MORE than a year ago it was exposed that more than P90 billion in revenues lost to Road Board graft. With that kind of money, if not only lost to corruption, we can even pave our roads with gold. Now look the conditions of our roads, pockmarked and most of the time traffic lights are not working. The Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” is focused on big ticket items. Just look how patched works were done on the Manila North Road (MNR). This otherwise known as MacArthur Highway from Pangasinan up to Caloocan City is already in pitiful state. Potholes patched with asphalt. It is a bumpy ride throughout the stretch. When can we have a smooth ride? We can experience that in our dreams.
In the Clark Freeport roads are being widened and work is on schedule. I asked my friend Clark Development Corporation Vice President Alveen Tabag, the guy in charge of the infrastructure projects said the whole stretch of M.A. Roxas will be overlaid with asphalt for the motorists’ smooth ride. The asphalt that will be applied will have a ten year warranty. BTW. People are asking why the circumferential road (the road from Porac to Panings that intersects MacArthur Highway) which was only done two years ago is again being done. It is a good road. Something is fishy here. When it ain’t broke don’t fix it, as they say.
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The ever controversial Nicanor Faeldon hit the headlines of national newspapers again. He is the main subject of commentators on radio and television day and night. Faeldon and the former soldiers he brought with him at Bureau of Customs figured in that P6.5 billion worth of shabu taken out Customs . That should have been the end of Faeldon’s career in government. But no, he was transferred to another agency and then finally when former Philippine National Police Chief now Senator Bato De La Rosa resigned from the Bureau of Prisons he got the appointment from his patron who is no less than President Digong Duterte. Just this week he again faced the senators led by Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Richard Gordon. There in some instances he was caught lying when cornered by Senator Panfilo Lacson. (Tanong: May pinanghahawakan ba si Faeldon kaya hindi matanggal tanggal sa pwesto? Tanong lang po na walang malisya).
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A newspaper report said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation issued a regular gaming license to Widus Casino inside Clark Freeport. The Freeport now hosts several casinos. Recently opened were The Heights located on the yet unfinished Hilton Hotel on the Donggwang area and Fortune Gate at Fort Stotsenberg Hotel.
I remember this Korean guy Daesik Han when he first invested a small amount in Widus some years ago. Now only after few years his Widus is already worth close to P5 billion. He should thank Neki Liwanag, his trusted lieutenant in the growth of Widus. She oversees almost everything. (BTW. Why does Widus charge unreceipted P70 for valet services? The amount collected is not for the valet porters but goes directly to Widus treasury. Are those amount collected are reported to CDC? Gross receipts of income of locators are paying 5% of their gross income earned (GIE). If not that’s a gross violation of law.