Macanlalay joins Dion, Celeste call to solve flood

Calasiao Mayor Mark Macanlalay

DPWH Eng. Rodolfo Dion

BY MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

CALASIAO-This town’s mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay joins the call of high government officials how to control if not solve the perennial flooding here and neighboring city Dagupan.

This after 2^nd District Engineering Office Chief Rodolfo Dion of the Department of Public Works & Highways and Area Manager John Celeste of the National Irrigation Administration proposed recently how to solve the flood that besets Dagupan.

Mayor  Macanlalay noted that the dredging of the Marusay River here should be simultaneously  be done on the river in the town of Sta. Barbara and the city of Dagupan.

He said that the silts on Marusay River that connects on the two local government units are alarming.

‘Accused’ Register of Deeds official reassigned in Alaminos

BIR Regional Director and Atty. Arnel Guballa whose office filled this year the second Run After Tax Evader case against the 12 Heirs of Gavino Vinluan in Labrador, Pangasinan

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

ALAMINOS CITY- An official of the Register of Deeds (RD) who was linked by the Bureau of Internal Revenue to a P9.26 million tax fraud was reassigned from his post in Lingayen to this city.

Lawyer Melvin Castro, the former deputy head of the RD in Lingayen, was reassigned as head of the RD Alaminos, according to sources.

BIR commissioner Kim Henares in a joint press conference of BIR and Department of Justice accused Castro to have conspired with the 12 heirs of one Gavino Vinluan of selling to Labrador former Mayor Ernesto Acain their two parcels of lands but did not pay the P9.26 million taxes.

The properties have a total area of 358,966 square meters and are covered by Tax Declaration Nos. 12726 and 12729 in Labrador town

According to Revenue District Office-5 chief Atty. Elmer Carolino, Castro’s involvement started when he wrote at the Day Book of the RD in Lingayen a statement that was used by the provincial Assessor office under Nestor Quimbao in issuing new tax declarations in the name of the buyers.

But what Castro wrote there were completely unrelated Barangay Certification dated August 11, 2009 and not a certification for Certificate Authorizing Registration (CAR) for the heirs to pay the P9.26 million that was a requirement for the transaction.

Fake waivers probed

The waiver allegedly signed by City Administrator Mata

The forged signature of Administrator Mata affixed above the name of Mayor Lim

The authentic signature of Admin. Mata above his name

BY RUEL CAMBA

DAGUPAN – City Administrator Vladimir Mata said on Friday that the waivers for electrical inspection issued to owners of several illegal structures near the shore in Bonuan Binloc are fake and that investigation is underway.

            On Monday, the Sangguniang Panglunsod invited Dominador Liwag Jr., retail service manager of the Dagupan Electric Corporation (Decorp), to shed light on why the illegal structures, some of which were being used as resorts, spas and inns, were given electrical connections.

Liwag told the SP that electric lines were extended to these establishments through waivers issued by high officials of the city government based on certifications issued by Barangay Chairman Pedro Gonzales.

He said Decorp normally requires Certificate of Final Electric Inspections (CEFIs) normally issued by the city engineer. However, he said, waivers can take the place of CEFIs under the Electrical Code of the Philippines.

Mata said they were able to secure copies of these waivers and found out that either his signature or that of the mayor was forged.

He said the waivers were purportedly issued late last year on what looked like letterheads of the office of the city mayor bearing the new official seal of the city.

Whose fault it is? Toilet Row in Lingayen Heats Up

BY RUEL CAMBA

Information Office Remiss on its Duty?

By Mortz Ortigoza

It seems the City Information Office of Dagupan City is remiss on its duty to repel the criticisms launched by the political detractors of Mayor Benjie S. Lim.

Take these three damaging attacks for example where the name of the mayor was dragged:

1)      He bypassed the Sangguniang Panlungsod by not approving the P13.1 million calamity fund in 2010; 2) He was responsible for the demolition of settlers at Sitio Opot in Brgy. Bonuan Gueset; 3) Administrator Vlad Mata illegally signed the waiver in lieu of the Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI) from the City Engineering Office for the building of illegal structures   at Sitio Silungan in Bonuan Binloc.

I did not hear the sides of the mayor rebutting these scathing attacks thru the press releases of the CIO until I discussed this with the city administrator last week.

Mata emphatically torpedoed the three issues by the following:

1)      SP was not bypassed. He said new Republic Act 10121 or known as "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010” says that the mayor can use even 100 percent of the five (5) percent Calamity fund from the Internal Revenue Allotment without the dads’ imprimatur; 2) Demolition at Sitio Opot was an order from a court through a Writ of Execution in behalf of the private owner; 3) His signature affixed above the printed name of Mayor Lim was a forgery. Mata said he is ready to sue with Falsification of Public Document the person who forged his signature.

Mata deplored that he learned the No. 3 issue last Thursday or four (4) days after the detractors of Lim were exploiting it with gusto.

Mata confidently explained that waiver he allegedly signed was bogus.

Firstly, the new logo of the city was attached at the waiver in November 10, 2010 when the city has only started using it last June or July 2011; secondly, the signature was signed by the malefactor by using a ball pen. Mata said he uses a sign pen every time he signs a document; thirdly, every page of the waiver has a stamped seal. Mata said that Mayor Lim uses only the city in his official letter.

Mata told me that the people at the CIO should be updating him pronto after the detractors break the news for public consumption.

These faux passes could serve as a wake up call to the Joseph Goebbels at the information office

Lim looks at Celeste’s proposal to solve Dagupan's flood

Dagupan City Mayor Benjie S. Lim

NIA's Manager John Celeste

BY MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

DAGUPAN CITY – The mayor of this city is willing to sit and talk with Area Manager John Celeste of the Project Inspection & Advisory Group (PIAG) of the National Irrigation Administration on the latter proposal to add more dikes on the river banks of the flood prone villages here instead of the more expensive dredging operation.

“I will listen to him what is the best to solve the flood problem (of the city),” said by Mayor Benjie S. Lim.

Celeste earlier told this paper that dredging operation is not the solution for the problem spawned by the perennial floods that overflow at the river banks.

He said the culprit that causes the swelling of the water is the incessant high tide of the sea at the exit of the river.

Manager Celeste, an engineer and resident of Brgy. Pantal, proposed that he will discuss with Mayor Lim or City Administrator Vladimir Mata to build more dikes above the old dikes on the river banks particularly on the areas of Pantal – one of the most vulnerable villages to flood whenever there is high tide.

“And the building of gates for the drainage underneath the old dikes to lock it whenever there is  high tide so the river could not enter into the residential areas,” he stressed.

The other flood prone villages here are Lasip, Caranglaan, Malued, Lucao, Tebeng, Mangin, Salisay and many other areas in southern Dagupan.

Lim liked the proposal of Celeste as he took his telephone number for a probable appointment.

Kudos Sec. Ochoa

By Sec. Antonio "Bebot' Villar Dangerous Drugs Board

ISANG opisyal ng administrasyon na aking hinahangaan ay si Executive Sec. Paquito Ochoa. Sa kanyang talumpati sa 2011 Anti-Illegal Drugs Forum, siniguro niya na ang buong pwersa ng administrasyon ay nasa likod ng kampanya laban sa iligal na droga. Ang ganitong mga pananalita mula sa isang mataas na opisyal ang nagpapalakas sa ating kumpyansa na magpursige sa harap ng mga pagsubok.

Ayon kay Atty. Ochoa, handa nilang ilaan ang lahat ng resources ng pamahalaan, masugpo lamang ang iligal na droga sa ating bansa. Hindi aniya sila titigil hanggang madakip at mapa-kulong ang mga nasa likod ng industriya ng droga. Ito po ay malaking morale booster para sa atin sa Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) at Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Nabanggit ko dati na lubhang kulang ang nakalaang pondo at kagamitan sa ating kampanya kontra sa droga. Anuman ang maidadagdag dito ay hindi dapat ituring na expense kungdi investment tungo sa isang drug-free country. Mayayaman po at maimpluwensya ang mga drug lords! Kailangan na sapat ang ating war chest upang ang mga sindikato ay permanente nating malansag.

Lubos po akong nagagalak at tila nagkakatugma ang ating pananaw kina Pangulong Aquino at ni Secretary Ochoa sa usapin ng paglaban sa iligal na droga.

* * * *

Ngunit kabaligtaran yata ni P-Noy at Sec. Ochoa itong sina Sec. Jesse Robredo at PNP Chief Nicanor Bartolome.

Tila hindi yata nila nababasa ang paulit-ulit at sunod-sunod nating panawagan sa ating mga nakaraang kolum. Hindi nga kaya nila nababalitaan ang isyung ito o sadyang “dine-dead-ma” na lang?

Mukhang ang kapulisan nga yata ang isa sa mga nagliliko ng tuwid na landas na tinatahak ng ating gobyerno ngayon! Katulad na lamang ng provincial director (PD) ng Pangasinan na si P/S Supt. Rosueto “Boyet” Ricaforte na mistulang isang buwaya na naninibasib ng mga mahihirap sa Pangasinan.

Sa kawalang-aksyon ni Gen. Bartolome at Sec. Robredo sa isyung ito ni Boyet, maaari kayang totoo na s’ya ay “hina-harass sa taas?” Sila kayang dalawa ang tinutukoy ni Boyet na “nang-ha-harass sa taas?” Kasali po ba kayo rito Sec. Robredo at Gen. Bartolome?”

Kung tutuusin kasi at seseryosohin, isang order lang galing kay Sec. Robredo o kay Gen. Bartolome ay mahihinto ang lahat ng ito! Alam ko ito dahil dati akong mayor noon.

Hindi nga ba ito alam ng mga opisyales natin o sadyang kinukunsinti lang? Nagtatanong lang po tayo.

Patuloy kasi ang pag-padagdag ni Boyet ng koleksyon sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan mula sa jueteng-guerilla kaya’t napapa-isip tayo na ang dahilan nito ay ang umano’y harasser n’ya sa taas nang sa ganon ay makapag-bigay din s’ya sa kanila?

Mantakin mong sa 44 bayan at apat na siyudad sa Pangasinan, tanging  Alaminos City, Alcala, Bani, Sto. Tomas, Sison, Villasis ang walang jueteng guerilla at hindi kasama sa koleksyon. Kung ganon, 42 bayan ang may buwanang koleksyon kay Boyet!

Sa buwanang P40,000.00 sa 42 bayan, aba ay milyun-milyon ang koleksyon ni Boyet sa isang buwan, ’di po ba?

Gumawa pa si PD ng Task Force Anti-Gambling pero ginagamit naman sa pangha-harass sa mga kababayan nating hindi makapag-bigay sa kanyang tumataas na demand! Swapang na buwaya!

Hindi ko talaga akalain na may mga miyembro tayo ng kapulisan na pilit sumisira sa imahe ng kanilang ahensya at nagdadamay pa sa kanilang mga kasama tulad nitong si P/S Supt. Rosueto Ricaforte.

Hindi lamang ang mga nagsusumbong sa akin ang nakakahalata sapagkat ako mismo ay may pagtataka nang nararamdaman sa isyung ito. Bakit nga kaya hindi umaaksyon si Gen. Bartolome o si Sec. Robredo rito? Ano ba meron sa isyung ito at hindi kayang mapa-imbestigahan man lang?

* * * *

Naging matagumpay ang ginanap na DDB recognition rites at anniversary celebration nitong nakaraang Huwebes, November 17, 2011 sa Quezon City Sports Club.

Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng ating mga kasama, naging bisita at mga indibidwal na kinilala ng DDB sa larangan ng laban kontra-droga.  Hangad ko ang patuloy pa nilang pagsisikap na makatulong sa ating kampanya upang mapag-tagumpayan ang laban sa iligal na droga.

To all the men and women of the Dangerous Drugs Board, keep up the good work!

* * * *

Sinimulan kahapon ang tatlong araw na “Orientation Seminar on Barkada Kontra Droga (BKD) Program and Life Skills Training for National Drug Education Program (NDEP) Coordinators” sa Region 8.

Dumayo ang training team ng DDB sa Tacloban Plaza, Tacloban City kung saan ginaganap ang seminar na magtatapos sa November 24, 2011.

* * * *

Binabati ko rin ang aking bunsong apo na si LUVEN MARGARET “GARI” VILLAR PESCADOR na nagdiwang ng kanyang ika-3 kaarawan kahapon. Happy, happy birthday Gari!

(Para sa inyong impormasyon, suhestiyon, o reklamo, mag-text lamang po kayo dito sa number ko: 09159509746 o di kaya  ay mag-email sa wagkukurap_101@yahoo.com.ph ).

Pangasinan to host Palarong Pambansa 2012

LINGAYEN—Pangasinan will host the Palarong Pambansa 2012.
The province got the nod after Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. presented its bid before the Department of Education (DepEd) national office in Pasig City and the Philippines Sports Commission on November 17.
Administrator Rafael F. Baraan said the province has been awarded the hosting because of favorable billeting facilities, support of multi-sectoral agencies, international standards sport facilities, and records of holding national and international sports events.
The province bested Laguna, Marikina, Isabela and Mindoro for the bid.
The province hosted the Palarong Pambansa in 1995 during the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos. This paved the way for the construction of the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) here, as well as other sports facilities in other towns.

The NRSCC, aside from having a track oval, swimming pools, gym, basketball and tennis courts, also has billeting rooms for the delegates.
Sports development ranks among the main programs of Gov. Espino. This month alone, the province is hosting the 2nd Pangasinan Chess Festival, and the National MILO Little Olympics, which started today. (PIO/PIA-Pangasinan)

BIR thanks Abono for new projects

BIR top honcho Atty. Beverly Milo

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

URDANETA CITY – The Bureau of Internal Revenue head in  eastern Pangasinan thanked Abono chair Rosendo So for releasing allocations for government projects in Region1.

“We are hopeful that the projects will be implemented within the year so that we can also gain from withholding tax remittances from these projects,” stressed lawyer Beverly Milo, the chief of the Revenue District Office - 6 here.

Milo deplored the sluggish collections from government- funded projects in the first semester of this year after the Aquino administration withheld  the projects’  implementation.

“Because there are no releases for projects now and the bidding of the projects are done on a regional basis,” she said.

The BIR gets taxes from the projects through the TRA (Tax Remittance Advisory) and the Local Government Units that automatically deduct the income tax and the Value Added Tax of the private contractors who construct these projects.

In the face of the non-implementation of projects from the national government, Milo has to aggressively collect taxes for her office to reach the goal given by the national revenue office.

She said that last year RDO-6 benefited from new projects from the national and local governments.

She cited the P220 million engineered sanitary landfill in this city approved and implemented under the administrations of former mayor Amadito Perez and his son incumbent Mayor Amadeo Gregorio Perez IV.

“Malaking project iyan na hindi na naulit now and other development last year. Paulit-ulit from NIA (National Irrigation Administration), iyong Agno River, rehab, so on and so forth,”

She said the goal of RDO-6 last year was P695 million while P444 million came from withholding tax.

She added that as of September 2010, this office has already reached its goal because of the massive government projects.

RDO-6, that supervises this city and 15 towns, is given a tax target of P975 million this year.

She also explained that the malls and food chains like CSI, Magic Super mart, Matutina, and SM in Rosales town are not paying income taxes and VAT, except the P500 annual registration fee, as they are all branches only.

She said they either pay in Dagupan City or in Manila where their main offices are based.

Mata debunks BSL critics:” Released of calamity funds legal”

Dagupan City Administrator Vlad Mata speaks  with Dagupenos

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – The administration of Mayor Benjie S. Lim could not be sued criminally and administratively after his administration released P13.1 million of calamity funds after the onslaught of Typhoon Juan without the approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in 2010.

City Administrator Vlad Mata debunked critics who said that the released of the funds were illegal.

“That was above board and that was a new law that in August or July RA (Republic Act) 10121 (known as) Disaster Risk Reduction. (Its) Implementing Rules and Regulations was passed in September 2010, the calamity occurred in October 2010. We used that as a calamity fund. Where in RA 10121 wala na iyong requirements (for the City Council) na declaration ng State of Calamity for the releases of the funds,” he explained.

The city administrator said the amount was used to buy goods for stock filling.

Mata said that every year 5 percent of the Internal Revenue Allotment is automatically appropriated for calamity.

 Unlike the old law that every time a calamity occurs the mayor need to ask the imprimatur of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council), Republic Act 10121 or known as "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010“ he noted does not need the chief executive to ask the approval of the council.

Mata said that 70 percent of the fund is devoted to the preparatory program and projects, and activities, and mitigating aspects. While 30 percent is reserved for earthquake response fund. He said that incase the 70 appropriation came short for its purpose, the 30 percent can be tapped even it is intended for the earthquake response.

Second paragraph of Section 21 of RA 10121 provides that the 30 percent can also be used as stand-by fund for relief and recovery programs in order that situation and living conditions of people In communities or areas stricken by disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies, may be normalized as quickly as possible.

He said that in a regional meeting he attended with national representatives of the Commission on Audit, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, he asked them if the intention of RA 10121 that authorize the mayor to use the 5 percent without the approval of the Council has already been explained to the personnel of the regional and city COA.

“They said that they will inform them about this new law. Probably, hindi pa nakaka baba na na i-download (memorandum) doon sa regional COA and City COA. Iyon ang intent ng batas. They have to read the intent of the law”.

Lately Mayor Lim received a letter from the regional COA telling him that the disbursement of the P13.1 million funds was illegal because it did not pass the approval of the Sanggunian.

Meanwhile, Mata reacted on the spin of a certain cable TV and the slant of a local newsweekly that Mayor Lim was responsible for the demolition of the illegal settlers of a private lot in Sitio Opot in Brgy. Bonua Gueset.

Mata said the demolition there was a result of a Writ of Execution released by the Court for the sheriff to enforce in behalf of the private owner of the disputed land.

Mata quickly pointed that it was through the altruism and generosity of Lim that the settlers were resettled at Bangus Ville in Brgy. Mamalengleng.

Pacquiao’s hair-thin disappointing victory

The author in a Post Fight Analysis at GMA-7 TV of the Pacquiao vs. Marquez Rubber Match

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Although Manny Pacquiao got 117 against the 115 I scored to Juan Manuel Marquez’s, Manny’s performance was a disappointment.

He was tentative in most of the rounds to aggressively bring the war to Marquez.

Obviously, he was afraid to be hit by the flashing heavy counterpunches of the Mexican warrior – thanks to the conditioning methods of coach and BALCO investigation famed Angel Heredia.

With Marquez batteries of Patriot missiles- liked defenses, Pacquiao shilly-shally most of the time thus he came short to the expectation of the blood thirsty but booing spectators.

What were the price he paid on these short comings and boring performances to his future bouts?

1.       He devalues himself that could undermine the number of Pay Per View  (PPV) and ticket buyers on his ho-hum fourth (4)fight with Marquez on May 2012 as compared to the almost 1.5 probable buy of PPV as what promoter Bob Arum predicted recently;

2.        It gives another future opponent Floyd Mayweather, Jr. the blueprints to “whoop Pacquiao’s  ass” just like what he did to Marquez in 2009.

Has trainer Freddie Roach failed to study meticulously how to beat Marquez  on the fight tape of the Mayweather-Marquez?

Floyd has shown there how a lead hand (Floyd’s left and Manny’s right) can be converted into a quick hard punch and not a jab after which Mayweather slipped away from the 1-2 counterpunches of Marquez.

Floyd has shown there too how to be unpredictable to what punches and steps he would do that puzzled Marquez

Marquez has the same style of “Enter at your own Risk” when he fought Floyd and when he fought Manny lately.

Roach should have taught Manny about them, but it seems he failed.

One of them was Marquez has the tendency to pause on the latter rounds after he bobbled from power punches.

One instance that we saw in the trilogy was when Manny swung his left hook to Marquez the latter docked it, back tract and pause as if thinking if he left unlock the door of his house at Distrito Federal in Mexico.

Pacquiao did not exploit that weakness. The less heavy punching Floyd zealously hammered him with his  straight 1-2 blinding combinations that landed on Marquez face like a Russian-made Katyuska rockets.

Likewise, the disappointed spectators would love the spectacle of that rubber match when Manny should have over ran Juan by raining him with his right jabs and left hooks as he shielded his face with his two hands to deflect and block the looping counter punches and uppercuts of the Mexican.

But he hesitated until the last three rounds after Marquez‘s face crashed on Manny’s solid left hook and right hook at the last minute of the  9^th Round that weakened and slowed him.

Those two punches were the saving grace of Pacquiao in snatching that hair thin controversial victory as I gave him the last three rounds.

(Send comments to totomortz@yahoo.com)

LPGMA, niluluto tayo sa ating sariling mantika

Sec. Antonio 'Bebot' Villar,

Dangerous Drugs Board

MAS dumadami ang mga natatangap nating reklamo sa pamamagitan ng text messages at sulat simula nang binigyang-pansin natin ang  mga pangit at nakaka-dismayang kilos ng ating provincial director sa Pangasinan na si Senior Supt. Rosueto “Boyet” Ricaforte.

Dumadami din ang mga tunay na kaibigan na nakikisimpatiya at nakikiisa sa atin. Alam kasi nila ang katotohanan at gaya nila, ayaw nilang magbulag-bulagan at magbingi-bingihan. Hindi kasi sila tulad ng iba dyan na see no evil, hear no evil at speak no evil maski alam nilang mali ang umiiral na sistema.

For the record, nais lang nating magkaroon ng PD na matino, service-oriented at dedicated at hindi ‘yong nagpapalaki lang ng tiyan, tamad at masiba sa pagka-kakakitaan.

Katunayan sa ilang mga tunay na kaibigan natin sa Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan ay binasa pa rin  ang mga naisulat natin sa kolum na ito laban kay Boyet  sa kabila na may dalawang police colonel na nagtangkang pumigil.

Kilala ko kung sino itong mga pakialamerong dalawang colonel na ito at sige lang, baka isunod ko kayo sa mga darating na araw!

Sampol lamang ng text sa Aksyon Radyo ay ito: “Sana mahiya  na si PD sa ganyang mga birada ni Sec. Totoo ‘yan, di na naaasikaso ni PD ang Pangasinan.”

Nauna nang pinuna natin kasi ang mga di-umano’y pagmamadali ni Boyet na makalikom ng pabaon n’ya dahil malapit na itong mag-retiro. Maski na small time jueteng guerilla  operation ay pinapatos pa n’ya upang gatasan.

Pinansin din natin ang pagiging laos na ngayon ng Provincial Police Office (PPO) ng Pangasinan sa bayan ng Lingayen sapagkat sa pamumuno ni Boyet ay laglag na ito sa hanay ng mga Outstanding PPO sa buong bansa.  Sayang, dating namayagpag ng ilang taon ang Pangasinan tapos biglang lagapak.

Nagulat din tayo sa report na ginawang manukan ng mga pang sabong ni PD ang Bachelor’s and Officer’s Quarters (BOQ) ng Pangasinan -- ito ang tawag sa tirahan ng sinomang maging PD at mga tauhan n’ya sa aming probinsya.

Nagpapasalamat din ako kina Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile at ang ka-tandem n’ya sa DZAR sa programang “Bayan ni Juan” noong Sabado ng umaga na si kaibigang Jess Arranza sa pagbalangkas nila sa isyung ito.

Nakiisa rin sila sa ating panawagan na bigyan-pansin itong isyu na ito ni PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome at DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo sapagkat malaking kasiraan sa kanilang hanay ang mga baluktot na gawain ng kanilang mga opisyal.

* * *

Sa huling pagsisiyasat ko, inilipat na raw ni Boyet ang manukan n’ya doon sa Barangay Dupo, Binmaley, sa lupain ng isang napakataas na opisyal!

Pero ‘yong madalang pa sa full moon kung mag opisina, ito ay wala pa ring pagbabago. Buti pa ‘yong mga dating PD, may panahon para mag-opisina. Itong si Boyet, lagi raw ito sa labas.. . . Nagsasabong kaya?

Mantakin n’yong maging ang Northern Cement Corporation (NCC) na pag-aari ni Amb. Danding Cojuangco ay gusto uli kotongan! Kinukunan n’ya ito noon ng 300 bags of cement ngunit ang naibigay ay 150 bags lang at ilang mga gamit sa pagpapagawa ng bahay noong panahon ni Major Castro!

Ngayon ang balita ko ay gusto na namang umulit! Nakakagulat sapagkat maging ang dating chief ng Sison, Pangasinan ay gusto n’yang gamitin sa kanyang kalokohan ngunit mabuti na lang at may prinsipyo ang mama kaya’t hindi n’ya mahikayat. 

Nakakahiya! Saan ka ba magpapatayo ng bahay, Boyet??

Nagkausap kami ni Gen. Carding Dapat at mismong s’ya ay galit na galit sa trabahong ito ni Boyet.  Kilala si Boyet na dala-dala ni Sec. Larry Mendoza noon.  Ngunit sa totoo lang, hindi na s’ya matandaan ng mga ito sapagkat hindi raw ito magaling na opisyal. Natulungan din natin ang taong ito kung kaya’t tayo ay talagang nagtataka kung bakit ngayon siya ay isa ng buwaya?

Naniniwala ako sa pamumuno ni Gen. Nicanor Bartolome at umaayon tayo sa kanyang kampanya laban sa mga kotong cops.  Kaya’t dapat bigyang-pansin ni Gen. Bartolome itong kaso ni Boyet sapagkat “tinga” lang sa kotong cops ang ilang huli nila kung ikukumpara ang ginagawa ng PD sa Pangasinan!

Kung gusto natin ang tuloy-tuloy na pagtahak sa tuwid na daan,  dapat pagtuonan ng pansin ang kotong cops sa buong bansa. Sisirain lang ng mga opisyal na tulad nito ang imahe ng PNP. Sayang naman!

Akala siguro ni Boyet ay untouchable na s’ya kasi malapit na nga siyang mag-retiro sa susunod na taon.

Sa huling silip ko sa mga impormasyong dumadating sa akin, hindi na lalampas sa linggong ito ay may bubulaga kay Boyet na pangyayari sa kanyang career. Mukhang pursigido ang mga impormante natin sa balak nilang dalhin na lang sa Ombudsman ang mga reklamo sa kanya para hindi na pamarisan.

‘Yun sa palagay ko ay tamang desisyon.

* * *

Kung nag-iipon nga ng pabaon si Boyet, malaki-laki rin ’yun kasi 44 ang bayan at apat ang syudad sa Pangasinan at tanging Alaminos City, Bani, Sto. Tomas, Alcala, Villasis at Sison ang out na sa kanyang quota kasi walang jueteng guerilla sa mga lugar na ’yan.

Umaasa ako na hindi kailanman kukunsintihin ng ating kaibigang Gobernador Amado Espino Jr ang anomang kabuktutan ng PNP dahil sya mismo ay isang dedicated na retiradong opisyal ng ahensyang ito.

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Napapanahon na talaga ang pagsampa ng kaso laban sa isang vested interest group na nagbabalat-kayo bilang isang party-list organization. Tinutukoy ko ang kasong isinampa kontra sa LPG Marketers Association (LPGMA) dahil sa umanong paglabag sa anti cartelization provisions ng Downstream Oil Deregulation Act (Republic Act 8479).

Ano ba ang isang cartel? Ito po ay isang grupo na ang layunin ay magdikta o ‘di kaya impluwensyahan ang presyo ng isang commodity o produkto. Kadalasan ang cartel ay binubuo ng mga negosyante na nagkakalakal ng naturang produkto.

Kapag mayroong cartel, nawawala na ang kompetisyon sa industriya at malaya na ang mga miyembro nito na magdikta ng presyo. Dahil dito, ang nagiging batayan na lamang ng presyo ng produkto ay ang kapritso ng mga cartel members. Maaari nilang itaas o ibaba ang presyo sa anumang oras nilang nasumpungan.

Ganyan ang LPGMA. Hindi nila ito maitatago dahil sa tuwing magkakaroon ng pagbabago sa presyo ng LPG, magkakasabay at magkakapareho ang price adjustment ng lahat ng mga LPGMA member companies. Sa madaling sabi, hindi na umiiral sa kanilang hanay ang  free competition.

Subalit ang LPGMA ay hindi lamang isang cartel kundi isang party list group pa! Malinaw na ang tunay na motibo sa pagtatag ng LPGMA party list ay upang magsilbing protektor ng LPG dealers at refillers. Hindi kasi basta na lamang maaaring galawin ang LPGMA sapagkat mayroon silang kinatawan sa Mababang Kapulungan sa katauhan ni “Congressman” Arnel Ty.

Nakakabahala ang grupong ito dahil bukod sa marami silang pera, mayroon pa silang political power!  Kawawa naman tayong mga consumers kung pababayaan natin umiral ang ganitong sistema sa ating bayan! Niluluto tayo ng LPGMA sa ating sariling matika!

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Ginanap kahapon ang kick-off activity ng Drug Abuse Prevention and Control (DAPC) Week sa pangununa ng Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) sa Cuneta Astrodome at sa pakikiisa ni Mayor Antonino G. Calixto ng Pasay City government.

Lumahok at nakiisa ang iba’t-ibang ahensya ng ating gobyerno na nagtampok sa 13 floats ng float parade. Nakiisa rin ang ating dalawang mambabatas na sina Congresswoman Jocelyn Limkaichong na namuno sa Health Pledge at Congresswoman Emi Calixto Rubiano na nagbigay ng isang mensahe.

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Ngayon naman ang simula ng tatlong araw na National Conference on Trends and Practices in the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Drug Dependents in the Philippines: Some Policy Implications na sisimulan sa UST Research Center at ipagpapatuloy hanggang sa matapos sa The Bayleaft Hotel sa Intramuros, Manila.

Inaasahan natin na ang isang linggong gawain para sa Drug Abuse Prevention Week ay makakapukaw ng interes ng ating mga mamamayan upang patuloy na makiisa sa pag-iwas ng pamilya laban sa salot na droga!

(Para sa inyong impormasyon, suhestiyon, o reklamo, mag-text lamang po kayo dito sa number ko: 09159509746 o di kaya                  ay mag-email sa wagkukurap_101@yahoo.com.ph )

RP should protect territories – Bataoil

By Mortz C. Ortigoza LINGAYEN – Pangasinan second district Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil said the Philippine government should protect its territory from foreign incursion based on international law.
Bataoil, a member of the House’s defense committee, said these territorial land and sea over which the country has jurisdiction under the internationally approved Archipelagic Doctrine, are the Spratly’s Islands.
The claimant states like Mainland China, Taiwan,Vietnam and others at the West Philippines Sea (Spratlys) should be settled in a peaceful manner.
Bataoil said in case foreign intruders arbitrarily build concrete barriers or deploy missiles on the islands under the protection of the Philippines, the government has all the rights to dismantle them.
“Let’s dismantle those war materials which threaten our sovereignty and our territorial security, “he stressed.
He also said the Defense Committee want to procure modern warships and fighter jets to buttress the equipment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“We have approved the procurement of the Coast Guard’s Hamilton Class Cutter under the modernization program.”
He said the 2012 fiscal budget sees an increase in the military budget.
Meanwhile, Bataoil said the solution to solve the Moro problems is for the government to launch without let-up a military and police operation.
“Operation without let-up in pursuit of justice. It is not an all-out-war; it is all-out-justice. We are doing military operation in pursuit of justice,” he explained.
He said he was not in favor of an all-out-war because it would result in many civilian casualties.
He said there is always a price to pay for a campaign like an all-out-war and an all-out-justice that would be waged by the government.
Bataoil, a former police two-star general saw action during his junior years at the defunct Philippine Constabulary and as chief of police of Cotabato City’s Metrodiscom when he was a Chief Inspector (Major rank in the military) of the Philippine National Police.

FVR optimistic for RP’s industrialization bid

Former president Fidel V. Ramos in a crunch contest with the author

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

As we sailed on a river cruise at the tranquil and pristine Dawel River in Dagupan City recently, I asked former president Fidel V. Ramos if the Philippines still has a chance to be a newly industrialized country (NIC).

“Foreign Direct Investors are vigorously putting shops in Mainland China, Vietnam, and Indonesia while our government contends itself to satisfy with a trickle from these investors . Is there a chance for as to be industrialized?” I posed.

The still athletic 83 year-old alumnus of the United States Military Academy, who just beaten me hands down in a crunch exercise, told me in the affirmative.

“My answer has always been very clear. You read my last five issues at the Manila Bulletin on (its) Sunday (edition),” he stressed.

When I read his “Asia, Latin America emerging markets” (October 9, 2011), I thought I stumbled with the innovative and consequential strategist Albert Wohlstetter of the U.S based think-thank  Rand Corporation .

 I was awed how the former president gathered the suggestions to perk up our economy in the EMF forum in Warrenton, Virginia last September 25-27 September 2011 he attended with 110 global personalities including former leaders and experts from the IMF, World Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank executives, plus incumbents from the Asian Development Bank, Latin American Development Bank, and UN.

He said that for this country to become an NIC she should do the following:

A.    Strengthen governance and democratic institutions against organized crime, drug trafficking, and corruption; B. Ensure stable, level, and transparent macroeconomic environments; C. Improve competitiveness based on human development and provision of dependable finance, infrastructure, and energy systems; D) Reduce costs/time for doing business with minimum bureaucratic red tape; E) Implement inclusive policies that bridge disparities) Consolidate positions as competitive players in the regional/ global economy.

My five-cent worth  suggestions

My five-cent worth additional suggestion to the formula of the perceptive former president and his group is we should amend the inequitable 60-40 percent, 70-30 percent, and even the 100 percent proprietary ownership of running a business in this country.

If this lopsided equities favor tremendously the smaller capital Filipino investors, it drives off the financially bigger foreign investors who have the entire wherewithal to pour in the country.

If Hong Kong and Malaysia have enjoyed the multiplier effects of foreign investments because of their policy of 100 percent ownership for everybody, why can we not emulate them to buttress our sluggish economy?

How can we stimulate jobs creation at the face of these lopsided business ventures sharing where mass media and medical and allied professions are 100 percent Filipino owned,  construction of locally and expensively funded public works and advertising  are 75 percent Filipino owned, ownership and establishment of educational institutions and manufacture of products are 60 percent Filipino owned?

If we have amended these vicious practices when the Constitutional Commission hammers the 1987 Constitution we should be probably enjoying the $8,700 (or Philippine peso’s equivalent of P365,400 a year salary) per capita income (PCI) the Thais enjoy today as based on the 2010 figures of the World’s Fact Book.

In that year the Philippines got a pathetic U.S $3,550 (P149, 100 a year) PCI

I will discuss in my next column how to solve the face-off our country faces with Mainland China and other claimants at the West Philippine Seas as based on the nuggets I found on the columns of President Ramos.

(You can read my selected intriguing but thought-provoking columns at http://mortzortigoza.blogspot.com. You can send comments too at totomortz@yahoo.com).