Ang duha ka mga biktima nga tinun-an nga nahagbongan sa kisame nailhan nga sila si  Maribel Denopol ug Fatima Gutiera, parehong 10 anyos ug Grade IV pupil sa Ponot Elementary School. Ang ilang adviser mao si Ms. Eva Marie L. Alipoyo.

Nowadays, parents should be aware of what their children are doing, especially if they are far from their sight. Everyday they go to school (as what the parents believe) and are supposedly be learning necessary knowledge to equip them with the basic tools in education. This is how it should be but….

The reality speaks for itself; many students today have gone awry. Why? For various reasons, and one great reason is COMPUTERS. Unknowingly, the parents are losing their students to computers. They are unmindful of the possibility that they will fail  because they no longer stays in their classes but spends more time in the net cafes and playing till their hearts content. Is this alarming or not? Of course it’s very alarming. While it is true that they learn more about computers and the advancement of technology, they put too much attention to it that it comes thru and at the expense of their education.

As a teacher, one of my perpetual tasks is to make students be aware of the disadvantages of being hooked to computers but parents should also do their part by watching and supervising their students even if they are in school. Parents should not leave all the responsibilities to the teachers and the school, they should visit their children in school and set for an appointment with the teachers so they would know their (the students) progress and if ever there are problems, they can be remedied immediately.

I’ve been teaching for quite sometime now, and I can say I have met all types of students, there are good students, there are also students who need to be guided well, but whatever the type of student a student maybe, when it comes to computers, no one is exempted.

For the parents, love your children and find time to be with them always and be sensitive to their needs so that they will not seek for substitutes…Good luck J! (The New Nandau, Vol. XX No.5)

Silliman University of Dumaguete City, throughout its glorious history, is popularly known to celebrate a lavish and blissful Fournder’s Week every August of every year.

Recognizing such fact, the Zanorte government through the Provincial Tourism Office is tapping the Silingan organization of Silliman to bring Zanorte agricultural and tourism products during the duration of the weeklongs merriment.

Provincial Tourism officer, Atty. Ivan Patrick Ang expressed his enthusiasm stating that this is yet again, another step towards boosting our provincial economy, by promoting our own Zanorte products in other provinces including the Visayas particularly in Dumaguete.

The Silingan organization in Silliman is a group of students and alumni of SU who are hailing from the province of Zanorte. The group is currently headed by Rona Tunguia. (Press Freedom, Vol. XXiI No. 34)

To put into high gear Zanorte’s drive to enhance its tourism sector, the Provincial Tourism office under Atty. Ivan Patrick Ang has recently come into terms with the Cebu Association of Tour Operators (CATO) to hold another “familiarization tour” with the scenic spots in the province.

Ang revealed such development right after talks between Zanorte people and CATO representatives were made on the last week of July this year.

The provincial tourism officer added that the familiarization tour will include 30 to 40 tour operators from Cebu and will be held on October.

Among the destinations included are the Fantasyland in Dapitan, Sanao Cave and Morias Falls in Katipunan, Hi-Lander Zip Line in Mutia and the newly developed water rafting in La Libertad.

The tour will ensure that the CATO will see the beauty of man-man and natural attractions here in Zanorte to cultivate a spirit of mutualism between Cebu and Zanorte as the former will get more clients while the latter will have more tourists visiting our province. (Press Freedom, Vol. XXiI No. 34)

Environmentalists and concerned citizens of Zamboanga del Norte recently unleashed their ire on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) who they accused of negligence as natural grown trees all over the province continue to dwindle more and more with rampant illegal logging prevalent in our locality.

Reports have it that natural grown trees in Zanorte are continually cut down by companies involved in buy and sell of forest products as authorities fail time and time again to uphold their mandate to protect our environment and apprehend those who violate forestry laws like illegal logging.

It was only when Carlito Tuballa of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) called for the said company’s investigation when the CENRO of Dapitan City immediately dispatched their forrester, forest ranger and other personnel to look into the Nova operation.

According to reliable sources, DENR personnel are “clearly not doing their jobs” as they frequently seen in their offices, as sources say, “busy doing nothing.”

The Nova Forest Products is reportedly using a military truck with mechanical winch to take down huge trees in their operation in Barangay Unidos.

According to initial reports, the said operation in Mutia is with the permission of Barangay Captain Eduardo Dilla and barangay officials.

During their raid, the CENRO Dapitan has confiscated 21 logs and other tree species in Barangay Unidos and another 14 logs in Barangay Diolen.

However, the military truck used to haul these trees is not confiscated, an action which raised some eyebrows.

It can be recalled that the Nova Forest Products has no permit to cut trees in Unidos and Diolen.

This news came on the heels of Governor Rolando Yebes inaugural speech where he called on all Zanorteans to work hand in hand the government in protecting our environment.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) is using more products to advance its Hi-Green Program which is currently exporting agri products in major cities in the Visayas.

More cities are now being eyed as destination for Zanorte agri products especially with the success in the weekly exportation of agri markets to Cebu and Dumaguete.

In its report, the Hi-Green program revealed that it already has a total of more than 200 barangays are under its program and are all active in agricultural production.

According to Saturnino Pableo of PAO, their office under Provincial Agriculturist Maybel Bustalino has targeted an increase in its area of implementation especially in the Dumaguete area. He added that they are currently endorsing the planting of more banana products especially lakatan and cardava.

Pableo also said that for Hi-Green farms in the third district of Zanorte, they are advising more production of squash products (kalabasa) which has a huge demand in Cebu.

With the program, he said that farmers in Zanorte need not fret on the demand for their crops because they are already advised on the exact demand on the agricultural market.

Moreover, Marites Caincay of PAO also disclosed that Zanorte is exporting not less than three tons of Hi-Green products each week to Cebu and that this will increase even more after Zanorte has come into an agreement with a new buyer in Dumaguete.

Still, the PAO is calling on all individual farmers in the province to visit their office so that they can help in selling these farmers’ products in big markets in Cebu and Dumaguete. (Press Freedom, Vol. XXiI No. 34)

The DMC College Foundation’s Eximius (Yearbook) Staff embarked on the first ever Study Tour to Davao City to visit the Midtown Printing Company Incorporated and attend to a two-day Seminar last August 7-8.

The 11 student-staff was accompanied and headed by Eximius adviser and DMC Alumni Coordinator Tyrone Jay Samson.

The first day of the Davao visit was for a Yearbook-making seminar conducted by Midtown graphic and lay out artist John Mamacus. He is a graphic artist extraordinaire who works for the company. In the afternoon, the participants were taught and given a chance to create a sample layout using the dummy papers. Thereafter, they proceeded to the “Printing Plant” of the company which is located at Toril, Davao City.

The students were treated to a wide range of modern and high-tech printing machines, some as huge as elephants while others, the size of a sewing machines. They were also oriented on how the machines work and its processes.

On the second day, the team, together with some of the executives of the company, sailed to Samal Island for the last part of the seminar which is a team building facilitated by Ma’am Leigh Dalugdog. The seminar took place at Camp Holiday Island Resort. The team participated in various games for them to know each other more thus, making them as one. After, the team and the facilitators gathered and exchanged thoughts.

“The reason why you joined this organization is not because it is for your own want but because of the want to inform others,” Ma’am Leigh Dalugdog said in one of her numerous eye-opening assertions.

“In behalf of the Eximius Staff, we are really thankful to DMC and Midtown for giving us this oppurtunity to discover our potential, discover more on what we can do. Thanks to their advices, we are now ready to take the challenge to make the best yearbook for our school,” Editor-in-chief Krizaine Cordero said. “We would like to single out Maam Esther Li, Sir Michael Li, Sir Alfie Atega, Sir John Mamacus, driver Ulyses and the rest of Midtown people who gave us ‘topnotch’ accommodation. We are truly thankful.”

At the end of the second day, the participants were given a chance to see the best of Davao. They were toured from one mall to another, experiencing the famous delicacies and seeing the picture of their culture.

“We had a very great time. Esther, Michael, Alfie are great hosts. It was also a reunion of sorts between me and Alfie, my classmate in the Mass Communication department in Silliman University. The last time I saw him was when we graduated in 2000,” Samson said. (Press Freedom, Vol. XXiI No. 34)

In compliance with RA 9485 or the Anti Red Tape Act of 2007, the Provincial Engineering Office, and all departments in the Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Norte headed by Governor Rolando E. Yebes have posted the required information called “Citizens Charter” in each office.

The “Citizens Charter” is an official document, a service standard, or a pledge, that communicates information on the services provided by the concerned government agency to the public. It describes the “step-by-step procedure for availing a particular service, and the guaranteed performance level that they may expect for that service as provided for in RA 9485, the law purposely designed “to improve efficiency in the delivery of government service to the public, by reducing bureaucratic red tape, preventing graft and corruption, and providing penalties therefore”.

According to Ombudsman Merciditas N. Gutierrez because of delays, in official transaction in government service, are breeding grounds and provide opportunities for corruption. For this reason, neither should be tolerated. For delays alienate citizens from their government, aside from hiking transaction costs, while corruption makes the country poor and living in it oppressive.”

The main agencies of government tasked as the oversight committee to ensure the effective implementation of the said Act and in the preparation of the Implementing Rules & Regulations (IRR) are the Civil Service Commission (CSC), as head, together with Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) and the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), (Sec. 16 RA 9485).

In consonance with the said Act the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) thru its Local Government Academy launched the program dubbed Project CURE, which stands for Comprehensive and Unified Response to Eliminate Red-Tape in LGU. On his part former DILG Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno pointed out that “we take pride in presenting this Anti-Red Tape Primer initiated by the LGA as part of Project CURE, which we hope will be a potent weapon in our war against red tape.”

In the local level particulars in the Province, the Civil Service Commission as head of the oversight committee thru its Provincial Director Atty. Jerry N. Mayormita lately deputized his field officers to monitor how the respective government office implements the basic tenets of the Anti Red Tape Act of 2007.

For the general public’s consumption, who are the clientele of RA 9485, the Provincial Engineering Office under the leadership of OIC Provincial Engineer Lane John R. Lim posted its Citizens Charter infront of its main office with the foregoing capsulized Mission: “The PEO takes charge of all local engineering works in the province which include the construction, repair and maintenance of public infrastructure”. Its basic service information, among others, are the “conduct of various laboratory tests on construction materials for quality assurance and the issuance of certification to an applicant for sand and gravel quarry ensuring that the extraction will not endanger any public and private structure.

How to avail of such services, the public is enjoined to kindly visit the PEO main office at Obay, Polanco for more information and guidance. (Press Freedom, Vol. XXII No. 34)

The Dipolog City government under the leadership of Mayor Evelyn Uy will observe the Lung Month and Coconut Month celebrations all throughout August of this year.

City Tuberculosis Program Coordinator Joseph Jasper Laput disclosed that they will hold a seminar for new Barangay Health Workers (BHW) with regard the manual of procedure of the National Tuberculosis Program.

This after reports revealed that a total of 76 people were found to have been struck with TB since January of this year.

Laput is calling on all Dipolognons to avail of a free consultation for TB in their nearest City Health office. (Press Freedom, Vol. XXiI No. 34)

It is not everyday do we hear and read the thoughts of our fellow Dipolognons, that’s why in this section, we give you, our readers, the opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas.

“What is the most corrupt government agency in Dipolog and Zanorte?”

“Department of Education in Dipolog is the most corrupt. You cannot get the item without thousands of pesos and other ‘precious’ things to give as ‘padulas’.” – Leo of Turno

“Department of Education is the most corrupt. A licensed teacher will still remain unemployed if she has no money to buy the item for sale.” – April Barbaso, ABC Law School

“Traffic officers and the highways are the most corrupt. Every now and then, they hold unnecessary check points just to get ‘pangilkil’ to innocent motorists.” – Sheila Mae “Ger Queen” Olavides, DMC SHRIM

“LTO is the most corrupt. Kung wala kay kwarta ehatag, dili lihukun imu papeles.” – Roldan of Mibang

“GSIS kay wala nay pundopara sa pensioners kay gihurot na ug kurakot.” – Ging of Madison

“Pinakakurakot wala sa gobyerno labi na ang mga dagko nga businessmen. Walay saktong bayad ug buhis. Mas kurakot pa gyud ilang mga accountant.” – Magno Kurakot

“Empleyado sa BIR ang pinakakurakot.” – Boy of Miputak. (Press Freedom, Vol. XXiI No. 34)

The DMC College Foundation College of Computer Studies (CCS) department recently conducted its Black Acquaintance Party and induction of the new set of Philippine Society of Information Technology Students (PSITS) DMC chapter officers last July 22 at the Atruim, Top Plaza in Dipolog.

Among the highlights of the event is the CCS Got Talent and the Mr. and Ms. CCS 2010 wherein second year student Charmaigne Capinig was crowned and will automatically become the CCS representative for the Miss DMC Pageant during the Founders Day celebration on August 26-28.

Rounding up the top five of the Miss CCS are Dianne Sabaricos (BSIT III) as first runner up, followed from third to fifth, Gretchen Ochotorena (BSIT I), Irish Diabordo (BSIT I), and Ivee Dianne Saldariega (BSIT I).

For the Mister CCS, sophomore Jason Perino bested three other contestants to win the honor. Placing second is Jan Jiesam Apatan, with John Art Jarapan and Al-Shariff Tuastumban placing third and fourth, respectively.

The organizers of the event, headed by Olasiman and Vale would like to express their gratitude to the CCS students who made the event successful including Rofelyn Yap, Froaih Sale, Dessianne Lee, Raffy Acas, Jecs Cagas, John Woo, Ivan Rey Duhaylungsod, and ruth Hannah Escuadro.

Barrels for recyclables and trash were the ones that interestingly caught my eyes when I was with my hosts walking at El Dorado Park in Salinas one misty morning.

The barrels where strategically settled around the walking grounds to give walkers that healthy habit of throwing or disposal refuse or waste in the right ways. In fact, I could not anymore concentrate on the brisk walk I intended to, because every now and then I stopped to talk with my daughter about benefits of the barrels for recyclables and trash on the part of the implementing government and the people.

We know that during and after eating, people may just throw empty food wrappers; cellophanes and empty can wherever they are. But, with the well-identified bins for recyclables and trash all one has to do is put them where they should belong.

And because of the system the El Dorado Park and walking grounds are clearly clean, as in because cleaning personnel do their very early chores in preparing the park for individuals who like to walk, play,do their picnic or just hang around relaxing under the shady trees.But maintaining the cleanliness and healthiness throughout the day, of this wide and big park is everybody’s concern.

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Why do people cooperate with what a city ordinance wants them to do?—It is because they understand every angle in the meat of the ordinance.It is a matter of making them understand the   meaning of every law and ordinance that the legislators are doing after they are placed in power through elections.

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Introducing or making law and ordinances is not simply doing it for the sake of being able to create a name or impression as a good lawmaker.

In business it is a fact that sales is not consummated until the products or services are duly paid. The same is true with ordinances created. The legislating sponsor must see to it that such ordinance he made be properly and correctly introduced to the people concerned. Introducing a bill, implementing the content of the bill. (The New Nandau, Vol. XX No.34)

PRESS FREEDOM:

Life is a gift and death is inevitable.  When there is life, there is death, they are inseparable.  A package in which one has no choice but to accept the truth that every beginning there is always an end.

It has been a year, since I have started having my Hospital duty, but it’s only at this point of time that I experience to have a patient assigned to me in my shift who actually died.  Maybe for some it’s not a big deal, that being a nurse, or any of the medical team, death is ordinary.  That it’s an everyday scenario in which nothing is new or unusual.  Well, not for me, and it’s not just because it’s my first time but also because right there and then, i saw how life means a lot.

As the significant others of the patient gathered around him, and how my patient tried to breathe to live, but still then, after all the efforts, he succumbed to death.  Yes, I was there until the last minute of his life, until pulse is no longer palpable, until his breathe cease and the warmth of his body was replaced with cold skin, and the blood which gives glow to the palms and nails subsides and turned into scary pallor and bluish color.

Life left, death came.  No one knew his time will come after 5 days in the hospital.  Boy, that was fast, it came suddenly that his family as well as myself was left hanging, confused, in which thoughts are wandering any where as to why it happened all of a sudden.

As a person, I learned that we are uncertain when our time will come, so we need to prepare, if we chose not to end up in hell, that is, receive Jesus Christ in our lives as our Personal Lord and Savior.  As a student nurse, I learned to be strong, to be strength of the grieving family, to control my own emotions by not breaking down, to hold back the tears that was at the verge of falling and to comfort the family that letting go is part of our lives.

I symphatize to their loss, but not to the extent of pouring everything I feel.  And as I left the room, with people of broken and contrite hearts, there’s this twinge of pain that was crushing my heart.  A part of me was left, a moment of my life where I met a person, cared for him at his weakest time.  At least, until the very last point of someone else life, a complete stranger, I became a part of it.  And it’s worth everything. (The New Nandau, Vol. XX No.34)

What a joy now to spend more time with a partner or a friend, to stay in bed a little longer, have an after dinner nap, or to develop an interest or hobby that has been neglected until now. God has given us more interests, more skills and appreciations than can possibly be fulfilled until we are relieved of the work for a living routine. This leaves entirely out of account new time for prayer, Bible study and christian fellowship.

Retirement, is good for us mentally because retired people should be less tense than in earlier times and have a greater sense of well-being. This is good for family relationships, how often a woman who has been a housewife for many years, has looked forward to the companionship of the man she loves when he has not relaxed or come to terms with his new situation. What we must do, we should welcome the opportunity now to do things together, no matter whether it is a housework, walking or something else of common interest.

We can’t find much about this in the Bible to guide us, but let us notice one interesting example where God commanded men to retire. It’s found in the Bible in numbers 8:23-26, which says, the Lord also instructed Moses.This is the rule the levites must follow, they must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of 25, and they must retire at the age of 50, after retirement they may assist their fellow Levites by performing guard duty at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate in the service. This is how you will assign duties to the Levites.

It is all to easy to waste our time when the pressures of work in a daily routine are off. The result will be that we become bored, and such a life is neither pleasing to the Lord nor helpful to others. There is a special danger if we are not maturally disciplined or orderly people. The secret is to have some kind of structure in mind that is not so rigid as to be a burden and yet clear enough to ensure that we actually get things done.

Bible Bites!

Life is the coffee, and the job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of life we live sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fall to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. God brews the coffee, not the cups, so enjoy your coffee. (The New Nandau, Vol. XX No.34)

DILG Secretary says mayors,
PNP heads behind in gamblings

ANC’s recent interview with DILG Secretary Jess Robredo reportedly indicated that no changes in the holding of Barangay and SK elections set on October 28 this year following the desire of President Aquino even amid current COMELEC’s hearings on the pros and cons on this issue centered primarily on the government’s financial constraints to underwrite the election cost needing some P800 million pesos.

Robredo says in that interview the Barangay and SK elections have to push through this year in order to synchronize all local elections in year 2013 for reasons of economy.

“Citing the P800 million election expenses as grounds for resetting the Barangay elections is not a good excuse”, Robredo adds as saying, overriding at the same time the suggestions of Vice President Binay that Congress must amend the provisions in Local Government Code on this matter for economy by way of simply authorising the city and municipal mayors to appoint all Barangay officials and SK representatives in Sangguniang Barangay.

“The barangay people should have their full freedom and rights to elect their own barangay leaders other than being merely appointed by the mayors...” Roberto empathically declares.

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What? the government is really bankcrupt due to its current budgetary deficits the Aquino government has inherited from Arroyo administration. Not really at all that bangkarota. Just ask any highly knowlegeable economist or bank personnel. The Bangko Sentral people can readily print billions of fresh bills round-the-clock once the Budget and Management people - with the approval, of course, of the office of the President - order them (Bangko Sentral people) to print new monies based on the amount of circulated monies collected back by the BIR people from big-time tax evaders and other agencies and instrumentalities running our country’s import and export channels.

Simply put, that’s how our country’s monetary system works: print new billions of bills based on the amount of monies the BIR people have collected from general public, from big-time tax evaders, especially.

Kon ang Aquino government pakyas mo kolektag buhis aron kanunayng mabalance ang quarterly run of our country’s fiscal year budgetary portfolios, dili si former President Arroyo maoy himoon nilang escape goat, apan silang naa sa poder ron maoy mopakita sa ilang power performance period.

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Tingali daghang nangutana ngano nga dili man magsinali na lag printag bag-ong minilyong bills (wawart) ang goberno aron mag-aslay ang salaping mosirkolar sa Pilipinas. Ang tubag ana sa mga ekonomista mao ni: mobarato ang balor sa peso kon manobra ang soplay ini. Ang palaliton mosulbong kay nabarato man ang purchasing power sa salapi. Inflation ang epekto kon ang katilingban na over supply og salapi.

Sama sa nahitabo didto sa Argentina (in the late 50s) panahon sa diktatoryang kagamhanan ni Juan Peron. Miprinta silag bilyones nga peso currencies nga wala ibasi sa ilang nakolektang buhis o taxable revenues sa mga dagkung negosyo nga gikobtan sa military officials, business moguls sood sa pamilyang Peron. katawhang masang pampas halos dili na kapalit og usa ka kilong bugas kay misaka ang presyo ini ngadto sa P1 inay tag 10 sentimos lang (in the 50s). Ang toothpaste misaka ngadto sa P5 inay tag 20 centimos. Bisan pag gilingaw sila sa mananoy nga awit ni Evita Peron “Don’t Cry for me Argentina”...ang katawhang mag-uuma, mga mananumayg tubo nga gipanag-iyahan sa pyodalistang asendero, mga obradores miulbo sa tumang kasuko hinungdan nahugno ang monarkiyang goberno ni Peron.

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Halos tanang diktatoryang nasud sa Latin America in the 60s, 70s and 80s nahimong banana republics gumikan sa diyotdiyot nga coup d’ etat, civil disorders epekto sa inflation (pagbarato sa ilang salapi nga dili na kaapas sa mga palaliton). The irony of it all, they blamed America’s capitalism as the rootcause of their economic collapse which had gradually restored back to order mainly out of America’s and Spain’s investments soon after those dictatorial economies had adopted democracy.

The same with communist China under Mao’s regime. It’s current 1.3 billion people are now basking in the atmosphere of prosperity beginning the 80s out of America’s ‘Macdonald and TV invasions’. Meaning: America’s dollars and Euros are the things zooming China into a world class power in terms of industrial and technological growths, reportedly overtaking Japan’s dominance in Southeast Asian regions in past four decades.

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What do you think of our country’s 50-year old communism-inspired NPA? Their days are numbered I think. Their mass-based supporters are now dwindling upon realizing the fact that Russia’s and China’s communist ideology is no longer the ‘wave of the future’ but already the ‘dusted cobwaves’ of history.

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But, for me, our country’s elitist democracy will also become a ‘monster’ in all its excesses of protecting and preserving the rights of the well-connected and rich people against the poor and underprivilaged class. The poor people should have also their own “shadow government’ to redress their grievances against whatever injustices, power abuse of the ruling officialdom, graft and corruption, etc. We know, in fairness to the upright and respectable Filipinos, most of our country’s citizenry believe in democracy, freedom, equality, liberty, justice, and all ideals of honest governance and public service when these tenets favor their vested ends.

Kadtong daghang salapi, dunay political power ug daghag armas mao ray lagmit tahuron nato bisan pag ilang lungsodnong kagahuman kutob lang sa pangwarta, way igong lungsodnong binuhatan bugti sa ilang being  honorable public officials. Hinoon, dili silang tanan ingon niana. Bason unta ang atong demokratikanhong politika ning administrasyon ni P-noy kagamhanan na gayod sa mga katawhan nga alang lamang sa katawhan  ug gumikan lamang sa katawhang botantes (bahala nag gipalit pa ang ilang boto) nga mipahiluna nila diha politikanhong panggahuman.

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Back to ANC’s interview with DILG head Secretary Robredo.  He says, current proliferations of illegal  drugs and gamblings, jueting or swertres, most of all, won’t happen in practically all city and municipalities in the country without the open-secret approvals of mayors and PNP heads. No more long arguments on such fact. Just like saying these two officials are sweet ‘tango-dancers’ in keeping the smooth run of these syndicated business like the proverbial tale of the ‘no-see-no-hear-and-no-talk monkey’ hiding behind the banana tree.

In due time, he says, his office will issue orders against these outlawed operations based on President Aquino’s ultimatum directive.

He also says in same interview, there is also a need for his office to impose honesty and transparency in DILG units in the handling of public funds - about 200 billion pesos? annually - which some 25-35% of these appropriations have been corrupted in the purchase of LGU office materials, including in the conduct of capability building-training programs. Note: Bantog ra tood daghang DILG-LGU heads naburot panahon sa Arroyo government. According to him (Robredo) he has already asked the COA to conduct probes on the horrendous robbery of public funds and those deemed culpable would have their day in court. (My added words: Most likely the DILG officers and municipal executives are also sweet’ tanggo-dancers’ in these multi-billion-peso broad daylight robbery. Not all of them, of course. (The New Nandau, Vol. XX No.5)

Press Freedom Editorial
    Philippine Basic Education to be 12 years