DSWD

ACCORDING to a social media post by columnist and broadcaster Ramon Tulfo, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was literally insulted by some people in Manay, Davao Oriental. The President visited the area two days after a strong earthquake to personally inspect the damage brought by the temblor.

Tulfo, who claims his family once lived in Manay when his father was assigned in Davao Oriental as an official of the Philippine Constabulary, said that while the President was doing his rounds in the municipality with the provincial governor, the district’s congressman, and the regional directors of the Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the crowd shouted, “Sara, Sara, Sara!” referring to Vice President Sara Duterte.

Tulfo called the act “disrespectful” to the President, who came to visit the place to see what the government can do to help the town and its residents recover from the perdition that hit them.

Our take on the incident is that, indeed, those who showed disrespect to the President are not interested in receiving assistance from the government. Imagine, at a time when people should unite and forget political differences, even if temporarily, because of the harrowing disaster that sector of the Manay population would rather show their disdain to the one official who they think is derailing the political ambition of fellow Davaoeño VP Sara!

Can’t they, even for the period of relief and rehabilitation, hold their horses against the President and allow the situation in their place to stabilize?

We are just wondering how Governor Dayanghirang, Congressman Dayanghirang, and other local officials present felt while listening to their own people bastardizing a non-political visit of the highest official of the land?

Personally, we believe that it is this too-partisan nature of us Filipinos that is serving as the insurmountable bar in attaining our desired level of socio-economic development.

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Several units of huge buses from China have arrived in Davao City, we supposed the other day (or was it only yesterday?). The buses will be fielded on several routes, both north and south of the city. The units will be converted into public utility buses for the purpose of ferrying passengers from and to areas currently lacking in public transportation.

So far, we are not yet certain as to the mode of the buses’ operation. And we do not know which Department in the city government will manage the operation. We can only assume that it will possibly be the city’s economic enterprise office.

Will the buses be charging fares to those who will ride in the vehicles in going to the city proper and back home? If the buses will, how much? For certain, it will not be the same as the amount authorized by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). It could be lower, more so if the operation is subsidized by the city government.

We have no doubt that the fielding of the buses as public utility vehicles will benefit the riding public. But we are certain as well that this may not bode well with the operators of public utility jeeps currently serving the routes intended to be augmented by the buses.

And further, how will the operation by the city of the utility buses impact the ever-postponed full implementation of the Transport Modernization Program of the national government, as far as Davao City is concerned?

Would this mean the total discarding of the program in the city? Possibly. After all, who will endeavor to acquire, even on credit, the new and prescribed units for the modernization of the public transportation program when the income of existing franchise holders will be immensely diminished with the fielding by the city government of the new public utility buses?

And whose administration was the program legislated and supposed to be fully implemented?

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Indeed, after every strong earthquake hits any place, Davao City will undertake measures to ensure the integrity of structures. And we can only thank the local government for its concern for the people.

But why do buildings and other infrastructures usually sustain damage of any nature when supposedly current regulations in building and other infrastructure construction are very strict as to their compliance by the owners?

Largely, this is because building owners, in their desire to cheat the government, do not disclose the totality of the design of their buildings.

Personally, we knew of one who built his own commercial and office building a few years back. He commissioned a “non-board” architect to design a 3-level building. But his instruction was to have the foundation of his building designed for a 4-story edifice. So the owner was able to save a substantial amount from the payment of the building permit fee for a 4-level structure.

And we are certain there are more building or structure owners who are doing this expense-saving scheme, possibly in cahoots with some building officials of the city.

Unfortunately, there are also licensed architects who are willing to sign the building plan that they did not design themselves.

And it is all for the money. No sweat at that.

Now, should the people of Davao City be surprised if, after an earthquake strikes, the local government has to conduct building inspections and, in the process, cause stoppage of work, classes, and business operations?