Ambrosio R. Villorente
Cong. Pablo Garcia
Cong. Pablo Garcia
Blocks Cheaper Medicines Bill
Congressman Pablo Garcia of Cebu has been blocking the passage of House Bill No. 2844 or the Cheaper Medicines Bill. Garcia has been propounding questions he thought of to delay if not block the passage of the said bill. According to Cong. Teodoro Locsin of Paranaque City and one of the sponsors of the bill, Cong. Pablo Garcia one time threatened to question the quorum during the plenary session.
Cong. Pablo Garcia attempt’s to scuttle the passage of the bill appeared that he is the lone medical representative of foreign multinational drug firms detailed in the House of Representatives. For almost one month, Garcia has been strongly blocking the passage of House Bill No. 2844. According to reliable information, Cong. P. Garcia is among the beneficiaries of “lobby fund” of foreign multinational drug manufacturers which wanted to kill the Cheaper Medicines Bill.
Multinational drug manufacturers are said to have raised much lobby fund to block the passage of the bill.
However, finally the House of Representatives has approved the said bill. The House Bill and the Senate versions will now be sent to the Bicameral Conference Committee which is composed of Senators and Congressmen charged to iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. After the Bicameral Conference Committee has approved it, the Bill will then be sent to the President of the Philippines for approval.
Paskwa Sa Banwa
The municipality of Balete, Aklan celebrates Christmas 2007 lead by Mayor Noemi C. Cordero, “Paskwa Sa Banwa”, 12 nights of celebration. The center of celebration is the Balete Town Plaza for the period December 13 – 24. However, it started with the lighting of Christmas trees within the bandstand area of the Balete Town plaza at sun-down on December 3 by Mayor Cordero with heads of agencies in the town of Balete. From December 13 – 24, every six o’clock in the evening, gift giving to the less privileged within the bandstand area is being done. Gift giving is accompanied with the singing of Christmas carols being done by groups, department and agencies. Gift giving is followed by food Festival with acoustic music in the basketball court in the town plaza.
On the 9th Night of Christmas, Friday, December 21, gifts were given to 30 deserving families. Before the gift giving, there was a program which started with prayer led by Ms. Julieta C. Eliserio, Pambansang Awit led by Ms. Leila F. Cuatriz. Mr. Raul S. Jimera – DepEd District Supervisor of Balete gave his Christmas message.
Teachers of Morales, Arcangel Sur, Arcangel Norte and Bangbang Elementary Schools rendered Christmas carols. The songs were followed by a Comedy Skit Fulgencio Norte and Feliciano Elementary Schools presented. The skit over, teachers from Aranas, Cortes, Guangko, Benitinan and Oquendo Elementary Schools sang another Christmas carols.
The program was punctuated with the presentation of the Tableau (Nativity) by the Balete Elementary School faculty and students.
Voyage of Mayor Rebaldo
Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo of Kalibo, Aklan has been going around seeing places not only in the Philippines but abroad. The last he visited was Vietnam just last week. Most of the Kalibonhons wish him good voyage and learn some ideas applicable for the continuing development of Kalibo.
Vietnam transportation system is dominated by motorcycles and tricycles. May he has learned its traffic management system and the proper construction and maintenance of roads. Kalibo traffic is so chaotic, not so friendly with disabled persons and senior citizens as sidewalks are occupied by vendors making pedestrians vulnerable to accident. Not only that, one will stumble down walking on the uneven elevations of the sidewalks.
But Mayor Rebaldo does not only visit places. He also invited officials of excellent managerial abilities. Just last November, Mayor Rebaldo was the host of MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando, former Mayor of Marikina City. Mayor Rebaldo could have learned and got ideas how Fernando transformed Marikina into a model city. But conditions in the streets of Poblacion, Kalibo remain the same as to the condition six years ago, if it has not gone worst.
Is it due to the refusal of the leaseholders in the Shopping Center to pay rental fees? Perhaps, the environmental condition in Poblacion, Kalibo will be improved as the leaseholders in the Shopping Center has started paying what is due to the LGU Kalibo. More so that the Barangay Chairman of Poblacion, Kalibo is Ms. Jean Acevedo Rebaldo, the beloved and dear mother of the honorable Mayor.
More Corrupt
Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is more corrupt than the other former presidents: Ferdinand Marcos, Joseph E. Estrada, Corry Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos. This is the finding of Pulse Asia in its latest survey. The findings are consistent as the previous surveys revealed.
Banga Bandstand
Banga town Mayor Tony Maming has strongly denied he will demolish the bandstand in the Banga Town Plaza. He said, “I will improve it, make it more beautiful. I will even construct a canteen for the pleasure of those who will patronize it.” He said, “they must wait until I finish the beautification project before those interested to give their criticism”.
Do you agree with Mayor Maming? My sincere Merry Christmas wishes to you all. /MP
Hello,
ReplyDeleteIt is good to learn that the good mayor categorically denied he will demolish the bandstand. As you reported he said the following:
1. He will improve it, make it more beautiful.
2. He will even construct a canteen.
3. He said to wait until he finish with the beautification project before those interested to give their criticism.
Let me respond point by point:
1. Improve. Make it more beautiful. These are all relative terms. Who defines the parameters to declare if the improvement is beautiful?
2. Construct a canteen. I hope there is a operatiosn plan to maintain cleanliness in the place, at least the same as now. If we take the track record in cleanliness of eating places of LGUs, I am pessimistic if cleanliness can be maintained within the affordability of the Municipality of Banga.
3. Wait until it is finished. This is where the mayor is being challenged for transparency in governance. If what he has shown as improvements to be made are those seen on the drawings, then except for the roof, there are no changes in the bandstand. Where is the canteen he is talking about in the drawing? If those are not shown, then there are questions of Mayor Maming's openness and transparency which will contribute to the lingering questions about the bandstand's demolition/modification/changes.
We expect Mayor Maming to positively respond to these concerns as these are all for the greater good of Banga and also for his rightful and honorable place in the history of our town.
Mayad ayad nga Paskwa ag Malinong nga Bag ong Dag on sa Tanan.
Regards,
Elmar M. Gomez