WATER CRISIS, IMPENDING TOLL AND POWER HIKES HIGHLIGHT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN CABINET
Alexander Martin Remollino

The crisis in water supply which has recently broken out in Metro Manila, as well as impending increases in toll fees and power rates, have underscored conflicts of interest haunting some of the appointees to the cabinet of President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Reports of zero water supply in several barangays serviced by Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Company are rife. More than a million residents of some 120 barangays in Metro Manila and Cavite, which fall under the service area of the two big companies, are affected.

Meanwhile, an increase in toll rates is scheduled to be implemented at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) by the middle of August.

The Lopez-owned Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has also recently filed a petition for a power rates increase.

The public utilities – water, toll roads, telecommunications, and power – are often contentious areas insofar as the crafting and implementation of policy are concerned. These are areas in which the interests of big business and the needs and welfare of consumers often come into conflict. It is thus important that those appointed to head government agencies that deal with the public utilities be in a position to decide fairly when it comes to dealing with such conflicts.

Three of the cabinet appointments Aquino made have recently aroused controversy, as these involve people who were named to head public utility-concerned agencies – even as they also have obvious ties to big business... READ FULL ARTICLE

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON
Alexander Martin Remollino

(kina Atty. Edwin Lacierda, Atty. Ignacio Bunye, Atty. Fernando Barrican, at iba pang nagsilbi bilang presidential spokesperson)... BASAHIN ANG BUONG TULA

HINDI MANHID
Alexander Martin Remollino

At kanyang tinapos
"ang pamumunong manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan."
Pero, wala siyang sinabing... BASAHIN ANG BUONG TULA

MGA HAMON KAY NOYNOY
Alexander Martin Remollino

"Ngayon, sa araw na ito — dito magwawakas ang pamumunong manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan. Hindi si Noynoy ang gumawa ng paraan, kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ngayon, magtatapos na ang pagtitiis ng sambayanan. Ito naman ang umpisa ng kalbaryo ko, ngunit kung marami tayong magpapasan ng krus ay kakayanin natin ito, gaano man kabigat.

"Sa tulong ng wastong pamamahala sa mga darating na taon, maiibsan din ang marami nating problema. Ang tadhana ng Pilipino ay babalik sa tamang kalagayan, na sa bawat taon pabawas nang pabawas ang problema ng Pinoy na nagsusumikap at may kasiguruhan sila na magiging tuluy-tuloy na ang pagbuti ng kanilang sitwasyon.

"Kami ay narito para magsilbi at hindi para maghari. Ang mandato ninyo sa amin ay pagbabago — isang malinaw na utos para ayusin ang gobyerno at lipunan mula sa pamahalaang iilan lamang ang nakikinabang tungo sa isang pamahalaang kabutihan ng mamamayan ang pinangangalagaan."

Ito ang tinuran ni Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III matapos ang kanyang panunumpa noong Hunyo 30 bilang ika-15 pangulo ng Pilipinas... BASAHIN ANG BUONG ARTIKULO

POLITICAL BUTTERFLIES AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Alexander Martin Remollino

In 2005, Rodolfo Valencia of the second district of Oriental Mindoro voted in favor of dismissing the impeachment complaint filed against then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“This has sown divisiveness among us,” he said in his speech explaining his vote. “My decision is not by my blind loyalty to the president but by my loyalty to my constituents. We cannot allow the economy to stagnate. The economy will not recover in the next five years if the president is impeached. There is unemployment, poverty, homelessness. This raging wildfire will cause damage. It is time to end all this bickering.”

The next year, he would also vote in favor of junking the second impeachment complaint against Arroyo.

Florencio “Joeben” Miraflores, of the lone district of Aklan, did not vote on the 2005 impeachment complaint. But he voted against the 2006 complaint.

Valencia and Miraflores, both formerly part of Arroyo’s Lakas-Kampi coalition, are now with the Liberal Party – the new administration party.

They are among the new members the Liberal Party swore in on June 25, or five days before Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino’s inauguration. That day the Liberal Party swore in 25 new members – 22 of whom are “defectors” from Lakas-Kampi... READ FULL ARTICLE

QUEST FOR SPEAKERSHIP: A 3-CORNERED FIGHT
Alexander Martin Remollino

With a few weeks to go before the 15th Congress opens session, the battle for House speakership is still largely expected to be a two-way fight between Quezon City Rep. Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte of the Liberal Party and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman of Lakas-Kampi (who will be sharing the speaker’s term with Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez), although Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla of the Nacionalista Party has also declared he will compete for the House speakership.

Who will emerge as the next House speaker will in large part depend on whether party alignments will continue to change... READ FULL ARTICLE

BAGO PADAPUIN SA KANILA ANG INYONG MGA PAMALO
Alexander Martin Remollino

At isang krimen na pala
ang magkampo sa harap ng isang "arko ng kapayapaan"
upang hingin ang talagang sa iyo.
Sana, bago padapuin sa kanila ang inyong mga pamalo... BASAHIN ANG BUONG TULA

KAY NOYNOY AQUINO, SA KANYANG PAG-UPO BILANG IKA-15 PANGULO NG PILIPINAS
Alexander Martin Remollino

Itinatak mo na sa iyong noo
ang mga katagang... BASAHIN ANG BUONG TULA

THE NEW PRESIDENT'S CABINET
Alexander Martin Remollino

The members of President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III’s cabinet include one of the big donors to his electoral campaign, as well as several executives of big corporations and a known advocate of neoliberal globalization.

Aquino announced the names of his cabinet members in a press conference Tuesday afternoon, the eve of his oath-taking as the country’s 15th president. READ FULL ARTICLE