Entrepreneurial Farmer

By Ambrosio R. Villorente

Two Airport Deaths Are Liquor Related

Liquor is an alcoholic drink made by distillation which, if drank, causes intoxication. Some good examples of liquor are whisky, rum and beer.
Intoxication is becoming drunk brought about by drinking excessive liquor. A person who is intoxicated has the feeling of wild excitement. His nervous system is affected. He is excited to a point beyond self control. An intoxicated person more often runs wild.
On Sunday dawn, May 27, 2007 there was a shooting incident that took place at Runway Restaurant, located just in front of the Kalibo Airport, Nalook, Kalibo, Aklan. The shooting resulted to the death of two young men. One died instantly at the scene of the shooting. The other died in the hospital while being treated of gun shot wounds.
According to Sr. Police Supt. Benigno Durana, Jr., the deaths of the two persons were liquor related incident.
Well, the Air Transportation Office (ATO) has allowed the constructions of sheds cum billboards advertising the drinking of liquors.
Why did ATO allowed its construction? According to Kalibo Airport manager, Mr. Percy Malonesio, the sheds were constructed without cost to the ATO and highly beneficial to the people visiting the airport. But the sheds are likewise being used in the promotion of vice when taken beyond the limit.
Is the ATO so impoverished that it cannot have money to put up sheds? ATO is a government revenue earning agency. That advertisement is so well located that even people airborne are able to read it: What ATO gets out of that outdoor advertising is shed, the advertisers saves more money from advertising. It promotes liquor drinking as well.
CIGARETTES
Moreover, cigarettes are also advertised on the sheds. Also, advertisement is free as the manufacturer of cigarettes paid for its construction, according to Mr. Percy Malonesio, Kalibo Airport manager. ATO may derive more income out of these advertisement if it paid sheds construction and collect monthly fees from advertisers.
But the worst is, while cigarettes are advertised, the advertisements do not carry the reminder which states: "Cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health" as radio/TV advertisements do. Is this a violation of the advertising law on cigarettes? with the government consent via ATO?
According to the World Health Organization of the United Nations, cigarette smoking is number 2 cause of all deaths in the world.
CULTURE AND SPORTS
More than five years ago, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) was reorganized into the Department of Education (DepEd). The reorganization was done as mandated by the Basic Education law. The culture and sports functions were removed from DepEd. The Philippines Sports Commission was organized to assume the functions on sports development. The National Commission For Culture and the Arts was also organized to perform the functions on culture and arts.
However, until today, DepEd is highly entangled in culture and sports. Until today, DepEd leads in sports development especially in the conduct of provincial, regional and national sports competitions. Culture and arts are embeded with sports competitions as in dance, singing, and declamation contests.
While DepEd is pursuing culture and sports, it is miserably lagging behind in its academic performance. Compared with other countries, the Philippines ranks first, second or third from the bottom in science and mathematics. DepEd officials lament the inadequacy of funds for education. It is hard up in providing training fund and uniform for athletes.
To many, lack of fund is not a problem, but how to spend wisely the available funds. Wise money spending is also the wise identification of programs, projects and activities where to spend the money available. DepEd priorities should be activities that will enhance the fast development in the teaching of science, mathematics and communication arts. Culture and physical fitness can be taken up in school daily activities. The holding and hosting of sports competition is best left to the Local Government Units, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Philippines Sports Commission. /MP