EDGAR ABANIL BLOG

Yesterday His Excellency Benigno Simeon Aquino III delivered the longest of his four SONAs so far. He enumerated the numerous achievements, lauded exemplary people, and lashed out at inefficient and corrupt government offices and men. For one, he lauded Secretary Luistro's accomplishments and the gargantuan task of managing the biggest bureaucracy. He also lashed at the former TESDA director general for engaging in an anomalous procurement of equipments which otherwise could have been purchased for a few pesos. His biting remarks about the Bureau of Customs prompted its head, an ally to offer his resignation which the president did not accept-insisting that his trust is still with him. According to political analyst, the president's SONA is wanting in a clear cut road map to propel the country for the next three years. Others say it is a mere accomplishment report and a chance to lash out at political enemies. Personally, my high trust remain with President Pnoy. The indicat...

Day 1 Reflections I have been to a strategic planning session during my SMILE-CSA under the auspices of the National Educators' Academy of the Philippines. Our facilitator then was Mr. Mendoza, who a lecturer at the Asian Institute of Management. We were exposed to the VVMOKraPI (Values, Vision, Mission Objectives Key Result Areas and Performance Indicators. VVMOKraPI became the mantra for the 10-day training that we had for our school management course. I completed the course with an output that we promised to implement in our respective schools. (I was then a Head Teacher III at Lawaan Elementary School.) Upon returning, I immediately asked permission from the superintendent to implement it. I texted her for her initial reaction. The answer came and it's a big no. When I reasoned that it was encouraged by NEAP to implement our School Improvement Plan. The reply was something I could not forget until now. "Tell your NEAP people that I am also knowledgeable about school...

Many people opted to be in government service for reasons ranging from just having a job and just for the sake of serving the people. Whatever the motivation, working in the government has it's own dark and lighter side. Civil servants, as what government workers are called receive a very reasonable compensation, depending on your job description and position title. But comments have been made about "ginoberno" or "basta na lang" job performance of those who are in government service.Some issues were raised about government workers leaving their posts for personal transactions, having their manicure and pedicure during working hours right on their desks, being impolite and discourteous to clienteles, etc. The list could fill two or three pages of legal sized paper. But that is not the point. Things like those are indications of corruption. Cutting time and yet reflecting the ideal number of hours per day is corruption.Asking money in exchange for facilitating ...

Brownout is getting worse, having already two occurrences in a day, most lasting to at least two hours. We have an on-going construction of a power plant in Barangay San Luis. Will it solve the problem? Or just make us pay more for less. The question will be answered when the said power plants gets operational. Meantime what we can do is just pray, seeking help from all the saints in heaven to effect a brownout-less society.

Several months has passed since I wrote about the infernal power shortage in Mindanao. And yet, until this very day, the rotating brownout seems to be the "in" thing. Issues like "bill deposits" hidden charges, higher electricity cost per kilowatt hour, etc. we still have to cope with the reality: Higher electricity without the corresponding excellent service. Higher electricity cost should result to stable supply of electricity and not the other way around. Experts say the Philippines has a very high electricity cost among the Southeast Asian countries. Well, our neighboring countries are well-off economically and we are not. Bottom line is, we must cope with lack of resources, even if the consumers were made to shoulder the cost of the electricity providers' loans, line losses, infrastructure improvement and all sort of excuses to justify revenue generation. We will always be dependent on electricity to sustain our daily living. We need electricity to light ...

President Aquino, in his speech during the Mindanao Power Summit in Davao City, stated that we should pay more in order to have a good supply of electricity. He is indirectly saying that power rate hike is inevitable. Despite the cheap source of electricity, the hyrdo plants in Iligan and Bukidnon are already aging so their production capacity diminished over the long run. I hope after the talk, steps will be made to really address the problem, whether we have to pay "a little more" or mot pay at all. Mr. President, after the talk, roll up sleeves, please.