Corrupting the World Bank

The Halsema Highway is one of the focuses of the NRIMP project.

Bert Hoffman of the WB

Tarnishing the image of the country anew, the World Bank recently discovered an anomaly in a road project bidding. The said bidding was allegedly rigged. Just another discouragement to foreign and local lenders who would have been interested in investing in development projects in the Philippines.

In addition, the bank blacklisted seven companies, three local and four Chinese, from having direct investments with the bank. One banned permanently.

The project involved is the National Road Improvement and Management Program Phase I or NRIMP I. Immediately after the WB discovered an anomaly it stopped a total of $33 million from being awarded to the bidders. The bank listed the following:

• Philippines-based E.C. de Luna Construction Corp. and its owner Eduardo de Luna were barred permanently, the strongest possible sanction and the first since 2004.

• Philippines’ Cavite Ideal International Construction and Development Corp. and CM Pancho Construction, Inc. were each barred for four years.

• China Road and Bridge Corp. was barred for eight years.

• China State Construction Corp. and China Wu Yi Co. Ltd. were each barred for six years.

• China Geo-Engineering Corp. was barred for five years.

• Korean firm Dongsung Construction Co. Ltd was separately sanctioned in August 2008 for four years for fraud and corruption related to the NRIMP in the Philippines.

The World Bank however, keeps its confidence in lending to the country. The country’s WB representative, Bert Hoffman, says that the institution will continue funding NRIMP II worth $576 million and shoulders $200 million.

Despite this, the government should strengthen its drive against corruption. A study shows that the country loses P250 billion to corruption each year. In addition, events like this drives away would-have-been interested investors. A clear barrier to progress.

Eliminating corruption would mean helping the lives of millions of Filipinos as increased revenues and expanded projects would be a great help in ceasing poverty.

Blogger-activists suspended from school

In local news, the Quezon City Science High School (QCSHS) have suspended four student-bloggers who criticized their school’s principal in their blog. The principal has also ordered the closing of two of the school’s publications, Electron and Banyuhay.

The blog contained articles and photos of the school principal’s policies about irregular lunch hours and required subjects. The victim, Mrs. Zenaida Sadsad was even told in the blog that she “must die”.

The punishment given to the students is obviously unjust and unnecessary. In a democratic country like the Philippines, the youth should be encouraged to stand up for what they believe in and voice out their opinions. Persons with this kind of attitude are fundamental ingredients in the progress of a country. The four blogger-activists are innocent!

The blog institution of theliberatedman.tk protests in the strongest possible words the actions done by the school. We are all born equally and we are all born with the freedom of free speech.

Will NEDA secretary Recto prioritize the AFP modernization program as promised?

Clearly our military modernization program has been neglected. Each year the government only allocates P5 billion for the program, not even enough to buy a squadron of second hand F-16 Fighting Falcons, the world’s top multirole fighter jet.

The OV-10 Bronco is currently the PAF's premiere bomber.

Last year, President Arroyo declared the budget balance of the AFP to be at P 1.28 billion. At the same time she ordered the Department of Budget Management (DBM) to use the funds to increase the soldiers’ low combat pay. The program may have been blown further away but at least it was for a good cause, right? Unlike the P 5 billion made from the sale of Fort Bonifacio during the Ramos era that was used to cushion the figure of the budget deficit made during his time.

Economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto promises to bring the AFP back to its glory days.

Only one man in the government has shown passion to bring the AFP back to its glory days, economic planning secretary Ralph Recto. During his time as a senator, Recto expressed how important it was to modernize the military for in doing so would also help other economic aspects. Take for instance offshore border patrol, illegal fishermen from neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia steal a total of P 25 billion worth of tuna from the Mindanao tuna highway each year. Thats a big loss for us. The military could also end the conflict in Mindanao, making more room for investors.

For some people, military hardware may seem like a waste. Like a kid spending his money on toys instead of education. But we have to see things on a broader scale. The military has the potential to boost the economy, especially with the kind of problems we have now. And a recent survery has shown that foreign investors would feel much more comfortable investing in countries with a much capable armed force. Take Taiwan for example, its economic boom in the past decades can be attributed to the kind of priority it gave to its armed force.

Recto was just dreaming of a modern military during his time as a lawmaker. Now he’s in charge of the economy. Much capable of gathering funds for the program. A new year has begun, which means a new budget is too. Will the National Economic Development Authority secretary fulfill his promise now?

Too soft?

In recent news, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is again marred by a ontroversy, a bribery one. PDEA agents caught three alleged drug users and drug dealers in a buy bust operation. The three were: Jorge Jordana Joseph, son of iconic radio commentator Johnny Joseph or more popularly known as Johnny Midnight; Joseph Tecson son of Joe Tecson, the person who allegedly offered the bribe; and Richard Brodett, nephew of former basketball player and actor Dave Brodett. The issue of bribery just proves how weak local drug enforcement is, at the same time ruining our justice system. Where the rich could just buy their way out of serving time. Which makes us sometimes think—-should death penalty be revived?

Clearly our justice system is too soft. We have child protection laws that keep juveniles gang members who threaten people with violence out of prison and into the free world. We have an Executive Clemency program that allows the Chief Executive to pardon inmates who have served at least 15 years. And then we got law enforcers who can be bought. Wheres justice now?

If we all could recall how capital punishment was abolished two years ago, it was after several requests from the Church for taking the life of a human being would be immoral. What they didn’t think of was the consequence of not eliminating evil. As predicted by then Congressman Miguel Zubiri, the percentage of drug users and dealers in the country would surge if death penalty was to be abolished. And he was right. Today, the Philippines ranks first among all Asian countries in the number of people aged 15-24 who are dependent on drugs.

Being moral is a nice thing, but being safe is practical. The Church has to choose which life to risk: the good or evil?