There were a number of developments that caught the interest of kababayans at the start of this month- Typhoon Gorio (that’s the storm’s local name) sparing the country from further ruin by failing to unleash its fury. We thank the government especially its barangay officials, as they truly did their jobs this time, mapping out a disaster management plan that included alerting residents and cautioning them to be very careful once the wind and rains got strong. The operation of sea and air transportation were ordered cancelled as a necessary precaution against the horrendous experience of braving the strong winds and raging waters by both air and sea travelers during the height of the typhoon.
Whistleblowers meantime, gained newspaper space and precious broadcast time as they related to the public hitherto unknown happenings within the whistleblowers’ respective circles. Three ‘Jane Doe’s’ who used to work as overseas Filipino workers related how Philippine embassy officials took advantage of these ladies’ problematic circumstances to inflict additional indignities on their person while supposedly in the embassy’s care at a Middle East country where they were formerly employed. The revelation was sensational enough so that no less than the President of this country has ordered a multi- agency investigation to arrive at the truth and facts behind the accusations of these women.
As I gather materials for this column, I monitored on radio another interview (by the way, the lady
whistle blowers also made their expose through radio station DZMM), this time of an employee of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) boldly accused the officials of this agency of inefficiency as they supposedly were too afraid to run after the big fishes in the illegal drugs trade
and were settling only on the small fry. This ultra- frustrated PDEA investigator said he has accumulated enough documents and other proofs to make cases against drug syndicates in this country stand. No matter how he and his teammates tried to convince the PDEA officials to run after the big names in the illegal drugs business he says, they were quite dumbfounded to get negative responses from the PDEA main man himself. The allegations caught the attention of Malacanang where officials have now ordered the investigation of the allegations of this whistleblower.
Hmmm, looks like former President Joseph Erap Estrada remains great copy for media. Newspapers, broadcast and social media have been full of news of Mayor Erap’s activities since he was sworn into office July 1st by friend Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile. Manilenyos and non- Manilans alike who have been avid Erap news followers devoured each and every item about the new mayor of Manila- Erap clad in tattered maongs sweeping the sidewalks at University Belt in CMRecto, Erap talking to sidewalk vendors of Divisoria whop ‘spilled the beans’ on kotong cops who milked them for money during the days when they were hawking their wares in Ylaya, Juan Luna, Tabora, and Sto. Cristo along CMRecto Avenue followed the new President- Mayor’s activities as the new Mayor of Manila starting July 1. The next few days would see Manila’s Finest dancing the rigodon as reshuffling and firing were made with the city’s police force. Mayor Erap chose Chief Superintendent Francisco Genabe as the new director of the Manila Police District and appointed Sr. Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, a former San Juan City police chief, as deputy police director.
As he was sworn into office, Erap declared that fighting corruption will be the centrepiece of his administration. And he said he wished to start at City Hall where most personnel are allegedly involved in this practice. To be fair though, except for some key division chiefs ( Atty. Edward Serapio as secretary to the Mayor, ex Nueva Ecija Rep. Nicanor Garcia as city administrator, Liberty Toledo as city treasurer and Atty. Jay Flaminiano as city legal officer). City Hall employees were assured that they will remain in City Hall’s employ and be spared from automatic firing as is normally the practice in local governments when turnovers are made from the outgoing local government head to the new elected one and when the two do not belong to the same political party. However, he also issued the warning that the employees are to be sacked upon the first offense of corruption that they commit. Fair enough, I say.
A promise of relief from slow traffic has also been promised by the new Manila administration. Erap designated former ‘That’s Entertainment’ glamour boy and now on his 2nd term as Vice Mayor Isko Moreno as the city’s traffic czar. This Harvard University- trained city manager is putting his energies to fulfilling this promise as he rolled up his sleeves to brave the streets of Manila to remind/ admonish public utility vehicle drivers to mind the traffic rules and direct traffic himself. Illegal terminals along the busy streets were dismantled as were illegal parking places, both big causes for traffic jams and standstill especially during rush hours.
It is worthwhile to note that the new management of the city is starting with providing solutions to the basic problems- easing of traffic, eradicating corruption, lowering the crime rate and embarking on clean- up drives.
Hopefully, the next months will see Mayor Erap and his team finding solutions to the housing problem of thousands of squatters (to be politically correct, I am putting in the synonym’ informal settlers’) who have chosen Manila as their city address, looking for funding to fuel the many plans and projects that the Erap administration may feel will benefit the city and its residents, and insuring the participation of each Manilan in making the city more breathable and livable.
Mayor Erap says he won’t hesitate to go down on his knees to beg for favors in pursuit of his commitment for a better city. This and his ‘kamay na bakal’ for offenders, scalawags in uniform and other ‘pasaways may yet propel Mayor Erap to being hailed as D Mayor Who Dared Solve the Problems of Manila and Succeeded.
Erap’s last hurrah is being avidly watched by the whole nation.
I hope this man succeeds.
THANK YOU, TORONTO!
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