Why did it take COA so long?

There really is something puzzling with the recent disclosure by the SM lawyer to declare that the COA had discovered that the body had not set a basic price for the lots of the provincial government that was used by the latter to award the bid to Ayala Land Corporation?

You know it took so long for the agency to discover that. After all the tracers by the provincial government inquiring as to what action COA had taken on the referral provincial officers?

And it has to be the SM lawyer to explain that fact. After a long time. So what’s cooking?

***

I was taken aback yesterday by the introduction of “Noynoying” by young people from the University of the Philippines.

This is something that can be taken up by students and other protesting activist. It is truly a non-violent display of frustration and anger. Why, I even suspect that it can become soon a fad.

One must, of course, admit that a lot of people have gotten impatient with the Aquino administration for its tendency to overlook the more serious problems of the country.

For example, in the case of Thursday’s protest action against the steadily rising prices of motor fuel, the government came out warning against the public transport strike. What actually took place was a transport caravan. A protest action hat did not interfere nor paralyze traffic.

But the government held up before the transportation owners and participants the prospect of their losing their franchises.

And, instead of addressing the protest of the drivers, both private and transport workers, the government remained completely quiet.

Yet, the President could not have been deaf to the vociferous complaints by the public that the increasing price of fuel is wrecking havoc not only with the dwindling pockets of the drivers and workers but also the ordinary households. Definitely, the increases will impact soon on the prices of price commodities as well as affect the mobility of the students and households.

Even Senator Recto, the author of the VAT, had agreed on the need to reexamine the levy and try to pare it down to an acceptable level. There were others who considered it more doable to put a ceiling on the VAT so that it goes up and does depending on the prices.

Of course, the government may not be keen on doing away with a main income source.

Unfortunately, this is the only way we can prevent wholesale chaos in the steadily increasing hike in fuel prices.

Certainly, the President cannot remain blind to the problem. But one hardly hear a whimper from Noynoy, Instead the Palace spokesperson kept hammering on the Senate Impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. Whatever the outcome of the trial cannot ease immediate problem of millions of Filipinos.

But nary a whisper from the President.

So, Noynoying is the only way that he may be forced to take stock of the developing situation.

Most may have felt that a transport strike has become too common a protest action elicit response from the Palace. Perhaps, this once, with so many “Noynoying” the President bestir themselves from their setup or and address the growing emergency and his called every situation gradually gripping the country.

***

The Western Visayas Summit on Risk Reduction and Geo-Hazard Awareness will start at the Hospitality Management building of the West Negros University with Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel II as organizer.

Pimentel pointed out the importance of the summit after the recent earthquakes that hit Dumaguete and Oriental Negros.

The summit will be attended by governors, mayors, and members of the academe from the provinces of the region and Negros Occidental.

Most important, the Pagasa will discuss the projected weather pattern of West Visayas while PHILVOCS will discuss the geo-hazard mapping and other attendant issues that will affect children and women.

***

The La Castellana police filed Thursday homicide and frustrated homicide charges against two suspects linked to the fatal mauling of a Baptist pastor and for causing injuries another tanod before the Provincial prosecutors’ office.

Garry Belontendos, a former CAFGU member and son of a barangay captain allegedly beat up Pastor Andrew Mariano after they figured in a motorcycle mishap on Feb. 28.

This is one killing that certainly deserves immediate action by the courts.

Thanks to the La Castellana police headed by Senior Inspector Allan Reloj for swift action on the issue.*

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