HIGHWAY ROBBERY

HIGHWAY ROBBERY, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

That’s how I describe the 250 percent increase in the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) toll from Alabang, Muntinlupa to Calamba, Laguna beginning today.

The increase is supposedly for the recovery of investments on improvements in that portion of the SLEX.

But I and my friends from Laguna and Batangas have noticed that:

The expressway IS NOT 100 PERCENT EVEN. May mga lugar na LUBAK-LUBAK or ALON-ALON pa rin, like the approach to the first overpass after Alabang.

Except for those in gasoline stations, THERE IS HARDLY ANY (a lot even told me NONE) emergency toilet or phone on the roadside. Lights are installed only near exits to some towns and not on the entire Alabang to Calamba stretch.

There are no water stations for overheating vehicles, or waiting sheds to hide from the sun during summer. As if, guys. NILAKIHAN LANG NG KONTI YUNG APARTMENT MO, DALAWA’T-KALAHATING DOBLE na agad ang upang gusto ng may-ari.

If this isn’t VULGAR, SHAMELESS HIGHWAY ROBBERY, we need another dictionary.

I am all-out for the recovery of any investment by any investor on any project.

But the question is, will us customers, or end-users GET OUR MONEY’S WORTH? Does the improvement JUSTIFY THE PRICE INCREASE?

To affected motorists and commuters, here’s what you can do:

Join forces and immediately DEMAND for an independent COSTING AND AUDIT of the actual worth and expenses for the improvements being charged by the SLEX operator.

Ask for a detailed accounting and computation on WHY an immediate 250 percent increase in the toll is justified. If necessary, ask your senators, congressmen and governors for help.

Do this PUBLICLY. Let everybody know you’re not carrying the CROSS you have just received without justification. Kung mayroong hindi tutulong, IYON ANG HINDI NINYO DAPAT IBOTO sa 2013 elections.

To the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), I sincerely hope you have contingency plans on HOW TO DEAL with the INCREASES in transport fare and cost of goods that will be definitely be triggered by the toll hike.

To our senators and congressmen: a protesting lawyer has claimed before the Supreme Court that the tollway contracts did not undergo public bidding nor direct negotiation and the investors did not undergo pre-qualification by the TRB.

Wouldn’t it be interesting for you to clarify these points? TENS OF MILLIONS of commuters and motorists will carry this 250-percent CROSS.

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Congratulations to the Senate for passing on third and final reading the Batas Kasambahay Bill authored by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

Finally, here’s a measure that would give our maids, or kasambahay, the benefits and protection they so rightfully deserve.

There are two very vital and timely provisions of the bill.

One is salary increases for the kasambahay – from P800 to P3,000 in Metro Manila, P650 to P2,500 in key cities and first-class municipalities and from P550 to P2,000 in other areas.

This will end the seemingly UNSTOPPABLE line of UNPAID or UNDERPAID kasambahays by abusive employers.

The other is a prohibition on employers from forcing or compelling the kasambahay to buy goods or avail of services from them or their friends and in their stores or businesses.

TAPOS ang maliligayang araw ng mga MAGUGULANG NA AMO.

I’m not a kasambahay but thanks a lot, dear senators, for passing this bill and not being ningas-kugon towards it. You have given hope for a better life for the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of our often-neglected kasambahays and their loved ones.

The House of Representatives must also pass its own version before final processes begin for the bill to be signed into law by President Aquino.

To our distinguished congressmen: please include the kasambahay bill in your TOP PRIORITIES when you resume sessions this month. Please join the Senate in ending as soon as possible the sufferings and exploitation of our kasambahays.

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Now just a minute, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

If a survey says 93 percent of the people are welcoming 2011 with high hopes, IT DOESN’T FOLLOW that it’s because of your Administration.

Published results of the survey DID NOT SHOW any specific attribution by the respondents to the Aquino Government as the reason for their high optimism. That’s why it was TRAGIC AND PATHETIC for you to still publicly thank the people since the results were a sign of continued trust on your Administration.

The Aquino Administration, Mr. Lacierda, is not the ONE AND ONLY REASON, the BE ALL l AND END-ALL, for anyone to have high hopes for 2011.

A fresh college diploma, a new job or scheduled promotion at work, recently-concluded deals between businessmen and their clients, newly-approved loans for businesses – these are just some reasons for anyone to be optimistic about 2011.

Reasons DEFINITELY NOT because of the Aquino Government. I would readily stand corrected, sir, if you or anyone else can prove that I’m wrong.

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Attention, Bataan residents: PLUNDER and other criminal raps against your former Gov. Ding Roman have been GATHERING DUST at the Office of the Ombudsman for some five years now.

You had better JOIN FORCES and rock the Ombudsman into resolving the case before it’s too late.

Roman can already ask for a dismissal of the charges if no ruling will be made since failure to prosecute a case is prohibited under the law.

You guys lost some P200 million of your taxes to the principal and interest on a loan obtained by the Roman Administration for a housing project which was never completed.

Baka MATALO kayo ng WALANG KALABAN-LABAN.

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This is OUR CORNER. Your views and reactions, for or against mine, will be most welcome everyday of the week. Just be sure to include your complete name and email address, and contact number if possible. “The Truth is…” will be online by 6 a.m. . May God bless us all and a most prosperous 2011 to everyone. 30