REVGOV was the clamor of huge rallies in Luneta and Davao. At last, they put some sense to this senseless news. The palace decided that there is no basis to declare a revolutionary government. There is no threat at the moment that is serious enough to prompt President Duterte to declare it. See, he was the one crying out loud demanding for it days ago. He has still an 80% approval rating. Talking of the changing moods of the president; we are getting used to it but it leads us to chaos at times. Now, he realized that there is no factual or legal basis for a revolutionary government.
The counter reaction is an overall assembly of all civilian and some military groups to fight for a better legitimate, democratic form of ruling in our midst. It is a wait and see situation. Peace -- there is no sight of genuine peace in our country. The citizens are up in arms through intelligent posts in rallies demanding a better mode of governance. The late President Quezon said this: "My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins." Rulers come and go but our beloved country and its loyal citizens is for all time. Let us see the end of this squabble.
Unfortunately, here comes another disturbing proclamation from the President. He wants a "Charter Change." Why change a machinery or fix it if it is working well. Does the president realize the impact of his statement. He said this in a fit that much of what he wants to do are not followed. His is a regime of bloody deals and violence. He has proclaimed that in his rule anyone, say a terrorist, as the NPA armed and resisting arrest, should be killed.
This is not the time for a charter change if he has in mind to defy the present Constitution and inject what he wants. He ends his term on 2020. This 2017 to 2018 should not be the time for a charter change. It is about the means to inject the president's personal wish which does not reflect the will of the majority of unbiased, peaceful, wise citizens of this country.
My next choice of concern is the plight of the numberless OFWs of our country and their children. City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio expressed her plan to build an office exclusively to attend to the OFWs needs, concerns, and problems. The Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions Inc. had formulated the OFW Center Ordinance in 2008. No implementation due to lack of interest and funds was made. Consultations were made. It was agreed that there should be a one-stop shop in chosen places throughout the country. Only one shop was established located at the 5th floor of Gaisano Mall in Davao. It gives a holistic service approach for them and their families, specially their children.
There are 132 cases of abuse recorded on OFW kids. There are sexual abuse, teen age pregnancy, school dropouts, malnutrition, even drug addiction, loneliness due to absence of a parental substitute. There had been a series of congressional district-sponsored "Anak OFW Workshop Consultations." There had been verbal abuse by substitute parents and guardians, economic abuse, even abortion, illegal drugs and bullying, they seek government assistance to help these children through monitoring and providing their needs in the absence of their parents.
I got curious and made a thorough research on the OFWs of our country. Much as they would like not to leave their homes and children, they could not because of economic reasons. They earn while working abroad. They suffer the pangs of regrets because they care for families and their children in a foreign country while leaving their own children to be taken care of by relatives or kin. Sad, I had enumerated the cases above. Some OFWs are maltreated, abused, raped, and killed. Some so woefully are brought back home in coffins.
The gains can be seen in the amount of remittances they send to their families back home. Some 2.47 billion dollars were sent in 2016. Around the world, OFWs remitted 26.92 billion dollars. Total remissions of about 180.3 million pesos. There are more female than male workers with ages ranging from 25 to 29. Most OFWs go to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Hongkong, Kuwait, Singapore, Qatar. They are not all domestic helpers, constructions, or sales girls or caregivers. There are teachers, lawyers, other experts and professionals. Definitely they earn more monthly compared to what they can earn in the Philippines. Worst they cannot find work here.
On the offer of the Russian Ambassador to the Philippines to help provide the country of a possible source for nuclear energy. This is a most touchy item because of the much maligned attempt of the country to use this energy source. The white elephant is located in Bataan. Since the 1960's when I was an active worker in my advocacy about clean sources of energy; I knew the story and scandal about this Bataan nuclear plant. The financing was filled with corruption and hidden agenda. The place is located on a major earthquake zone. The completion of its construction was stalled up to now. To reactivate it is waste of time and money. The havocs created by the Chernobyl disaster and the Fukushima disaster of the nuclear plant after an earthquake in Japan recently are enough warnings. Until now traces of fallouts of Alpha, Beta, Gamma deadly rays are found in the waters of the Pacific Ocean affecting its flora and fauna growths. So many first world countries have abandoned their nuclear power plants and shifted to either solar or wind energy. Here we have the prototype solar energy in Bukidnon and the windmills of Ilocos Norte.
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