Who's in charge, or will be in charge?

I’m getting WORRIED over the toll hikes on the expressways and the incoming increases in transport fares.

Not that I don’t have any money.

It’s because there seems to be NO PLAN in place on how to help the people cope up with the added financial burden. There’s no clear picture either on what will be done once the public sentiment heats up and approaches the boiling point.

Anyway you put it, the fare increases are ADDITIONAL EXPENSES.

Added costs of living which could have been otherwise spent by the family on basic necessities like food and school needs. And not everybody can afford these added costs of living.

Having the money now to pay for them is one thing.

Losing or depriving yourself, or your loved ones, of something equally important is an entirely different story.

So who’s to blame if protest actions start breaking out left and right? Who will be responsible for maintaining peace and order? Where can the people go to earn extra money to pay these increases?

WHO’S IN CHARGE, OR WILL BE IN CHARGE?

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WANTED: A warrior of a senator or congressman with BALLS OF STEEL and the HEART OF A PEASANT.

For what? To author a bill that will LIMIT the number of times, and REASONS, oil companies can raise prices, and fight for it all the way, THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER, until it becomes law.

Para mabawasan, kundi man magwakas, ang KASUWAPANGAN at PANLOLOKO ng mga oil companies sa atin.

As we all know, oil companies use every reason they can think of in raising prices – from the slightest increase in the world market to movements in the foreign exchange rate to armed conflicts in oil producing nations.

They can do so LEGALLY, meaning the law allows them to.

Never mind if they had bought their existing stocks at prices BEFORE they jacked up the costs of their products,

But take note, the oil companies NEVER PRESENT any hard data to justify their price increases. All we have is their VERBAL, SELF-SERVING explanations.

So bakit ko naman sinabing panloloko?

Oil companies complain to high heavens of LOSSES everytime they increase prices. But take a look at their declaration of income every year-end and you will see that their profits never fall below the BILLION-PESO MARK.

Sa P1 bilyon na lang, tubo ang mga oil companies ng halos P3 milyon ISANG ARAW. LUGI PA SILA NUNG LAGAY NA IYON.

Only a law can stop, or minimize, all these GREED, Wriiting laws is the job of senators and congressmen. Kaya kung sinuman ang magmamalasakit, iyon ang dapat maging presidente sa 2016.

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From our blogmates:

MARIBEL NIALA of Quezon City on the Carlos Garcia ‘miracle’:

Money always talks. This is always true in the Philippine setting. When can we ever have a graft and corruption-free government?

LEE ANN ABELLAR of Ronda town, Cebu on Gov. Chavit Singson:

When i read earlier that Gov. Chavit Singson asked that Sen. Ping Lacson be expelled from the Senate first before the same is done to his congressman-son Ronald, natawa ako. What was he thinking? He’s like a 7-year-old boy caught by his mother doing something fishy. When his mother is about to discipline him, he appeals to his mother to punish his other brother first for being naughty. too. Sen. Lacson and Rep. Ronald are facing DIFFERENT charges. Kaya..wag niyang pangunahan.

LEAH SALVADOR of Las PInas on Sen. Ping Lacson:

I had admired Sen. Ping's battlecry before against corruption. Do you remember-- BE NOT AFRAID! But it seems he has since eaten those words by hiding rather than facing murder charges against him.

EDWIN GALVEZ of Makati on my New Year’s wish for a special fund for those who want to become priests:

I agree that more people should support priestly vocations.

I'm a servant at Greenbelt Chapel and I've seen personal efforts from my co-servants to support seminarians. I wish I could do more than (just) pursue an advocacy to this end.

Perhaps, being the editor of our newsletter, (I can) invite individuals and companies to do a PR campaign supporting priestly vocations. Hmmm. Something I'd probably do in 2011. God bless.

JOSEPH CARPIO of Las PInas:

Have started reading your daily blog. Where do you get all those info? Congratulations and keep it up.

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This is OUR CORNER. Not just mine, OURS. 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. I will be online starting at 6 a.m. 30