***two stories****
story no. 1
------------------
Camille P. Balagtas
People's TONIGHT
August 15, 2002
DPWH-MMDA ROW OVER FLOOD PROBLEM NOT HELPING SOLVE NECK-DEEP
FLOODING IN METROMANILA
====================================================================================
Opposition Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta said yesterday that the
neck-deep floods that submerged many parts of Metro Manila
yesterday as a result of the rains spawned by tropical depression
'Milenyo' should prompt Malacanang to intercede in the row
between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and
the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) so it could
fully carry out this flood project in the oft-submerged areas of
the metropolis collectively known as CAMANAVA.
Opposition Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta urged the Arroyo
administration to pursue and speed up the implementation of an
ambitious dike project covering the cities of Caloocan,
Valenzuela and Malabon and the town of Navotas (CAMANAVA), as
well as other flood control projects in the metropolis as a long
term solution to the urban woe.
"We hope that the Arroyo administration will pursue this
ambitious flood control project to finally bring a permanent
solution to Metro Manila's flooding woes and end the blame
tossing between government agencies supposedly tasked to resolve
the flooding problem," Oreta said.
The MMDA was recently given the responsibility by the Palace to
resolve the perennial flood problem in the metropolis.
The MMDA said that up to this time, the DPWH has yet to transfer
the flood control equipment and personnel under its supervision.
Oreta noted that Metro Manila occupies 63,600 hectares of which
10,600 are flood-prone areas. DPWH pumping stations can handle
only 7,200 hectares, leaving some 3,400 hecare unprotected from
the perennial floods, she added.
Oreta said that aside from easing Metro Manila's flooding
problem, the government should also give priority to the needs of
thousands of families who live in danger areas near flood control
projects.
In 1999 alone, about 6000 families were relocated from danger
zones near the CAMANAVA project and the Pasig River, she said.
///Camille p. balagtas
story no. 2
------------------
Camille P. Balagtas
People's TONIGHT
AUG. 15, 2002
SENATORS LAUD THE PRESIDENT FOR WITHDRAWAL OF PAGCOR SLOT
MACHINES
=================================================================
In the Senate, solons crossed party lines to express opposition
to the Phil Amusement Gaming Corporation expansion program
involving some 2,000 new slot machines in some 11 slot machine
arcades outside the state-run casinos , as they lauded the
immediate action of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to finally
put a stop to this controversy.
In a press conference yesterday, Senate President Franklin Drilon
commended the Chief Executive's move saying that the youth will
definitely be polluted should the government insist on pushing to
this slot machines.
Senate President Drilon said: "I'm glad the President
ordered the withdrawal of these slot machines. It shows that she
is really sensitive to public opinion."
Drilon stated that "there is a web of inconsistency" on
legalized gambling, where on one hand the government operates
casinos and lotteries, allows other forms of gambling such as
cockfights and horse racing, yet NGOs and church organizations
"complain about the ill effects of gambling, especially on
the youth," while at the same time the same NGOs and church
organizations "operate bingo games and raffles to raise
funds for charity work."
"There are also certain sectors calling for the legalization
of jueteng," said Drilon, "in order to maximize its
revenue potentials for the government instead."
He said that those who want to legalize jueteng argue that the
revenues that go to the jueteng lords could instead go to the
government to support its social amelioration programs.
Although he assessed that the chances of legalizing jueteng in
the Senate are slim.
Drilon said that "PAGCOR is the main source of the
President's Social Fund, which finances the numerous social
amelioration projects, from medical care to scholarships to
school buildings to street lighting and sports development.
Hundreds of thousands of indigent families have directly
benefited from revenues through state-operated gaming
activities."
"What is to be done?" asked the Senate chief, "
Are we prepared to totally ban all forms of gambling, and give up
the much needed revenue they generate for government?"
He concluded that there is a need to strike a balance between
raising revenues for basic social services and protecting our
minors from the harmful effects of gambling by adopting
"strict measures to ensure that the government's gaming
operations do not in any way pollute the morals of our youths and
destroy our social fabric."
"I urge the Church and the civil society to act as
watchdogs," Drilon said.
Sen. Loren Legarda said: "I'm very elated. Ako'y natutuwa
naman at nakinig ang pamahalaan sa ating mga sinasabi na hindi
mahusay at mabuti para sa ating kabataan ang pagpapalaganap ng
mga makinang pang-sugal sa mga public areas."
Majority Leader Loren Legarda-Leviste said the government went
"overboard" by putting slot machines in public areas.
"Definitely, I'm not in favor and I'm glad that it was not
implemented at once," Legarda told Senate reporters.
Legarda said the government was sending a wrong signal and the
wrong values when it allowed slot machines to be operated outside
of the casinos.
"Putting slot machines does not address the basic issues in
our society. It will just spawn bigger problems and will not
solve the problem of poverty and education," she added.
Angara said Pagcor's approval of contracts with private parties
to install slot machines in shopping malls, LRT stations, hotels
and other non-casino outlets reflected the moral decay and
confusion of the Macapagal administration.
"To compound the political drift and the lack of leadership,
now we have this looming crisis in morality," he said.
Angara cited the urgency of creating an oversight committee since
"Pagcor has not been accountable and transparent with its
operations and finances and the oversight committee will
precisely look deep into the affairs of the state gambling
agency."
He said the oversight functions of Congress allow it to look into
the operations of Pagcor, the source of its revenues and the use
of its funds.
Sen. Ramon Magsaysay proposed that a five-member oversight panel
be formed, to be chaired by the chairman of the Senate committee
on government corporations and public enterprises.
Magsaysay proposed that two members each from the majority and
minority be named by Drilon to complete the membership of the
oversight panel.
Drilon agreed that "it is within the prerogative of Congress
to closely monitor and exercise its oversight functions over the
operations of Pagcro."
Angara said Congress could also come up with a law that would
place Pagcor under the jurisdiction of the Commission on Audit.
Also, Majority Leader Sen. Legarda cited the need for the
proposed Congressional Oversight Committee to review Pagcor
operations, "especially in light of the new controversy over
the deployment of slot machines in public areas."
"We don't know yet how this congressional oversight
committee would be created and what it's function would be, but I
think it's an idea worth considering," Legarda said.
"I will reiterate what I said that we must address the basic
issues of poverty, of the lack of education, of the lack of
health services and not provide temporary entertainment that
would drain the pockets of the youth of our country,"
Legarda stressed.
Pagcor finances "should be looked into," Legarda said.
"Yes, I think the source of funding and how the funds are
spent must be looked into. Well, according to them, they fund a
lot of the social services needed by the government. So we want
to see also where these charity projects go to," she
concluded.
Same was expressed by Senator Serge Osmena III who echoed the
same view to review PAGCOR's finances.
Senator Gregorio Honasan on his part said how the youth of today
will be greatly affected if we allow gambling like these to
proliferate.
"Magiging bansa tayo na ang ambisyon na lang ay manalo sana
sa sugal at tumama sana sa jueteng. Hindi na bansa na nangangarap
umunlad at tumakbo bilang masisipag na mamamayan na
makapagmamalaki dahil sa kanyang mataas na pananaw sa moralidad
at matatag na prinsipyong lumaban sa hamon ng kahirapan."
Honasan stressed.///Camille p. balagtas