting Thai tourists yet just to show how huge this market is.

Amsterdam is too far to make any plans for now. While flights to Hong Kong are now available.

So, local tourism industry players should not let this opportunity pass by. They should immediately work with either local air carriers or Thai airlines to mount direct air links between the city and Bangkok. This would give Davao a foothold in the booming Mekong Delta region that includes rising tourist destinations such as Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

I am confident we can develop a good market for the Davao-Bangkok sector not only for tourism but for trade and the overseas Filipino market as well.

See related posts at our Open Skies category at the left sidebar.

5:09 a.m.

Super busy Saturday

Here is my sked for today:

9 a.m. – Regular Board Meeting of the Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM), one of the oldest NGO here where I have served as Trustee and Treasurer since the early 90s;

1:00 p.m. – Forum on Federalism with Senator Aquilino Pimentel at CAP Auditorium. This issue has gained more importance in the light of the forthcoming signing of the peace agreement between the government and the MILF.

2:00 p.m. – Guest speaker at the Student Leadership training seminar of the Supreme Student Government of the University of Immaculate Conception (UIC) at Villa Cristina Inland Resort, Los Amigos. I updated a lecture I gave last year at the graduate students of the University of Southeastern Philippines on stories on leadership.

4:00 p.m. – Mass for former City Councilor and Vice Mayor Boy Zuno at their residence in Matina.

6:00 p.m. – Anniversary and Induction of officers of the political science society SMP of the University of Mindanao, which I co-founded 31 years ago;

7:00 p.m. – Dinner and Induction of officers of BAKAS, the cooperative of barangay officials where I am also a member.

I’m now on my way.

8:34 a.m.