(last of three parts, continued from yesterday)
I ALWAYS do a final accounting of how characters especially decision makers and institutions influence our lives for the last 365 days in 2018. This is sort of a simple math and will try my best not to overdo or under-rate for after all this is not about figures:
- Federalism draft had been mongrelized with the House of Gloria coming up with their own version that shamelessly insured their own interest. They removed the cap for the term of office and threw out the anti-dynasty provisions in the ConCom draft.
- I cannot understand the logic of the so-called tariffication in the procurement of rice. This will bring us back to the time when (Chinese) traders control and dictate the buying and selling prices of rice and corn. If there is a cruel way to kill the rice farmers, this tariffication animal is the way to do it. Since it will eat too much space, my advice is for government to revisit the strategy of how Marcos was able to raise the income of farmers and then made Philippines a rice exporting country.
- If you hate Marcos because of your love for the Aquinos, talk to Agriculture Sec. Manuel Piñol because he was old enough when Marcos was president. The biggest mistake of this government was to remove NFA under the auspices of the DA. Under the tariffication plot, anyone can import rice provided they pay tax. Looks convincing and simplified. But traders will just pass on to consumers the tax due so where will the price of rice go but up, up and away. The key is to encourage farmers to increase their production by extending them a modicum of price support. But the master key is actually to resuscitate NFA by providing it procurement fund, rehabilitate the rice mills, and establish NFA-run silos in every four clustered barangay which will also serve as buying stations of the NFA. Develop a quedan system similar to the practice in the sugar industry.
- The Philippine Airlines made it to the big league and congratulations is well in order. But the Capitan, Mr. Lucio Tan, should temper its profit making. The fare between Davao and Manila is more expensive than PAL’s fare from Manila to Hong Kong.
- Davao City Mayor Inday Sara. We merely call her that instead of adding Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio. This iron lady virtually took the nation by a storm and shaking the foundation of the power-wielding Speaker of the House of Representative Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez. The sin of Bebot was that he tagged Inday Sara’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) as opposition. Bebot was also heard allegedly saying Duterte is President and that he is Speaker of the House and can have the President impeached. Bebot denied having said so but Inday Sara has ears in many walls. Under her watch, Davao City economic growth reached to as high as 12 percent and later stabilized at nine percent. Because of the stable peace and order condition prevailing in the city, we see massive development in every nook and corner of the metropolis. There is a frenzy of construction of hotels, high-rise condominiums, malls and subdivisions. All these and more under the administration of Mayor Inday who once punched a sheriff for demolishing temporary shelters of settlers at the height of a calamity that hit the city. “Do not mess with this girl,” she warned Bebot Alvarez.
- Mayor Inday Sara, chairperson of HnP is running unopposed in the coming midterm elections. The HNP was meant to be just a regional party conceptualized to collectively manage and spread the huge capital investments pouring into Davao City so that it will not suffer from suffocation arising from massive development. Today, moreover, there is a pilgrimage of leaders from all over the country wanting to forge an alliance with Hugpong Ng Pagbabago. But there are political values underneath the HNP and if you’ve read the Three Musketeers credo it’s “One for all, all for one.” The only difference is that you don’t reckon with only three. As it was demonstrated, HNP is a force that can remove the 4th most powerful man in the country.
- Pres. Rodrigo Duterte satisfaction rating is up six points. Metro Manila, balance Luzon rated the President “Very Good” while Mindanao where he had martial law extended gave him an “Excellent” grade. His irate critics maybe gnashing their teeth in disbelief. With his unwavering trust and satisfaction rating there is no way the salivating opposition can diminish the popularity of this leader from the hinterlands of Mindanao.