WE BETTER FIND OUT IF WE'RE READY FOR DISASTERS! PART 2

Apart from preparations, we should also start asking both local and national government officials on what PREVENTIVE measures are in place or are being done against disasters.

For local governments, are safety inspections regularly being done on buildings and establishments for both fires and earthquakes? Oftentimes, inspections are done only for fire traps or hazards.

When was the last inspection conducted? There had been reports of condemned structures in various areas in the past. Have these been structures demolished?

For national government agencies, it’s been A LONG, LONG TIME since I last heard or read of safety tests and inspections on vital infrastructure projects like the LRT and MRT and the FLYOVERS.

May ginagawa ba ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) tungkol dito? Ano na ba ang nagawa nila?

HALOS 30 TAON na ang LRT. DAANG LIBO ang pasahero nito araw-araw.  Pero KAILAN pa ba huling ineksamin ang TIBAY NITO KONTRA MALAKAS NA LINDOL?

Same question for the MRT, the first track of which is more or less 10 YEARS OLD and also services hundreds of thousands of passengers daily.

More Importantly, there has been NO GUIDANCE from both the LRT and MRT on what passengers should do in case a strong earthquake strikes while they’re in a MOVING TRAIN.

I’ll be happy to stand corrected if I’m wrong.

What about fire traps? Are inspections regularly being done in both public and private properties? Are there enough inspectorsand experts for the job?

ILAN na ba ang nainspeksyion at ilan pa ang hindi? Ilan ang fire trap ANU-ANO ang mga ito para maiwasan ng tao?

For flood prevention, are esteros and other known clogged bodies of water being regularly cleaned? Related to this, is there an honest-to-goodness campaign against throwing trash in bodies of water or drainage systems?

Let me reiterate, let’s not wait for a major tragedy forst before we start finding out if we’re ready for it or not?

                                                                        ***

Three of our friends on “We better find out if we’re ready for disasters”:

INNIE WILLIAMS of New Brunswick, USA:

I did a project on disaster planning when I was completing my nursing education. My group targeted families. Each family was taught to (regularly) put aside batteries, flashlights, candles, matches or lighters, toilet paper, tissues, a bottle or 2 of drinking water, acetaminophen, gauzes, canned goods, crackers etc. Students should also be taught CPR so that they can start giving life support while emergency crews are on the way. The first 10 minutes is crucial to a person's survival. The DepEd should include this in the curriculum .

LEAH SALVADOR of Imus, Cavite:

I agree. The local government  must do something in advance to ensure the safety of our fellow Filipinos.  My boyfriend is from Surigao del Norte and he said their town is on tsunami Alert 2 already. This is the time they must act quickly.

CAS MAYOR of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:

I really don't know if we can prepare for a disaster, any disaster. We don't even know when and where a disaster would strike. To paraphrase a passage from the Bible, it comes like a thief in the night. Each time a disaster strikes, we talk about preparedness but how come we are always caught flatfooted? If there should be any readiness, it should be on building durable structures that could earthquakes and typhoons or other practical ways to cushion the impact of disasters. As a former atheist who has returned to the Faith, I can only say that man's best security is prayers and faith in God. As I said in my book, “The Gypsy Soul and Other Essays”, in life's journey I use reason as my rudder but faith as my compass. I encourage you to keep on reading my friend, Boyet Antonio, but if you have time try to also visit my blogsite "salt-romblonwriter.blogspot.com. My blog is Salt of Life where I often discuss the application of Faith in our secular life. 30

WE BETTER FIND OUT IF WE'RE READY FOR DISASTERS!

Before anything else, let us all pray for the eternal rest of the souls of those who died, as well as the survival of the wounded, in the killer quake that struck Japan yesterday.

We had also better start asking our mayors, congressmen and governors on how prepared are our cities and towns in the event of a sudden tragedy like the Japan quake.

How prepared or are there even any preparations at all. Not just for earthquakes but for all possible disasters like fires, typhoons and floods, landslides, tornadoes, everything.

Una sa lahat, mayroon na bang nakatalagang evacuation centers na tatakbuhan ng mga residente sa oras ng trahedya? Alam na ba ito ng mga residente  ngayton pa lamang?

Remember ladies and gentlemen, our OFWs and their loved ones  were like RATS which were SCATTERED over several countries  in fleeing Libya.

Here at home, it’s common to see fleeing residents wandering aimlessly or waiting for guidance from anybody on where to go during typhoons of fires.

That’s why the next question is are there ENOUGH personnel assigned to evacuation centers and other relief duties in case of disasters?

Lalong lalo na mga doctor at nurse, para magamot agad ang mga sugatan at may sakit para maagapan agad ang anumang epidemic.

Related to this, are there enough funds for disaster relief, especially for FOOD AND MEDICINES? Are these funds checked and audited regularly to ensure that these are not being STOLEN?

Are there standing arrangements with stores and manufacturers from whom IMMEDIATE PURCHASES can be made once tragedy strikes, especially sudden and unforeseen ones like earthquakes and fires?

We should also find out now if our towns and cities have enough equipment and trained personnel, especially EXPERTS, for rescue operations like the retrieval of people trapped in collapsed buildings.

Marami pang dapat alamin para masiguro natiin kung gaano tayo kahanda sa anumang trahedya. Ang IMPORTANTE ayt alamin na natin NGAYON PA LAMANG mula sa ating mga local na opisyal.

HUWAG na nating hintayin na tamaan muna tayo ng 8.9 na lindol na tulad ng tumama sa Japan kahapon.

                                                                        ***

LAYTON WELSH of Scotts Valley, California, USA on “What makes oil firms so untouchable, so sacred?”:

I’ts only because we allow them to be so. If people would band together and not buy gasoline for weeks, you will see a big change in the prices. We now have the technology to get completely off oil. The money has to change hands from an oil-based economy to a green- based economy. They have had, for years, engines that run off hydrogen. I get angry when I see billions posted for profits every quarter for these blood-sucking leeches. It’s only a matter of when people are going to finally say no to the oil companies. 30

SUSPICIOUS, SCARY RUSH TO OUST MERCI!

The UNUSUAL RUSH to oust Ombudsman Merci Gutierrez is getting MORE SUSPICIOUS than NOBLE.

And I don’t think that anti-Merci forces realize that they are DESTROYING THEMSELVES more than they think they’re tearing her apart, and into pieces.

It’s getting SCARY, guys. Believe me, SOMETHING’S GOING ON.

PAGDEDEBATEHAN PA LAMANG ang impeachment complaint laban kay Merci ng buong House of Representatives sa isang linggo. Pagkatpos ng debate ay saka lamang ito pagbobotohan.

But as early as two or three days ago, anti-Merci congressmen came out with a press statement already that they have 150 or so votes to impeach her.

At the Senate, Sen. Teofisto Guingona revealed to media that his blue ribbon committee is recommending the impeachment of Merci over the controversial Garcia plea bargain deal.

There’s nothing wrong with the revelation itself. But what is HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE is Guingona’s call for Merci to resign now.

Ni hindi pa nga naiaakyat sa Senado ang impeachment laban kay Merci para malitis na ito,  pinagbibitiw na agad siya ni Guingona. .

At the Supreme Court, three associate justices claim they did not receive copies of Merci’s pleading to the tribunal SIX MONTHS AGO to stop the House from impeaching her.

The Supreme Court spokesman said they did. The million-dollar question now is why is the issue suddenly being revived, after SIX LONG MONTHS?

Nakasaad sa BATAS na kailangan munang pagbotohan ng buong House ang impeachment ng Ombudsman bago pa man ito maiakyat sa Senado para maiitis.

The Law also clearly says that the Ombudsman musr forst be conducted in the Senate before he or she is ousted from office.

But it’s CRYSTAL CLEAR that anti-Merci blocs could not wait, or would RATHER NOT WIAIT if possible, for the processes provided for by the Law.

Kapag ang isang tao ay HINDI MAKAPAGHINTAY sa isang bagay, mayroon siyang SUPER BIGAT NA DAHILAN. Ito ang dapat nating ABANGAN, at PAGISIPAN, mga kababayan.

                                                                        ***

RAFAEL GOMEZ of Makati City on “What makes oil firms so unbtouchable, so sacred?”:

Katulad ng comment ko before sa isa mong blog Mr. Antonio, this Government cannot do anything to stop this kind of abuse of the RICH because of conspiracy among the RICH, POLITICIANS and Government.

Sa kabila ng mga krisis, patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangangailangan nating common tao, pinipilit pa rin ng administrtasyong ito na halungkatin ang baho ng dating Administrasyon upang mabaling ang atensyon ng tao palayo sa kanila. Sila pa din ang panalo at tayo pa ding mamamayan ang talo.

Sa mata ng taumbayan, walang pinagkaiba ang mga salitang  MANLOLOKO, CORRUPT at MAGNANAKAW.  30

WHAT MAKES OIL FIRMS SO UNTOUCHABLE, SO SACRED?

I wonder what makes oil companies, SO UNTOUCHABLE, SO SACRED.

Eight price increases in less than three months, TWO of which are in the LAST TWO WEEKS ALONE, with price increases in the world market due to the Libyan crisis as the main excuse..

Even if some, IF NOIT ALL, of the stocks being sold now by oil companies at higher prices were bought before the violence in Libya began.

And the Libyan violence BEGAN JUST A MONTH or so ago.

Pero sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, mga kababayan:

Sa 283 congressman, 10 LAMANG sa pangunguna ni Cagayan Rep. Rufus Rodriguez ang nagfile na ng bills para mapigil na ang pagtataas ng presyo ng mga oil companies ANUMANG ORAS NILA GUSTO.

In the Senate, ONLY 3 of its 23 MEMBERS have spoken or called for measures to help keep oil prices low.  Of the three only one, Sen. Migz Zubiri,  has filed a bill to help realize his goal.

And get this, guys, it’s been A MONTH since Zubiri filed his bill but it HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN UP even in the committee level.

As to the government, there has been NO CONVINCING MOVE to require the oil companies to JUSTIFY their UNCONTROLLABLE LUST FOR MONEY.

Basta pag oil companies, sige tira. MAGTAAS na sila ng presyo HANGGA’T GUSTO NILA. Kahit kalian. Kahit anong dahilan. Walang hearing-hearing, walang price control.

Pero pag SUWELDO na ng mga empleyado ang tataasan, dapat munang pagusapan. Pagusapan ng matagal at dadaaan pa sa kung anu-anong proseso.

Again, I’m not saying that oil companies don’t have the right to raise prices. Of course they do, like any other businessman.

But my point is, WHY MUST NOT BE THEY CONTROLLED in doing so? Not just now but even during previous Administrations?  If the Government can set price ceilings on other items, WHY NOT OIL?

Sa bawat taas ng presyo sa world market ay TAAS din agad ng presyo ang mga oil companies. Sa madaling salita, mga kababayan, HINDI PUWEDENG MABAWASAN  kahit ipiso ang bilyun-bilyon nilang kita

Pero pag tayo ng Sambayanan ang MAGHIHIRAP at HINDI MAGKAKASYA ang kinikita dahil sa dagdag-presyo ng langis, maraming katwiran kung  bakit kailangan nating MAGDUSA MUNA .

Ganitong klaseng LOKOHAN ang tinittis natin, mga kababayan. 30

   

PROVE FAIRNESS IN MERCI'S IMPEACHMENT!

Here’s a simple challenge to all interested parties in the upcoming impeachment trial of Ombudsman Merci Gutierrez to prove their FAIRNESS AND IMPARTIALITY.

SIGN a covenant, or pledge, that you will RESPECT AND ABIDE by  whatever the Senate decision will be after the trial. Of course, Merci must join in the signing.

NOBODY WILL PROTEST in any manner if the decision will not be to his or her liking. Especially the Left and House Justice Committee members who had voted to find probable cause for the impeachment.

Malinaw ang Batas. Senado ang magiging JUDGE sa impeachment trial. HINDI ang taumbayan. Ang magiging desisyon ng Senado ang masususnod, hindi ang kagustuhan ng kung sinong Poncio Pilato.

Do the signing IN PUBLIC, and with FULL MEDIA COVERAGE.

To further show sincerity in signing the covenant, everybody should PUBLICLY VOW not to conduct or stage any form of pressure on the Senate while the trial is ongoing.

No pickets or rallies, no preemptive or presumptuous press statements, no threats, no nothing.

Ang ayaw pumirma sa ganitong klasaeng kasunduan, may PANSARILI at MAITIM NA BALAK. Dalawa ang nakikita kong posibilidad kung ano ang matim na balak na ito.

Una, pagawayin ang Senado at Kongreso at lalong paghati-hatiin tayong Sambayanan hanggang sa lumaki na ang gulo.

Second, BRAINWIASH the people into condemning the Senate and everybody else possible until Gutierrez is ousted or quits so that they can put their own man as Ombudsman.

These are the people we should watch out for, ladies and gentlemen. EXPLOITERS and MANIPULATORS.

Gutierrez’s impeachment has been dividing the nation  especially our lawmakers, long enough.  Not to mention the time and resources which are being consumed at the House of Representatives.

It’s in the hands of the Senate now so everybody should leave it at that. And most of all, see to it that WE WONT BE USED  by any group for their OWN INTERESTS.                               

                                   

                                                                        30

ON WITH MERCI'S IMPEACHMENT! STOP THE 'PA-POGI' NOW!

With the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez a foregone conclusion already, everybody should KEEP QUIET from now on and just let due process take its course.

No more SELF-SERVING press releases or statements, PLEASE. No more PUBLICITY GIMMICKS based on the impeachment.

On with the impeachment! On with the show.

Nagsalita na si Gutierrez na sa Senado na lang siya dedepensa. Si Pangulong Noynoy ay nagbigay na rin ng go-signal sa kaniyang mga kapartido. Kaya wala nang dahilan para patagalin pa ang laban.

So much time and resources of the House of Representatives, and of the congressmen, have been WASTED on Gutierrez’s impeachment.

Instead of devoting all their time and energy on writing proposed laws, which is their PRIMARY JOB, our congressmen have been FOCUSING instead on the impeachment.

I emphasize FOCUSING because they would not even wait for the final resolution of the Supreme Court on Gutierrez’s motion for reconsideration to stop the impeachment.

Kaya tama na ang DALDALAN. Ang pa-pogian sa media. Laban na kung laban. Magkaalaman na ng katotohanan, ng kung sino ang mali o tama,  ng kung sino ang sinungaling o hindi.

Just two things, please.

First, complainants and witnesses against Gutierrez had better have CONCRETE, PHYSICAL EVIDENCE to back up whatever claims they will have.

If they have no proof except their own words, they had better just GET LOST and SHUT UP, FOREVER. They’re not the law. The law is not what, or how, they want it to be. They should NAIL this to their brains.

Pangalawa, dapat mangako ang LAHAT ng kasama sa impeachment sa Sambayanan sa pamamagitan ng media, lalo na iyung mga nagrereklamo laban kay Gutierrez, na IGAGALANG ang anumang magiging desisyon ng Senado sa impeachment.

No more rallies, no more protest actions, no nothing. Whatever the Senate decision is will be THE DECISION.

Ang hindi susunod, ang manggugulo pa rin, KUNIN NA SANA NI LORD! 30

NASAAN ANG P13 BILYON NG OWWA PARA SA OFWs?

NASAAN na ang P13 BILYONG pondo ng Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) para sa ating mga overseas Filipino workers (OFW)?

Mismong si Budget Secretary Florencio Abad na ang nagpatunay na mayroong P13 BILYON ang OWWA para sa OFWs. BILYON, hindi lang milyon o daang milyon.

Pero HINDI PA NAGAGAMIT ang pera para mailikas ang mga OFWs natin sa Libya dahil kuno sa mga problema.

Ano ang problema? Bakit napakatagal resolbahin kung ano man ito? BUHAY AT KALIGTASAN ng libu-libo nating mga kababayan sa Libya ang NANGANGANIB hanggang ngayon.

At ang pinaka-importante, ano ang KATIBAYAN na nandiyan pa ang pera at HINDI PA NAGLALAHO? SINO ang may hawak?

Kahit na ipalit sa US dollar, ang P13 bilyon ay aabot pa rin ng halos $300 milyon. Pero sa kabila ng halagang ito, mga suki, ito ang Isipin ninyo:

Ilang linggo na ang igulo sa Libya pero HANGGANG NGAYON, HINDI MALINAW kung ilan sa mga nakauwi na galling Libya ang sinagot ang pamasahe ng OWWA.

PATULOY ang mga ulat na karamihan sa mga nakauwi ay mga AMO pa nila ang tumulong para makalabas ng Libya at makabalik ng Maynila.

Umabot na sa 11,867 Pilipino na ang nakalabas ng Libya hanggang noong Marso 4. Pero ang matindi,  2,554 PA LAMANG ang nakabalik na ng Pilipinas.

Hanggang ngayon din, parang mga dagang nagkalat ang mga kababayan nating lumilikas mula Libya. Mayroong nasa Crete, Tunisia, Malta at Egypt.

At ang pinaka-NAKAKADUDA, humihingi pa tayo ng tulong sa International Organization of Migration (IOM) sa Switzerland para maiuwi ang ating mga kababayan mula Libya.

Hindi ba kakasya ang $300 milyon sa lahat ng ito? Kahit hindi ako negosyante, lalaban ako ng pustahan na kahit 50 biyahe ng erpolano at barko ay kayang –kayang bayaran mula Sa $300 milyon para makauwi agad ang ating OFWs.

Pero hindi agad magawa ng OWWA. BAKIT? NASAAN ANG PERA?

Mga magigiting naming congressman at senador, ito ang dapat ninyong imbestigahan.  As in SA LALONG MADALING PANAHON.

                                                                        ***

Mayroong isang DUWAG na kumpare siguro ni Satanas na minura ako bilang reaksiyonsa ating blog tungkol sa babala natin sa mga deboto ng Mahal na Poong Jesus Nazareno ng Quiapo.  Mayroon kasing dalawang granadang nakita malapit sa simbahan nong Biyernes.

Sinasabi kong DUWAG dahil HINDI naman nagpakilala. Kaya’t mula ngayon, hindi na ako maglalabas ng mga reaksiyon na walang pangalan at lokasyon, lalo na’t kung ito’y pagmumura lamang.

Sa nagmurang iyon, hindi ako ang minura mo kundi ang Poong Nazareno. SIYA  na ang bahala sa iyo. 30