Category: Government

President Noynoy Aquino cannot take credit for the abolition of pork barrel funds

November 20, 2013November 22, 2013 Ilda 95 Comments

Now that the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel funds has been declared illegal or unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, we are seeing a lot of politicians who are doing an about-face. Some members of Congress are now saying that they are happy with the decision because they have been for its abolition…

Crime, Government, Politics

Why there is no need to feel sorry for Korina Sanchez

November 20, 2013 benign0 31 Comments

Normally giving stuff to poor people and taking the opportunity to adorn these “gifts” with logos or representations of your organisation is not necessarily bad. So, on one hand, I do agree with communications expert JP Fenix “tak[ing] exception to the negative comments on [ABS-CBN broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez’s] advocacy of giving away new rubber…

Glitz and Glamour, Government, Media, Politics

Per R.A. 10121: PNoy may be criminally liable for veto of disaster preparedness budget in 2011

November 20, 2013 benign0 70 Comments

Noted constitutionalist and former president of the Ateneo de Manila University Fr Joaquin Bernas lauded the Supreme Court decision to ban pork which, he wrote, “restores the normal constitutional order of handling public money”. He cited the specific clause in the Constitution that clearly defines the limits of the power of any one government official…

Civics, Crime, Environment, Government

The Man I Hope To Finally See and Respect

November 19, 2013October 23, 2018 Aunt Mary 76 Comments

The first 72 hours in every disaster relief and rescue operation is the most crucial. It’s when a responsible and speedy reaction is much needed. It was during this most crucial time, the 1st 72 hours, that I was hoping our government leaders have acted more swiftly and responded more responsibly as well. No, I…

Civics, Culture, Government, Media, Politics

The Philippines’ long road to recovery after Yolanda: Are Filipinos up to the task?

November 19, 2013November 19, 2013 benign0 37 Comments

In the aftermath of the devastation wrought by Typhoon Yolanda (a.k.a. Haiyan) the hard question stares us squarely in the face: What’s next for a nation that, even in normal times, struggles to deliver the most basic services to the majority of its people?. According to recent reports, up to four million Filipinos are left…

Civics, Crime, Development, Economy, Environment, Government, Politics

Korina Sanchez and how to avoid PR disasters during natural disasters like typhoon Yolanda

November 18, 2013November 18, 2013 Ilda 143 Comments

When it comes to advertising and product placements, Filipino politicians are the best. Advertising executives can actually learn a thing or two about how to optimise exposure of any product from them. The results speak for themselves. Politicians whose names and faces are printed on almost anything – billboards, noodle packets or candy bars get…

Civics, Government, Media, Politics

Comparisons to Hurricane Katrina are Excuses for Incompetence

November 18, 2013November 18, 2013 ChinoF 71 Comments

When Anderson Cooper of CNN reported that help was slow in coming to people in the provinces battered by Haiyan, the government and its supporters immediately went on the defensive. Instead of coming out with admissions of some lapses in leadership while reassuring that help is coming, they instead came out with defenses of their…

Government, Media

Typhoon Yolanda has exposed the nakedness of an image-conscious Philippines

November 17, 2013November 30, 2013 FallenAngel 171 Comments

And when we say the Philippines, we don’t mean just the government; we mean to include the Filipino people who voted those incompetent officials in, like for example, president Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III. From the start of his term, it has been painfully obvious that BS Aquino’s presidency was heavily anchored on popularity. Thus,…

Culture, Government, Media, Politics, Society