Ground Zero.. tale of the Red Tape

The Philippine Nation is at Cloud 9 a month after a new Administration has been established. The promise of the Aquino administration catapulted Noynoy's rise to power. Is he really going to make it? Will he turn the fate of this troubled land around?

I will give him the benefit of the doubt. A single strand of HOPE is better than none at all. His promise of cutting down corruption is a bold statement to make, even if it is coming from the highest Statesman in the land.

But President Noynoy, the real battle is not in the national limelight nor in the GOCCs, but are in the Local Government Units. 

Those who do not know how this works should look closely at the way the system of disbursing funds in all levels happen. People call it "tongpats", others term it as "overpricing",but closer to home is called "SOP".

Government or corporations usually stage a mock "Bidding" to comply with the Procurement Law but somehow the deal ends with a favored Contrractor. That is the start of the Red Tape. Contractor will do all the paperwork but somehow will incorporate costs to overprice the project to allow a 10%-15% commission or tongpats or SOP to the contracting party.

I believe to truly effect the promise is to review the procurement law and review the mandate of the Commission on Audit and the BIR. Scrutinizing these laws and enabling a transparent alternative will surely help out.

Mr. President, the Truth Commission is a good idea, but a Transparent Budget Allocation Commission will be a brilliant one.

#25

Patriotism, Public Service and Self Dignity

Whenever I watch historic movies, Filipino and Foreign, I can not defray from being awed by how our forefathers fought for the very freedom and nationhood that we enjoy now. Their love for their country was not expressed by selfish motives but rather sacrifice, not by smearing their fellow citizen but through a focussed effort to thwart the real enemy, and not by nonsensical mouths but by their blood.

Our forefathers could have been very good public servants for they epitomized everything that most politicians now don't have.

Ang pagsisilbi po sa bayan ay isang sakripisyo at hindi hanapbuhay. Ito ay ang paghahangad ng kabutihan ng pamayanan at pagkalimot sa kapakanan ng sarili.

Atin pong tulungan mailuklok sa kapangyarihan ang mga taong may kakayanan upang sagupain ang mga suliranin ng ating mga lipunan. Maging masusi po tayo sa paghalal, maging batayan po natin sa pagpili ang mga karanasan ng isang kandidato, kanyang mga nagawa at ang plataporma na kanyang inihahayag.

Wag tayong malinlang sa mga mapanira at lalo na sa mga kandidatong alam nating magiging sagabal lamang sa ating pag unlad.

Mga San Josenyo, the time has come for those who are blinded to restore self dignity and for those who are worthy to be raised in the pedestals of honor and recognition.

"Ang isang lider ng lipunan ay parang isang tsuper. Siya ang mangunguna at may hawak ng manibela upang marating ang dapat paroonan..." Sasakay ka ba sa isang sasakyan na ang isang tsuper ay bago sa rutang kanyang itinatahak o sa isang tsuper na di alam ang paroroonan?

Panahon na nang tunay na pagbabago. Kalimutan na ang mga hidwaan. Unahin ang sambayanan.

A Letter to the People of San Jose del Monte

Our journey on the road to the 2010 National and Local Elections has begun. This is evidenced by the tons of campaign propaganda and paraphernalia which are scattered all around the city and by the presence of politicians in the many events happening all around San Jose del Monte.

My fellow citizens, as early as now, let us have a mindset of hope and change. Let us think of what and who the City needs to achieve this change, and bring forth even just a glimmer of hope that the long yearned progress is at hand.

In my eyes, San Jose del Monte is a City torn of all aspects of cityhood. We lack in the forefronts of Infrastructure, Health Care, Education, Employment, Environment, Public Governance and even in local Economy (Livelihood).

We need decent roads that could ferry tourists to would be tourist attractions or investors to would be industrial and special economic zones. We need decent Hospitals that are equipped with the current medical technology and qualified doctors and staff who would care for our sick. Our city has high rates of illiteracy and unemployment. We need legislation to ensure this is addressed and programs to implement course of actions. We have countless needs, and we yearn for people who can remedy these.

On our part, we should be INVOLVED and not just wait for the would be leaders to act. We have our own obligations as citizens of this city. It is our job to have the proper and moral choice of leadership to govern our city. More so, it is our job to be proactive and act even in our smallest ways to improve our situation.

Let us be reminded that we are given free will on our choice come May 2010. Use that vote as if that is the last full measure of loyalty you can give to your country and city. Please select wisely and act not on emotion, but on the promises of vision and strong leadership.

Mabuhay ang San Joseño. A Reinstate Looming .