WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE RH BILL!

A friend of mine from Quezon City has just asked me for my thoughts on the Reproductive Health Bill. I told her I’ll only comment on one aspect, for now, but will not support the measure in it's entirety.

I’m for teaching sex education to the young. Kids from all sectors of society, and both in and out of school.

The argument by opponents of this issue that sex education for the young would only encourage improper sexual activity is valid. But I’m afraid the truth already outweighs this line of thinking.

SEXUAL PROMISCUITY is already here. It’s been with us for decades. Definitely, it will not DIE A NATURAL DEATH. And it will take nothing less than Divine Intervention to eradicate it just by anybody’s words.

Pregnant high school or college kids can be found all over the country. A lot end up in homes for unwed mothers. The luckier ones are married by their partners, but more often than not are forced to STOP STUDYING.

Motels accept teen-aged couples without question. Directly or through friends, kids can buy condoms.

Any teenager just has to go into the Internet and presto, a thousand and one sexually explicit web sites are ready for viewing, and downloading or burning on a CD.

And in all these, kids DON’T LEARN the LIFETIME DISADVANTAGES of IRRESPONSIBLE SEX.

They don’t realize the responsibilities or the social scorn that entail unwanted pregnancies and single parenthood. They don’t see the dangers and evil of abortion, or the risks and affects of sexually transmitted diseases.

So consequently, the only thing that matters for them is the pleasure that sex will bring.

This is what must be MINIMIZED, IF NOT STOPPED. If kids can be taught early enough, they will know the MORAL, and CORRECT, approach to sex.

They themselves will AVOID UNWANTED PREGNANCIES and AOBRTIONS. No prodding from anybody will be necessary.

Girls will avoid early or pre-marital sexual activity if they will learn real-life sexual deceptions by guys, the dangers to their health by teen motherhood or abortion and the diseases they can contract with having multiple partners.

Believe me, guys, even grade school kids have already heard or even read about AIDS.

I agree that sexual education for the young is not that easy to accept.

But we only have two choices, boys and girls: Live with the reality of sexual openness and handle it properly\, or stick to the past and watch today’s 5^th or 6^th graders, or first and second year high school studes, become mothers and parents in a year or two. 30

ON-THE-SPOT LIFESTYLE CHECK FOR NBP BOSSES!

One thing that has to be done to ALL New Bilibid Prison (NBP) officials following the Leviste escape is to subject them to an ON-THE-SPOT lifestyle check.

Not only those who are being probed for the Leviste caper but everybody. No exceptions. Top-to-bottom.

Why everybody? We have NO ASSURANCE that Leviste was the only one who had fled the NBP unnoticed. Remember, there are THOUSANDS of prisoners at the NBP.

Whoever had enjoyed, or continues to enjoy special privileges at the NBP, surely has his own padrinos, and not necessarily those of Leviste’s.

So if a probe has to be corrected, then the corrective measures SHOULD APPLY TO ALL.

What I mean by an on-the-spot lifestyle check is apart from the usual tracking or investigative work on standard documents, probers should visit, unannounced, the homes of concerned officials and SEE FOR THEMSELVES the material possessions therein.

Especially the expensive ones like cars and top-of-the-line appliances. I had proposed this method earlier in my blog on Ombudsman prosecutors in the Garcia plea bargain.

Once at the site, they can ask for the papers of the possessions for the specifications, especially the COSTS. Since the specifications will be first hand, validating it against the subject official’s declared assets and salary would be easier and more accurate.

If the subject official will say the possession is a gift, the same process can apply to the person who supposedly gave it.

Probers can also ask the neighbors relevant questions like changes in lifestyle or spending habits of the subject official without a visible or known source of extra income.

The neighbors might also know if the subject official has gone on vacations or other leisure trips which were unaffordable before. After visiting the subject official’s place, documentation and case-build up would be faster and details would be a lot more accurate and in-depth.

Let’s all monitor the Leviste escape, guys. Round-the-clock.

The ALARMING ISSUE here is for all we know, a thousand and one convicts have been doing freely going in and out of the NBP to commit crimes EVEN BEFORE Levists did his thing.

Don’t forget, THOUSANDS of crimes remain UNSOLVED. It’s OUR SAFETY which is being jeopardized, and not those at the NBP.

***

Two of our friends on “Is your area ready for ‘Chedeng’?” :

DATU KAYUMANGGI

Naging handa sila, sir. Sila'y nanalangin at tinugon po ito ng Diyos. Hindi po magla- landfall si ‘Chedeng.’ God bless the Philippines..

PRINCESS MALEIHA

Good news.. ‘Chedeng’ moves away from the country.

Eleven of our friends on :Unemployment getting worse under Pnoy" :

DANILO PACOMIO of Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA

I don't like what I'm seeing concerning unemployment but I'm just curious: you mentioned "adult unemployment"...are you saying there is also child employment? If there is, we need to take a look to see that no minor is illegally employed based on labor laws.

MARLENE HOWE of Tacoma, Washington, USA

It's happening everywhere. Every country is going through hardships and some are on the verge of bankruptcy like Greece. It's also important for the people to be more proactive in changing their lifestyle. If you cannot afford to feed so many mouths, then stop procreating like rabbits. It's not the government's fault!

BING SALVADOR

I think there are so many factors that contributed to our unemployment. But i agree with you that the present administration is getting worse because of mismanagement, graft and corruption and his complacency towards so many things like the hostage crisis in Manila.

ROMEO TOLENTINO of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

I’m not a fan of Noy but in fairness to the President, he's not the reason bro. Maraming outside forces beyond our control. Pero kung ang ibig mong ipahiwatig ay yung konkretong kahulugan nung sinabi mo sa itaas ay ok lang, na nagaganap (ang problema) sa kapanahunan ni Noy pero hindi sya ang dahilan.

SUSAN BILAS of Chandler, Arizona, USA

Hi, Boyet. The unemployment rate in the Philippines is estimated at 7.3 percent for 2011, a reduction of 2.67 percent trom the previous year. The effect of recession is all over the world. Ireland has an unemployment rate of 11.3 percent, Spain 18.7 percent and the US 9.45 percent. The fact is the lowest unemployment rates can be found in most Asian countries

JAKE CLEMENCIO of Bern, Switzerland

How about the underemployed?

RAUL SEBASTIAN LAMAN

The new graduates, the return from the Mideast of workers due to the volatile situation, and the Japan tsunami may have added to the increase in the unemployment rate.

CHEECHA FERRER

The scarcity of job opportunities in our Motherland.

ZYRA IBANEZ of Butuan City, Butuan

See? Palala pa ng palala ang problema sa bansa

CHIE NICODEMUS MEER of Manila

May bago pa ba?

MALOU MARIANO

It’s certainly not fair to blame the administration when there are numerous factors affecting the economic downtrend.

EDAURELIO-DING REYES on “Start asking CHED, DECS for tuition aid!”:

I agree that education should be given top priority. But we must be sure that we do start to have a real education system, one that would help all, especially the youth, to live and interrelate as humans. What we have had so far has been a mere schooling system fixated on our citizens' employability, here or abroad. 30

UNEMPLOYMENT GETTING WORSE UNDER PNOY!

In case you missed it in the news, the latest Social weather Stations (SWS) survey as of March has revealed that adult unemployment has risen to 27.2 percent, or an estimated 11.3 million, from 23.5 percent (9.9 million) just four months earlier.

That’s right guys, a STAGGERING 11.3 MILLION, 1.4 million more than the previous level. Meaning, the unemployment problem is GETTING WORSE, NOT BETTER.

So the immediate question is, WHAT is the Aquino Government doing about it? HAS ANYTHING BEEN DONE?

I’m not asking for a solution overnight, as Malacanang would surely argue, as it has been doing ever since. But the point is, the jobless situation SHOULD IMPROVE, AND NOT WORSEN.

Joseph Estrada’s first year as president saw the jobless rate decline l from 10 percent in July 1998 to 7.5 percent in June 1999. During Gloria Arroyo’s first year in Malacanang, unemployment was reduced from 10.3 percent in July 2001 to 8.4 percent in May 2002.

If Erap and GMA can do it, WHY CAN’T PNOY?

UNEMPLOYMENT is definitely NOT A STRAIGHT PATH, especially not to progress. Let me touch on one massive job-generating sector, infrastructure, as example.

Pnoy earlier bragged that under his watch, about P9 billion worth of infrastructure projects had been cancelled or re-bidded to be sure that there had been no corruption by Arroyo Administration officials.

So WHATEVER HAPPENED to the projects? When were the biddings held and what are the results? I haven’t come across or heard of any report on what these projects are in the first place. Have you, guys?

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that a thorough review of infra projects is being done, HAS EVEN ONE successful bidding been done?

If none, almost a year after the Aquino Administration assumed power is TOO DAMNED LONG to finish the review of even one project.

If that’s the case, there can only be two possible reasons: INCOMPETENCE or the review body has UNREASOABLE and UNUSUAL CONDITIONS OR REQUIREMENTS.

Department of Budget and Management records show that infrastructure and capital outlay spending was decreased by P28 billion compared to last year. Maintenance and operating budgets were also slashed by P19 billion.

But again, there has been no detailed report on the reasons behind these reductions. Anybody correct me if I’m wrong but there has been no proof either that these reductions have not adversely affected social services and the economy.

Most of all, where are the P28 billion and the P19 billion? That’s P47 BILLION of our taxes, boys and girls. W

We have the right to know where it went. Or we have got to have proof that the money is still there, and has not been pocketed by anyone.Physical proof, and not just the words of Pnoy.

Bottom line: As survey data reveal, Pnoy now holds the record of one of the HIGHEST INCREASES in unemployment in his first year in power.

Except for his successive foreign travels and supposed solicitations of investment pledges from investors, NOTHING VISIBLE is being done here at home about the problem

I’ll gladly welcome clarifications from anybody.

It’s only the first year of the Aquino Government. We have FIVE MORE YEARS to bear.

***

Ten of our friends on “Is your area ready for ‘Chedeng’?”:

JUAN DELA CRUZ

We were never, ever ready for typhoons and floods. We need a leader with BIG BALLS to think of a breakthrough flood control likeMalaysia's Smart Tunnel.

JAN VICTOR AYSON of Quezon City

Sabi sa forecast, landfall sa Cagayan pero uulanin ang Maynila kaya hindi lang pray kundi be ready.

LIU THABAH of Makati

We are very much ready and hopefully, it won’t’ hit much of our country. Let's not stop praying.

LAILA MARIZZATO MARIZZATO

Hopefully, It won’t be terrible.

GLORIA VASQUEZ of Makati

Will still include this in my prayers tonight. I hope and pray that the typhoon will just pass without leaving any casualty.

VANGIE DELA CUESTA

We're ready to the max.

JOSEPH AMO of Naga City

Dadaan nga dito sa amin yung bagyo.

GRACE NIEVA of Manila

IIang paghahanda na nga ba ang gnawa ng bawat sector? Tingnannga natin.

JOE ALVARADO JR. of Makati

Typhoons are always with us. We have to learn to live with it

BAL DOMINGO of Quezon City

Many poor Bicolanos consider typhoons as a way of sharing blessings to them. Maraming nakakapag-pabubong ng yero. Maraming tuyot nang lupa ang pag dinaanan ng baha ay tumataba.Maraming nagkalat na niyog at isda ang nakakakawala.

Six of our friends on “Ask schools to justify tuition increases”:

FERNANDO PAGADUAN JR. of Pagadian City

Another burden to shoulder.

IRENE PERGIS of Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Hirap na naman tayong kumita ng pandagdag sa tuition. Paano iyung walang mapagkakitaan? Lalo nang maraming hindi makapag- aaral.

EDUARDO VERZOLA

What’s the energy fee, global fee, and more fees by schools now? They are charging all their personal expenses to the parents? CHED!Damn you all!

JOSIE PATAWARAN of Hong Kong

Correct ka diyan, kapatid!

RONILO ACABO of Davao City

But if one's been in college financial and operations work, the perception will be totally different.

EDWARD LEE

Please don't forget the justification for field trips which will also go up. 30

UNEMPLOYMENT GETTING WORSE UNDER PNOY!

In case you missed it in the news, the latest Social weather Stations (SWS) survey as of March has revealed that adult unemployment has risen to 27.2 percent, or an estimated 11.3 million, from 23.5 percent (9.9 million) just four months earlier.

That’s right guys, a STAGGERING 11.3 MILLION, 1.4 million more than the previous level. Meaning, the unemployment problem is GETTING WORSE, NOT BETTER.

So the immediate question is, WHAT is the Aquino Government doing about it? HAS ANYTHING BEEN DONE?

I’m not asking for a solution overnight, as Malacanang would surely argue, as it has been doing ever since. But the point is, the jobless situation SHOULD IMPROVE, AND NOT WORSEN.

Joseph Estrada’s first year as president saw the jobless rate decline l from 10 percent in July 1998 to 7.5 percent in June 1999. During Gloria Arroyo’s first year in Malacanang, unemployment was reduced from 10.3 percent in July 2001 to 8.4 percent in May 2002.

If Erap and GMA can do it, WHY CAN’T PNOY?

UNEMPLOYMENT is definitely NOT A STRAIGHT PATH, especially not to progress. Let me touch on one massive job-generating sector, infrastructure, as example.

Pnoy earlier bragged that under his watch, about P9 billion worth of infrastructure projects had been cancelled or re-bidded to be sure that there had been no corruption by Arroyo Administration officials.

So WHATEVER HAPPENED to the projects? When were the biddings held and what are the results? I haven’t come across or heard of any report on what these projects are in the first place. Have you, guys?

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that a thorough review of infra projects is being done, HAS EVEN ONE successful bidding been done?

If none, almost a year after the Aquino Administration assumed power is TOO DAMNED LONG to finish the review of even one project. If that’s the case, there can only be two possible reasons: INCOMPETENCE or the review body has UNREASOABLE and UNUSUAL CONDITIONS OR REQUIREMENTS.

Department of Budget and Management records show that infrastructure and capital outlay spending was decreased by P28 billion compared to last year. Maintenance and operating budgets were also slashed by P19 billion.

But again, there has been no detailed report on the reasons behind these reductions. Anybody correct me if I’m wrong but there has been no proof either that these reductions have not adversely affected social services and the economy.

Most of all, where are the P28 billion and the P19 billion? That’s P47 BILLION of our taxes, boys and girls. W

We have the right to know where it went. Or we have got to have proof that the money is still there, and has not been pocketed by anyone. Physical proof, and not just the words of Pnoy.

Bottom line: As survey data reveal, Pnoy now holds the record of one of the HIGHEST INCREASES in unemployment in his first year in power.

Except for his successive foreign travels and supposed solicitations of investment pledges from investors, NOTHING VISIBLE is being done here at home about the problem

I’ll gladly welcome clarifications from anybody.

It’s only the first year of the Aquino Government. We have FIVE MORE YEARS to bear.

***

Ten of our friends on “Is your area ready for ‘Chedeng’?”:

JUAN DELA CRUZ

We were never, ever ready for typhoons and floods. We need a leader with BIG BALLS to think of a breakthrough flood control like Malaysia's Smart Tunnel.

JAN VICTOR AYSON of Quezon City

Sabi sa forecast, landfall sa Cagayan pero uulanin ang Maynila kaya hindi lang pray kundi be ready.

LIU THABAH of Makati

We are very much ready and hopefully, it won’t’ hit much of our country. Let's not stop praying.

LAILA MARIZZATO MARIZZATO

Hopefully, It won’t be terrible.

GLORIA VASQUEZ of Makati

Will still include this in my prayers tonight. I hope and pray that the typhoon will just pass without leaving any casualty.

VANGIE DELA CUESTA

We're ready to the max.

JOSEPH AMO of Naga City

Dadaan nga dito sa amin yung bagyo.

GRACE NIEVA of Manila

IIang paghahanda na nga ba ang gnawa ng bawat sector? Tingnan nga natin.

JOE ALVARADO JR. of Makati

Typhoons are always with us. We have to learn to live with it

BAL DOMINGO of Quezon City

Many poor Bicolanos consider typhoons as a way of sharing blessings to them. Maraming nakakapag-pabubong ng yero. Maraming tuyot nang lupa ang pag dinaanan ng baha ay tumataba. Maraming nagkalat na niyog at isda ang nakakakawala.

Six of our friends on “Ask schools to justify tuition increases”:

FERNANDO PAGADUAN JR. of Pagadian City

Another burden to shoulder.

IRENE PERGIS of Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Hirap na naman tayong kumita ng pandagdag sa tuition. Paano iyung walang mapagkakitaan? Lalo nang maraming hindi makapag- aaral.

EDUARDO VERZOLA

What’s the energy fee, global fee, and more fees by schools now? They are charging all their personal expenses to the parents? CHED! Damn you all!

JOSIE PATAWARAN of Hong Kong

Correct ka diyan, kapatid!

RONILO ACABO of Davao City

But if one's been in college/school/university financial and operations work, the perception will be totally different

EDWARD LEE

Please don't forget the justification for field trips which will also go up. 30

IS YOUR AREA READY FOR 'CHEDENG?'

With tropical storm ‘Chedeng’ fast approaching, we had better start finding out the following boys and girls, from both the national and local government levels:

The locations and number of evacuation centers in your towns or cities in case of risky floods

The evacuation coordinators in your areas and how will it be conducted, as well as the operational readiness or the speed at which it can be started and conducted.

The readiness of the evacuation center.

The availability of foodstuffs and other relief goods from your local government, as well as contingency plans in case these won’t be enough for the evacuees.

The BUIDGET for disaster management of the local government – HOW MUCH IS LEFT and where are the rest, and documentary proof of the expenditures.

FLOOD CONTROL and DISASTER PREPAREDNESS programs or measures of your towns or cities – what has been done or is anything being done.

If none, your TAXES are in BIG TROUBLE, guys. Better start asking your mayors, or even your governors, WHY and where’s the budget for disaster preparedness and flood control.

And don’t forget, we should not spare the national government from queries on flood control. Especially the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Together, let’s start asking the DPWH if it has FINISHED EVEN ONE FLOOD CNTROL PROJECT almost a year after the Aquino Administration assumed power.

If yes, what and where, for how much and who are the beneficiaries? If none, WHY?

A common cause of floods is clogged waterways like esteros and drainage systems.

Question: How many de-clogging or cleaning operations has the DPWH conducted, NATIONWIDE, where and when was the last? If it’s only a handful, say five or 10, WHY and what is the problem?

As to the other causes of floods like illegal logging and squatters or informal settlers blocking portions of some rivers and other waterways, what has been accomplished by the government? Details please, if any.

Disaster preparedness is more multi-faceted than this blog, boys and girls. Let’s do our share, and be ready, always. 30

ASK SCHOOLS TO JUSTIFY TUITION INCREASES!

One more thing about this enrollment period: Schools, both private and public, must be asked to JUSTIFY the increases in tuition and other fees they are asking, IN WRITING.

And the details must be disclosed to ALL STUDENTS and PARENTS.

By justification, don’t just ask if the school losing money, or will iit loose heavily, if it won’t charge additional rates.

To parents, ask for facts and figures, especially those for last schoolyear. Find out if the losses the school says it had incurred, or is about to incur, is STRICTLY RELATED to the business.

And not to their PERSONAL EXPENSES OR EXTRAVAGANCE.

Don’t forget to ask the school for the APPROVAL for tuition increase from the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) or the Department of Education (DepEd).

Don’t just take their word for it. They either post the copy of the approval or find out for yourselves at the Ched or the DepEd if they had authorized the tuition increase, before you enroll your kids.

After the tuition increase, ask for a detailed explanation on the fees they are asking. Not just what is it for. WHY should YOU be the one to pay for it?

The one thing I have been hearing consistently from friends since enrollments started is the LONG LIST of miscellaneous fees being charged by schools.

A list which, at least 15 of my friends have pointed out, is getting longer and longer as the years pass, with outright questionable charges, like energy and environment fees..

What’s worst is, if you add the sum of the miscellaneous fees, it’s either almost as equal or HIGHER THAN THE TUITION.

To parents, band together and start demanding these details from the schools. YOU’RE PAYING THEM. You have the RIGHT to know if you’re getting your money’s worth, or is just another milking cow for the IINSATIABLE GREED of the school owner.

If the school won’t justify the fees they’re charging, start looking this early for the school where you’ll transfer your kids next year.

***

Three of our friends on “Start asking CHED, DECS for tuition aid!”:

COUNCILOR MARISSA LIZARES of Talisay City, Negros Occidental

I have heard of the GESTAPO but NEVER of the GASTPE...hay talaga. Thank you for the info!

CHRISTOPHER CRUZ

Not only tuition fee aid, the government must impose regulations on tuition of schools, be it aprivate or public."

NIQUEKY LAU

We sure will.

Eight of our friends on “DepEd, CHED funds should be audited”:

MANNIX FORTZ of Seattle, Washington

I support the suggestion, Boyet. DepEd has to open their books to the COA (hope Ma'am Heidi will oversee it) because I once was a victim of corruption. I worked for seven months before my first three months salary was released. Then, the next three months was released after another three months of working. I realized then that we were thousands of teachers who suffered the same predicament.

FREEDOM MADERAZO of Pasig City

Huwag hayaang bukas ang kaban at kahit banal ay matutukso!

BETH ALVAREZ of Makati

Dapat naman talaga lahat ng pondo ng Pamahalaan, hindi lang DepEd.

HANSEL ALCARAZ of Pasay City

Wala ng iaaudit, nasa mabuting bulsa na!

NELLY JOMUAD of Singapore, Singapore

Yes, dapat.

CAMON EILLOR

It's a MUST, Sir Boyet. Every government agency must be audited by COA and third party auditors as the case maybe.

REBECCA KOOMANS of Queensland, Australia

Nasa mabuti ng kamay.

ARCHIE GRAPA of Manila

All public funds should be audited.

LOUISE DEL CARMEN of Canlaon City, Negros Occidental on “Pacman’s CBCP visit cheap political gimmick”:

Nagpaka-pulitiko lang iyan! 30

DEPED, CHED FUNDS SHOULD BE AUDITED!

This topic was suggested by our blogmate, Julian Rabago, of Cavite City.

Related to the impending opening of classes, one thing that must be done immediately is a detailed audit of the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

If an audit is already ongoing, then the Commission on Audit had better inform us of even the initial results. We have the right to know how these two agencies are spending our taxes.

For one, the critical lack of classrooms and school buildings has been a problem for ages.

Has any been built so far? If yes, how many, where, for how much and for whom? Anybody correct me if I’m wrong but I have yet to read of or see any large-scale construction project for classrooms and school buildings.

The Aquino Administration is just weeks away from its FIRST YEAR in office. And even if I’m not a contractor, I know for a fact that it doesn’t take a year to build a classroom or a school building.

What about the hundreds of millions, if not billions, of pesos spent on textbooks?

Again, I have not read or heard of anything latest about this – how many have been bought, for how much and from whom, who have been the recipients, who has certified the accuracy of the textbooks’ contents and iif the number of copies delivered is exactly what has been paid for.

If any of you guys can enlighten me on this, I’ll gladly come out with the details as soon as possible, like what you’ll see below on a clarification by one of our readers on the CHED scholarship program.

Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture chair Edgardo Angara has called for bigger funds for the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education program or GASTPE.

So where is the money? There should be a VERIFIED LIST, and I emphasize VERIFIED, of beneficiaries and schools involved. Most of all, the details of GASTPE transactions should be made public for scrutiny.

If neither the DepEd nor the CHED can give immediate details about GASTPE disbursements, WE’RE IN BIG TROUBLE, guys! Better start talking to your congressmen and senators.

***

Five e of our friends on “A P2-B question for Dinky Soliman” :

DELIA SANIDAD of Santiago, Ilocos Sur

Conditional cash transfer? This must be the fastest way to steal taxpayers' money. This just promotes mendicancy. If this is really a way of helping to alleviate poverty, then it has failed miserably. Maybe, just maybe, so much money is now lining some peoples' pockets.. Too bad these are taxpayers' money. Sana,pera rln nila waldasin nila.

NICOMEDES AZUR LAUDIT

This Dinky Soliman should not be taken lightly. Let us put this woman under full scrutiny. Siya ang may pinakamataas na badyet (DSWD) talo pa ang education at militar. In my long stay abroad being an OFW, sila ang pinakamataas na badyet sa Gobyerno is either education or the military. Sa atin gagawin tayong nanny state.

JUAN DELA CRUZ

Tuwid na daa, diretso sa bangin.

BATANG MAKATI

They will just add and take billions of pesos anytime they feel like it without us, the taxpayers having any say or knowledge on how or who gets the funds..We need more accountability and transparency with the people's money, all the way down to the last cent. It is how it should be, and it must be done!

RONILO ACABO of Davao City

Huh? 2B? I only ask for P200,000t for a P20-B industry in five years.

Eleven of our friends on “Start asking CHED, DECS for tuition aid” :

DAVE MACARIOLA

In fairness to CHED, they have this "One Town, One Scholar” NE program. General Tinio, my hometown in Nueva Ecija, is fortunate enough to have two beneficiaries, one each for 2009 and 2010.

MARIA CRISOSTOMO IBARRA of Manila

Sa AMA, three times sila magtaas ng tuition annually…35 percent every trimester.

CHRISTOPHER CRUZ

Even if our government wants do you think our creditor such as the IMF will allow this? Our creditors don’t allow us to subsidize our economy.

VIVIAN BASANEZ of Changhua, Taiwan

Talks about Education should be given much priority by the government because it is the best tool for a better future. The government should impose low tuition for all Filipinos to avail of good education. We need good education to compete and to survive in the world today.

JULIAN RABAGO of Cavite City, Cavite

And while you're at it, Boyet, ipanawagan mo na rin sa COA to make a detailed audit of DepEd expenditures. i won’t be surprised kung mag-2nd place ang ahensyang ito sa pinaka-corrupt.

JK VALDEZ MITRA of Melbourne, Australia

Your intent is very well, Mr. Antonio.

EDNA MEYER

What about the public schools? Don´t they need assistance as well? Why is the GASTPE for private schools only? That´s why education in public schools is considered poor because they don´t receive assistance from the government.

ICON PATRIOT

Billions of pesos, and trillions until 2016, can be saved if the government stops buying textbooks and upload E-books that are accessible and downloadable nationwide. Its really that simple. The money saved from that can build free universities and schools. Filipinos wouldn't have to pay for school anymore.

JAN VICTOR AYSON of Quezon City

Mantakin mo, nagtaasan ang mga tuition sa ilang unibersidad, pati sa UE Manila at UP Diliman.

FERNANDO PETITE

Sino-sino kayang private schools ang nakikinabang sa GASTPE nito o nasaan ang listahan ng mga mag-aaral na naka-avail ng GASTPE program? Magulo at malabo yata ito. Hindi na nga upgraded, kulang na ang mga pasilidad, maging ang mga aklat sa public school, magbibigay pa ng subsidy sa mga mag-aaral sa private school? Ka Boiyet, maraming salamat po sa impormasyon.

JOSIE PATAWARAN of Hong Kong

Hindi na nga namin alam kung paano namin pagkakasyahin ang aming kinikita sa taas ng mga bayarin at bilihin diyan Tapos, dagdag ruition pa? Napakahirap nito, lalo na sa aming may mga pa-kolehiyo, Tapos, pag naka-graduate, wala namang maibigay na hanapbuhay ang ating gobyerno. 30