No ifs and buts about it

nash on Sun, 6th Jul 2008 3:44 pm 



Wait, I’m willing to pay for Lauro Baja’s cruise on Sulpicio Lines to New York federal prison…

cvj on Sun, 6th Jul 2008 4:08 pm 



IMHO, it was still July 5 in the US West Coast so technically you’re not yet late.

DJB Rizalist on Sun, 6th Jul 2008 6:35 pm 



Considering the volume of cargo and passenger traffic that Sulpicio Lines handles, it is inconceivable that their operations would be entirely taken out…that would cause a major economic dislocation, not to say suffering on the part of many impoverished families and big and small businesses.

Could the upshot a successful campaign against Sulpicio then merely result in the government taking it over, as GMA has hinted?

Would that not conceivably result in some even bigger tragedy, considering that the typhoon season has barely begun?

I’m mad at Sulpicio Lines too, but what exactly are we asking for here?

benign0 on Sun, 6th Jul 2008 7:21 pm 



I think we don’t really need a closure of Sulpicio.

It should be more about the prosecution and imprisonment of an ACCOUNTABLE executive. There needs to be one person singled out for the guillotine.

Poor bastard of course. But hey, there is always one person where the buck should stop in a truly modern society.

manuelbuencamino on Sun, 6th Jul 2008 7:37 pm 



I think Winston Garcia should buy out Sulpicio Lines.

PSI on Sun, 6th Jul 2008 8:09 pm 



I think GOP should should close the Sulpicio Lines’ operation. Five fatal incidents are no accidents. In my book, its just plain disregard for peoples’ lives.

And WTF is that Bishop trying to do!!!

Bencard on Sun, 6th Jul 2008 10:21 pm 



make up your mind, guys. given that sulpicio is the ONLY major shipping line in the philippines providing relatively cheap transportation to and from each major island of the country, how could you afford to stop its operations instantaneously, even if you could legally? do you think “accidents” would not occur under someone else’s control, including the government’s? meanwhile, should life for all the people and families depending on the company be put on hold while a suitable replacement is being determined?

i think your reactions are more emotional than rational. it’s easy and simplistic to demand “stop sulpicio lines”. it’s not as easy to come up with real solution.

Dominique on Sun, 6th Jul 2008 10:36 pm 



More than punitive measures we need remedial measures to address the shipping industry, in terms of safety, competition, and cost.

cvj on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 12:07 am 



Since the government needs funds, taking over Sulpicio so that its earnings from operations can fund the improvement of the shipping industry, instead of further enriching the Go Family, should be looked into. Perhaps it can temporarily be attached to the Philippine navy, which also need ships.

Panaderos on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 3:04 am 



I think the Go family will do the country a great service by offering all the vessels of Sulpicio Lines to the Philippine Navy for use as target practice.

Seriously, there are other shipping lines that provide better and safer service such as the ones run by WGA. The downside to the closure of Sulpicio Lines will only be short-term pain. Its competitors will quickly fill the void it will leave.

leytenian on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 4:02 am 



allowing the government to come up with a better solution while putting sulpicio on hold for at least 3 months especially the route from manila to cebu or other interisland travel. There are lots of alternative travel like land transportation from manila to ormoc, then ormoc to cebu. I know there’s another route , actually shorter. My friend backpack the whole Philippines using buses with AC.
If we allow Sulpicio to go back to business as usual, the world will look at us as a country of impossible. This tragedy is not only domestic. The history and bad reputation of this company will actually scare foreign capital and hurt our credibility even further. Let’s do what’s right for the country and for the majority. The students and seniors will enjoy a discounted rates, at the same time small businesses can be subsidized thru discounted shipping of goods. The government can hire more employees. Sulpicio is for profit. That’s all there is to it.

Most of our private investors/investments are government-guaranteed loans. When private entities default, our government guarantees the payment. Sulpicio is not a government-guranteed investment , perfect to become a public transportation. The government should be firm and allow a fair sale to occur. Sulpicio on the other hand may venture into a different business.

List of government-back loans…
http://www.jubileesouth.org/tribunal/accusation_3/philippines.htm

nash on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 5:15 am 



grabe talaga si bencard.

sulpicio is responsible for the top 5 worst peacetime maritime disasters and all you can think about are short term pains????

the competitors, who have better safety records, will be more than happy to fill in the gap.

vic on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 5:24 am 



Here is one suggestion of what the Regulators can do with whatever left in the inventory of Sulpicio Lines.

Have a very, very Reputable Marine Safety Investigators check all their ships for fitness and also have their operations under supervision until satisfied if it is up to Standard, if not then decide…

KG on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 6:54 am 



All Trillanes could do is file a bill, o pati ba yun wala na din?

14th Congress
Senate Bill No. 1944

DEPARTMENT OF MARITIME AFFAIRS ACT
Filed on December 7, 2007 by Trillanes IV, Antonio “Sonny” F.

==============================
nirecycle lang ito from the bill filed by shahani a decade ago

pwede naman magkahearing ah.

isabay na nila sa cast guard bills:

SENATE
S. B. No. 1142

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD AND VESTING IN IT THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF ENFORCING MARITIME SAFETY RULES AND REGULATIONS AS WELL AS ANY OTHER MATTER RELATED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF SAFETY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY FUNCTION WITHIN PHILIPPINE TERRITORIAL WATERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

isabay na din nila pakiusa p ni escudero

Pass Coast Guard bill, modernize PAGASA–Escudero

Escudero is among the many senators who filed a bill to reorganize the Philippine Coast Guard. Among them are Senators Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Richard Gordon, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Rodolfo Biazon. Their bills are still pending at committee level after being referred to the Senate committee on national defense and security.

sinabi ko na dahilan ng stalemate

biazon

AN ACT TRANSFERRING THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT SERVICE UNDER THE PHILIPPINE NAVY, FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5173, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

escudero

AN ACT REORGANIZING THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD AS A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT COMMISSIONED SERVICE UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

========================

get your act together!

now to that global maritime gizmo

sure it was the time of tobacco

the corruption was discovered during estrada and had it stopped like the centennial projects

pati procurement law natin di pa plantsado they have to fix that too.

or maybe the law is not always the answer.

KG on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 7:11 am 



as to our shipbuilders they have to make the cost of doing business here very uncostly it starts at the baranggay level.

everything is costly here ;alam na natin me mga ship builders dito.
nag mahal ng finished products tapos dahil mahal nga mag produce hanggang maliliit na ferry boats lang ang nagagawa natin.so we import junk instead.

nenaco has its own turnaround issue sumali pa nga si manny pangilinan di pa din sila masyado nakakarecover sa mga utang nito
ihiwalay na natin yung sinuspend nuon ang operation ng nenaco dahil iba ang sinusuportahan ni MVP. I already mentioned na dagdag bawas din ang ginawa nila ;sell three buy one pero used pa din ang binili nila.

aboitiz it only has only three super ferrys running.
and I might have mentioned Aboitiz is more into POWER now literally and figuratively.

government takeover? yeah winston garcia should do it but with the same fleet? rejects junk and retirable vessels,what can a government takeover do.
are we back to the question of nationalization and denationalization.

TonGuE-tWisTeD on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 7:27 am 



Aren’t these ships supposed to undergo testing first by Lloyd’s of London for seaworthiness before it is even allowed insurance and later actual transport?

I remember I had to send a gadget I designed to Lloyd’s Register of Shipping before it could be installed in any of PNOC’s power barges. It’s just a small electronic device no bigger than a chocolate bar that indicates whether the navigational lights have gone busted. It was very stringent, Lloyd’s would not approve of insurance without the test, the testing cost more than the device itself. If this is the case, why would a defective ship be allowed to sail by our own regulators? Don’t they require LRS inspection and insurance anymore?

Bencard on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 7:44 am 



cvj, while the navy may have the knowhow to sail a ship for sea battle, i don’t know if it has the expertise to operate a shipping line to transport passengers and cargo. it sounds “simple, really” but i think there’s more to sailing a commercial ship than just keeping it afloat and reaching its destination. so you guys think the government can handle it better, huh? can you name one government-run common carrier that operates efficiently and prosperously? are you familiar with the manila railroad co. and what happened to it after the politicians took over?

i understand that none of the competitors are big enough to absorb the business of sulpicio. i think it has the largest volume of transport services between manila, cebu and mindanao. instant cessation of operation by sulpicio will cause havoc to the business sector, the public and the country in general. overland transportation is too cumbersome, limited and prohibitive, especially with the current price of oil. there is no inter-island railroad. air transport for the common citizens is too inadequate and expensive to mention.

leytenian on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 8:38 am 



you have a good point bencard…

Philippine National Railways Plaridel to Unisan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWx0zaZq74s&feature=related

cvj on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 9:02 am 



The logic of resorting to privatization because we fear the incompetence of government has reached its limit in the case of Sulpicio. We have seen how market forces and private competition are useless against the negligence of an oligopoly. In any Society, government is the last resort to handle these kinds of failures, so at some point, we have to tackle the problem of government incompetence head on. Failing to rejuvenate government would leave us at the point where the public has no choice but to tolerate the practices of Oligarchs like the Go family.

KG on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 9:23 am 



have to agree with bencard.

but allow me to have my penny for my thoughts.

government management is as inefficient as our private sector’s management

I wish jude was here to elaborate,remember the things he said about maynilad take over form mwss together with manila water(he talked only about maynilad though),but he was at the side of winston garcia that time so have not heard of the management track record of government from him.

I understand the airforce early retirees did some crash courses fro them to run commercial planes.

the navy is different from the airforce,
not all navy officials get to have command at sea duties.most of them stay in the offices for almost thirty years or their entire careers.
di tulad ng mag airforce lahat sila pwede maging piloto.

and they have too much to handle already,even combined with our coast guard,it is hard to guard our coastlines with little resources.
kaya mas feasible na imerge na lang ang function ng dalawa kung ang problema lang dahil civilian ang isa di pwede armado.(simpol problem taon taon na debate) nothing is simple,really.
===========================

tongue, with all your sources and experiences alam mo na ang sagot dyan sa insurance,at sa mga regulators natin.

cvj on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 9:45 am 



Karl, far be it for me to subscribe to the ‘it’s simple, really’ mantra. (You and Bencard must have confused me with someone else. ) Of course, it’s not simple but there is a point where avoiding a government-based solution is no longer viable. In China, they have the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to step up in times of disaster. It’s time for our desk-bound Philippine Navy to step up. Let’s give them a chance to prove themselves.

KG on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 10:01 am 



OK CVJ gotcha!

(sorry if I confused you with benign0 )

Yeah, it is not simple but it is not impossible either.

come to think of it, our shipbuilders and naval architects that we have so many; must be borrowed, and of course compensated ;for this take over to make sure that the ships are seaworthy’ and of course no shortcuts in insurance to acknowledge the point raised by Toungue.

OTOH,
raising that there are many deskbound naval officers can be an argument that there are many of them to lend to sulpicio.

cvj on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 10:20 am 



Thanks Karl.

leytenian on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 10:40 am 



looking at initial capital investment from the government side, it might be worth to pursue. government has been guaranteeing loans anyway. insurance in terms of death or insurance in terms of losses from profit and insurance due to replacement will be the government’s responsibility. There will be a direct accountability in the future. Insurance policy can also be purchased.
Another good reason by cvj…is not to tolerate the bad practices of the Oligarch. 5 times is more than enough

DJB Rizalist on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 10:53 am 



We average twenty major typhoons a year. Five accidents in twenty years is perhaps too many. But I think these are acts of God, (a cruel, jealous God if what they are teaching public school kids is to be believed.) Piling on Sulpicio would be inconsistent if we don’t also jump on the even Bigger Liars that keep the population ignorant, superstitious and unable to enforce all kinds of laws and regulations that could’ve prevented Yahweh’s serial mass homicides.

UP n student on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 11:15 am 



DJB : The typhoon is the act of God. Responsibility for a vessel being God’s or one or two men (or women)? Depends on the circumstances. As you are acutely aware, SuperFerry14 was sunk by Muslim terrorists.

At the same time, one has to feel antipathy to religious leaders who are unable to answer the question “… does God allow bad things to happen to good people?”

UP n student on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 11:17 am 



Responsibility for a calamity striking a vessel being God’s or …

Jeg on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 11:29 am 



“one has to feel antipathy to religious leaders who are unable to answer the question… does God allow bad things to happen to good people?”

Pfsh. Religious leaders who can’t answer this question deserve antipathy for being stupid. ‘Duh’ is the answer. And the only honest answer to the follow-up Why? is I dont know. Job tried asking that question (why) and God didnt answer him either.

Piling on Sulpicio would be inconsistent if we don’t also jump on the even Bigger Liars that keep the population ignorant, superstitious and unable to enforce all kinds of laws and regulations that could’ve prevented Yahweh’s serial mass homicides.

Politicians? DJB lays the blame squarely on the Catholic hierarchy but the blame is more accurately laid at the politicians’ feet. As Ive noted in the previous thread, even Muslim Filipinos are multiplying despite the fact that they arent under Catholic jurisdiction. And despite DJB’s claim that the Catholics exert undue influence over the supposedly secular government leadership, it is the Muslim Filipinos that the government defied the separation clause by putting up the Office of Muslim Affairs one of whose objectives is: “to uplift and improve the conditions of the Muslim Filipinos”. And they defied the constitution because of politics. Politics is to blame.

Jeg on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 11:50 am 



it is the Muslim Filipinos that the government defied the separation clause by putting up the Office of Muslim Affairs

I meant “it is for the Muslim Filipinos that the government defied the separation clause by putting up the Office of Muslim Affairs”

rego on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 12:44 pm 



But what happen to Wiliam Lines? I have avoided Sulpicio lines long time ago in going to Masbate. I always took william lines. and when William lines is fully booked I just took the bus all the way to Bulan Sorsogon and take a small ferry from Bulan Port to Masbate. Well kung may budget I took the plane.

Anyways, if sulpicio lines is the only major Shipping lines today. I am not joining the blogswarm against the Sulpicio lines for the same reasons that Bencard stated

rego on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 12:47 pm 



I also agree with benigno. No need to close sulpicio lines. Just prosecute the negligent person reposible for the tragedy if there is one

Liam Tinio on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 1:29 pm 



i dont know..

40% trade is somewhat significant..
besides, i think its the cheapest inter-island cargo forwarder..
and its the only one operating davao-manila cargo with the demise of WGA’s Superferry 14..

rego on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 5:02 pm 



digressing….

if only our politicians and political players would emulate the humility of Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer after each election it would be much much better Philippines..

Viva Rafa!!!!!!!

vic on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 5:49 pm 



After the “storms” and the Sulpicio Lines debacles we will all be back to another serious issues, inevitable issues that stare at every one’s face even before the storm, FOOD and the skyrocketing prices and if not addressed rightfully could be an even stronger storm.

In a continuing series on Food …Hungry for Answers, the Star have the perspectives of The Wheat Kings that if you read and consider them have the most sense perhaps in helping getting to the Answers:
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/455433

Petti Fong
Western Canada Bureau Chief
In a world of growing hunger, the food producer is king.
Western Canadian grain farmers were once the lowliest of all, but just two years after grain prices bottomed out, they are reaping the benefits of having sown what is so desperately needed: food.

The price of grain has soared this past year, turning profits for farmers once on the verge of bankruptcy.

“Farmers have never seen a year like (this), wonderful crop, unbelievable prices,” says Dan Mourre, a farmer near Rosetown, Sask. “There are a lot of happy people around. If oil can go up to $150 a barrel, why shouldn’t wheat go to $15 a bushel?”

That kind of optimism would make sense for anyone working in any other industry. But this is farming, and farmers invariably describe themselves as hopeful, yet pessimistic

In six months, the price of durum went from $4 a bushel to $12; lentil, which three years ago sold at 10 cents a pound, now goes for four times that amount. However, two years ago, phosphate fertilizer was $400 a tonne, this year it’s $1,400 and by next spring, Mourre says it could be more than $2,200 per tonne.

His father-in-law, Ken Ritter, who farms in nearby Kindersley, says times are better, yes, but the risks are higher.

“It’s good to be a grain farmer these days, but that wasn’t always the case. Everyone knows the good times may only last a year,” he says.

Fast forward>>>>

While times may be good now based simply on high prices, the best security for the future of Canadian farming lies in boosting food security elsewhere, says Bill Toews, who farms grain in Kane, Man.

A little bit of fear on the demand side has a significant effect on prices and Toews cringes at the undeniable truth that a food crisis affects farmers positively.

Farmers simply don’t have the kind of control to create demand or solve the problem, he says.

What they can do is make contribution to food grain banks, which he and others have done, and try to use their increased profit margin during these boom times to be more productive in the years ahead and prepare for the inevitable lean seasons. On the farm and at the government level, the time is now to prepare and change policies.

“The whole issue of food security has to become a higher priority and underdeveloped countries need to develop their own food security,” he says. There are too many examples of developing countries growing ornamental crops for export to pay off loans from the IMF and importing foods from countries like the U.S.,” Toews says.

“This scare has to change the priority of countries. Countries have a right to protect their food security in whatever way they can and Canadians should help them with that.”

Manitoba farmer Rob Brunel says he knows that in many countries there are lineups for food and people are going broke to feed their families. He understands this even as he is surrounded as far as his eye can see by the raw ingredients he and his family have grown for four generations.
“I’ve heard my father and grandfather say in the past that the world is running out of food,” says Brunel. “I never thought too much about the reality of that. But I hope those who need what we produce get it.”

UP n student on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 6:26 pm 



GARDENIA LARRAZABAL, via e-mail, informs all (via a letter to the editor) that Princess of the Stars 5th Sulpicio to sink, not 4th

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/letterstotheeditor/view/20080707-146830/Princess-of-the-Stars-5th-to-sink-not-4th

Other Most Read Stories x

Opinion
o Frank’s other face
o Stopping coups
o Take over Sulpicio Lines?
o Prosperity claims belied
o More notes on KFC and senior citizens
o Most corrupt
o The origins of Grandparents’ Day
o Bringing the world to our shores
o Travails of spokespersons
o Nobodies
o Princess of the Stars 5th to sink, not 4th
o Humility is the key
Opinion Most Read RSS
Close this

MANILA, Philippines – I wonder why the vessel MV Boholana Princess, also owned by Sulpicio Lines, is never mentioned among the Sulpicio vessels that sank. I also wonder why there was no news of the sinking at that time.

I was a passenger on that ill-fated voyage and here’s my first-hand account: MV Boholana Princess left Cebu for Ormoc at 11 p.m. on Dec. 15,1990. Past midnight, the boat suddenly tilted to the left at an angle of 45 degrees. Passengers were startled out of their sleep, wondering what was happening. But there was no announcement through the public address system, or word from the ship’s captain and crew, about what was going on.

============

The Philippine media never reported the Boholana Princess sinking??????

PSI on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 7:01 pm 



@ Vic,

Yes, the Philippines will now have to move forward from a fatal disaster to a situation, less deadly, but could have deadly results to say the least. The economic hardships, unleashed by inflation in the prices of fuel and food, will test the mettle and resilience of governments worldwide.

In a sense, many countries are better prepared against a possible stagflation i.e. economic downturn with price inflation. Malaysia and Thailand have more diversified economies. Vietnam is self-sufficient in rice. China has 1.8 trillion dollars in reserves. etc.

Quo vadis Philippines? Our GNP is heavily dependent on exports and OFW remittances. Both will be affected by the slowdown in overseas markets and demand for foreign labor in host countries.

Things will never be the same. Hard times are here to stay.

cvj on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 7:35 pm 



PSI, i do believe in the old saying about crisis and opportunity going hand in hand. For example, Vietnam’s key reform, which was the dismantling of collective farming (back to household farms) was carried out in one of its most desparate hours (outside war time that is).

By the same token, we can take this opportunity to implement the reforms that matter which involve, for starters, implementing the late FPJ’s vision of Food Security (which was ridiculed by the Middle Class Intelligenstia back in 2004). Now is also the time for the Oligarchs to think of sharing their wealth via land reform and other wealth sharing programs. On the government’s part, it should widen the scope of its 500 peso per month dole out program and make it more permanent. The actions that need to be taken to avert disaster are also the same sort of actions that can be the basis for future prosperity.

Bert on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 8:24 pm 



“DJB : The typhoon is the act of God. Responsibility for a vessel being God’s or one or two men (or women)? Depends on the circumstances. As you are acutely aware, SuperFerry14 was sunk by Muslim terrorists. “-UP N

Command responsibility should be invoke here, eh?

UP n student on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 8:56 pm 



to Bert: Do you mean GMA when you say “..command responsibility”?

Because GMA can always say “No!! No!! No!! You can’t blame me. I was not even in the vicinity of the Princess Stars…. not when it sank, and not for the days thereafter!!!”

Now DJB’s position against these rleigion “chains-of-commaand” makes sense. I know the CBCP has consistntly preached that The Great Power commands all and everythng. But the CBCP will deny that ulltimate responsibility (for Princess Stars sinking) belongs to The Great Power who could have, but did not, send a lightning-bolt to kill the captain before he sailed out of Manila.

PSImeon on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 10:01 pm 



‘Sulpicio is suing BMI for alleged “gross violation of rules in investigation.” – inquirer.net

If there is a blogswarm to stop Sulpicio Lines, it looks like the company is pulling out all the stops to keep open.

First, the ecclesiastical padrino. Second, the usual TRO magic. I won’t be surprised if Congressmen come next. Before we know it, everybody is guilty but them.

vic on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 10:10 pm 



PSImeon, somewhere in the articles it was mentioned that the current Government did a 100% untying of Foreign Aid for Food, which use to be 90% then 50% and now recepients of Foreign Aids can procure food in any source to their Advantage in Terms of Prices and Logistics instead of buying from donor country..I hope the Good U.S.A already untied their Foreign Aids for Food too. That could also help in promoting local food Productions.

Bencard on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 12:21 am 



cvj, re your’s @ 9:45 am, are you willing to grant pgma “emergency powers” to legally take over sulpicio lines and stop its operations outright?

psimeon, i’m not an advocate for sulpicio lines but i think it’s within their right to sue anyone against whom they think they have a cause of action. i don’t think they are worried about being “stopped” without due process.

upn, on your “now djb’s position against these religion “chains of command” makes sense.”

i don’t know if you said that tongue-in-cheek, as you seem to do often. but in human law, liability for an injury attaches to the entity that is responsible for the “proximate cause”, not necessarily the “ultimate cause”. roughly, proximate, aka direct cause, is one that directly causes the injury, unbroken by an intervening factor. as i see it, in the sulpicio case, the ultimate cause may be an act of God but the proximate cause is the negligence of men ( whose, is a matter for legal and judicial determination).

cvj on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 12:43 am 



Bencard (at 12:21 am), by all means, yes.

PSI on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 1:33 am 



“I hope the Good U.S.A already untied their Foreign Aids for Food too.” -Vic

I believe “Food Security” in the agenda during the recent visit to Washington, D.C. involved getting assurances that the U.S. will provide rice, wheat, and other grains in the event of food shortges.

I don’t think there was any “untying” made. In fact, with those assurances, the more U.S. aid will be tied to American supplies.

BrianB on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 1:43 am 



http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/03/biofuels.renewableenergy

WTF!

PSI on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 2:37 am 



bencard,

I get your point. Dura lex, sed ex.

But legal procedures tempered with some compassionate gestures are in order. Not the “in your face” attitude of Sulpicio Lines of blaming everybody. After all, the owners might just lose a business. Thousands already lost their lives.

supremo on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 2:39 am 



It’s all about choices.
Make the cost of flying cheaper by using military transport aircraft. Indonesia owns IPTN with CASA. It manufactures the CN-235 for military transport and regional airliner. The Philippine Air Force should go into the airline business using the same aircraft or something similar. The Philippine Navy, on the other hand, can concentrate on moving cargo by ship using landing ships. This will allow the 2 services to have the equipment that they need and the money to maintain them.

UP n student on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 2:41 am 



vic: that article you pointed to illustrates other complications to FoodAid. (i) Canada, very efficient in “creating food”, sells meat, wheat and other grains at very low prices (Canada/US/Brazil/australia has depressed food prices all over the world. Governments of poorer countries bought Canada/US grain; low profits to local farming; farmers moved to the cities; (ii) Canada/US/Australia farmers when they “manufacture” for export. are vulnerable to the whims of external markets.
This past spring, the Canadian government paid pork producers $50 million to kill off 150,000 pigs to avoid the industry being decimated. The pigs had the misfortune of being bred during times of increased feed prices, an uncompetitive Canadian dollar and skyrocketing transportation costs.
(iii) Farming in developing countries are loony, too. …underdeveloped countries need to develop their own food security,” he says. There are too many examples of developing countries growing ornamental crops for export to pay off loans from the IMF and importing foods from countries like the U.S.”

During food emergencies, 100% “untying” makes sense. For sustained programs (e.g. US sending food to North Korea, that the food-aid is “tied” can be defended) Why should US buy rice from Thailand to send to Philippines when US rice is just as cheap? And again, the leaders of the developing countries want “food-aid-untying” to be the equivalent of these government leaders receiving dollar- or euro-currency. Come on, vic… even Canadians won’t be this naive.

UP n student on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 3:48 am 



News: Londoners mark 3rd anniversary of bombings
Last Updated: Monday, July 7, 2008 | 6:32 AM ET

Londoners marked the third anniversary Monday of suicide bomb attacks that killed 52 bus and subway passengers. Mayor Boris Johnson and government officials laid flowers outside King’s Cross train and subway station at 8:50 a.m., the site of the deadliest attacks during the morning rush hour of July 7 three years ago.
– – – – -
Mayor Johnson laid a memorial card that said: “We honour the memory of those who died on 7/7 2005, we salute the courage of those who were injured and our thoughts and prayers are with all victims and their families.”

Victims’ relatives also held private ceremonies at the other explosion sites at London’s Russell Square, Aldgate and Edgware Road stations, and in Tavistock Square, where the bus exploded.

—————————

Does metro-Manila lay or toss flowers into Manila Bay for SuperFerry14?

I remember deQuiros fuming and ranting and practically apoplectic that the US was so effusive in commemorating the names of those who died on 9-11. A few years has passed since 2004. Has deQuiros led any action to commemorate the names of those who died with SuperFerry 14?

leytenian on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 5:06 am 



the cargo part of Sulpicio’s business has not stopped. Only the passenger part of its business. I think Sulpicio should just pay the victims family first instead of making them wait and suffer even more. Sulpicio is so focused on getting back to business and yet its action contradicts what the majority wants or even the regulators.
Poeple in the provinces do not care much if we have sea transpo or not. We are used to waiting and being bullshitted anyway. Our people will not die if Sulpicio will not be in business. I don’t think it will hurt the economy if Sulpicio passenger part of business remains to be put on hold or forever put on hold. If it will then someone must support that statement as to why and which area ( industry) of our economy will be affected. The provinces can persevere. they can sustain for a while. It will actually save them money and gas if travel is postponed. People will adjust.

Bencard on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 6:26 am 



leytenean, with due respect, how can you presume to speak for the “people in the provinces”? you’re not even living there now, are you? i can understand how you feel about the whole thing but the solution is not that “simple, really”.

KG on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 7:13 am 



Since Sulpicio will not shut down.

Sila lang na exempt sa tongue lashing by congress kahapon pag turn na nila wala nang matotoungue lash.kasalanan ng pag asa ndcc ,coastguard pwera sila.

kailangan daw may superbody na mag announce na no flight,no classes,no ship travel

e supebody na nga ndcc

members of the ndcc are the following:

Secretary, DND Chairman
Presidential Executive Secretary Member
Secretary, DILG Member
Secretary, DBM Member
Secretary, DPWH Member
Secretary, DOJ Member
Secretary, DOTC Member
Secretary, DOH Member
Secretary, DSWD Member
Secretary, DA Member
Secretary, DepEd Member
Secretary, DOF Member
Secretary, DOLE Member
Secretary, DTI Member
Secretary, DENR Member
Chief of Staff, AFP Member
Secretary-General, PNRC Member
Director, PIA Member
Administrator, OCD Member & Executive Officer

==================================

ano pang superbody hinahanap ng congress?

they are joking us!

KG on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 7:23 am 



Maiba tayo;

what say you, sa one time big time oil price hike
at one time big time na transport hike??????

would 16 pesos fuel at ten pesos for transport , do?

sabi ng consumer watch matagal pa matatapos oil price hike

sabi ng transport groups kulang daw ang taas ng singil sa pasahe.

maglakad na lang?

matagal na naglalakad ang mga bata papunta skwela dahil puno lagi dyip(dito sa paranaque)
sa province ilang kilometro na nilalakad nila

yun nga lang dami takot na magulang sa kidnapper, holdapper kaya NO WAY daw .

more covered walkways ala makati, more security visibility?

mRT is already full capacity, what better ideas would there be?

i am talking only bout where I live,the problem is world wide.

leytenian on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 7:45 am 



it’s not emotional to say that my people will not die if Sulpicio will be put on hold , it’s actually rational. Anybody can ask the provinces. For economic sense, it can sustain. Sulpicio has been desperate and losing since 2005. Sulpicio invested a new MV princess of the Stars at $5.24 million in 2004 based on EXPECTATIONS of DEMAND, which did not materialize. Its decision making in terms of safety was no longer a priority. It’s not their bread and butter. It’s the poor.

here’s why :
“Passengers are just their gravy,” Basilio said. “They [shipping companies] really earn their dough from their cargo business.”
These liners derive about 70 percent of their revenues from cargo and about 30 percent from passengers, Basilio explained.

These include housemaids from the southern part of the country who are working in Metro Manila or students from the south studying in universities in Metro Manila.

“Domestic sea passengers in the country are mostly the C and D crowd or low-income group of the society,” Basilio said.

“Flying more affordable
The changes in the inter-island transportation were not due to competition among passenger liners themselves. The threat came from substitutes.
It started in 2005 when Cebu Pacific, a local airline which used to compete with legacy and full-service airline, Philippine Airlines, changed its business model and decided to follow a growing trend among the global aviation players—it converted into a low-cost, no-frills airline. ”

“Depending on the season and timing of purchase, a round trip plane fare between Manila and Cebu could go as low as P3,000. In the past, round trip boat fares on the same route hovered between P4,000 to P8,000. But even at reduced rates of up to a little over P2,000, the small difference with the cost of flying have enticed some to convert. ”

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=122995

vic on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 9:09 am 



One beneficial thing the federal government has done for hungry nations, says Friesen, is “untie” its food aid. It used to be that 90 per cent of Canada’s food aid had to be spent buying goods in this country. However, food is cheaper when bought closer to the hunger zones because shipping is cheaper and local production is encouraged. The Liberals shifted the “tied” portion of food aid to 50 per cent and the Conservatives this past spring untied all food aid.
That creates more efficiency, says Friesen

Upn, the primary reason for “untying” is to give the recipient the choice to shop for cheaper prices at the nearest location or even Locally. It’s not being Naivete on part of Canada, it is already a Policy, an established Policy and it will be on consistent basis whether on emergency aid or regular food aid, until reversed by succeeding government which will be unlikely, because the Farmers are not against the Policy as they were consulted before it was implemented. The first choice if prices including freight are competitive, then it is always preferable to purchase from donor country.

KG on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 9:19 am 



I understand leytenian,
sinabi ko na din yan

still there are the so called missionary routes where no airline would dare dip their fingers into.

i know that the ships revenue are cargo,remove that it would also result in shutting down businesses .

like liam tinio said sulpicio is the only cargo vessel from davao to manila.

now as to dangerous cargo
sulipicio and nenaco gets it from MICP if it was imported abroad and Aboitiz from south harbor.

In dangerous cargo it is a cat and mouse game betwwen broker forwarder and DASSAD (dont know the spelling)a company believed to be owned by Ernie Maceda involved in dangerous cargo.
back in the days when the ifms where in databaseIII or foxpro
it is easy to delete a bill of lading form the inward foreign manifest
what they do is they delete the dangerous cargo form the manifest
when dassad is claiming it,then encode it back when the importer does not want to pay dassad then encode it back then the importer no longer has to pay the fees that dassad requires them.

I don’t know the style and cat and mouse games they do when asycuda and unctad upgraded the system to ACOS for electronic IFMS.

but believe me,there is always a way, once the iFM is only passed to the port operator and the national statistics office.

as to the domestic cargo,if they do it to international port operations,kaya din yan sa domestic.

KG on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 9:26 am 



erratum:
asycuda/ACOS is the programme launced by unctad for compilation of world trade data.

==========================

airfreight is also where the nofrills airlines gets their revenue

it is all about the cargo not the passengers.

KG on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 9:52 am 



Going by supremo’s idea
kung cargo; C130 na lang ng airforce ang gamitin.
.mapapasakay mo ba pasahero sa cargo plane,malay natin.pero mahal aviation fuel.

military fuel consumption.
dati nakatikim kami ng unlimited gas for a few years,not actually unlimited but it was more than enough; ewan ko ngayon; pero nung late eighties and early nineties sagana sa gasoline allocation ang mga opisyal ng militar;;kung ganyan pa din ang practice ngayon ewan ko na. libre din kuryente at tubig.

hvrds on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 10:38 am 



The sight of that capsized vessel surrounded by bancas weeks after the incident tells it all.

First world by 2020. Government by power point, summits, forums and photo ops meets reality when the chips are down and you gotta come out with resources.

Laws governing safety standards are all on the books but the reality of implementation depends on resources which everyone knows do not exist.

The U.S. and Europe had shifted to promoting and subsidizing the shift from food for fuels some years back. That when oil was still at $25 a barrel. No one noticed until now. Competition for the oil reserves of the M.E. and Central Asia is ongoing. A throwback to the times of the 19th century.

The Philippines predominantly is an economy living at the razors edge. No time to look at long term solutions.

Both the BSP and the Finance boys in this country only look at day to day cash flows. The surplus or reserves are put there entirely by debts and foreign obligations. Somehow the country has still not gotten used to being on its own. Dependency still reigns.

There are two major appropriation laws in the country. General Appropriations Act and the Automatic Appropriations Law. Soon we will have a supplemental appropriations law to add to the first.

Capital outlay for this year is about less than 10% of the total appropriations acts.

Inflation is actually causing a surge in government revenue. All this while food and energy prices are dampening consumption.

Our actual budget deficit counting the AAL is about 3-4% of total GDP.
All this talk about a balanced budget did not take into account the AAL.

It simply part of the spin. You will not find this in any newspaper.

UP n student on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 11:07 am 



vic: the cronies of Philippine politicians for many decades now have always been great at “buying cheap” and “finding lowest bidders” and spending public money to buy food for the country’s poor, so Canada is right . And my expectation is that Myanmar generals and Mugabe cronies would love to receive Canadian “untied” food-for-aid checks which gives … the recipient the choice to shop for cheaper prices at the nearest location or even Locally. Isn’t the service provided by cronies to know where to shop for cheaper? vic, you are right. It was uncalled for me to be cynical. It was in Russia, right, where the words “… moderate the greed” became a common expression? 3rd-world political leaders and crony-buyers/merchandisers are transparent and ethical when handling government-funds — not a chance of estafa or malfeasance by leaders of 3rd world countries handling euros or Dollars to buy food for the citizens whose interest and welfare they have been sworn to protect.

hvrds on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 11:24 am 



What happens to a country when the present government made mincemeat of institutional foundations (whatever there was of it) and has to go back to rely on the same that they so callously destroyed.

Trust, credibility and respect are the most important currency of governance.

The economic policies so scrupulously followed (along the dictates of the IMF credit card conditions) has beggared the very institutions of government that the same multi-laterals now want strengthened.

They mandated the destruction of state support for domestic agriculture and industry. Now they say they were mistaken…..

Who pays for the mistakes? Now in this time of crisis when the institutions will matter where will the people run to. Just look at the families of the Sulpicio lines sinking and the victims of the last typhoon.

The country is still hobbled by debts already paid.

Stop the insanity before the crazies take over.

One of the main supporters of the present regime is Alex Magno. From his writings he purports to be a dogmatic anti-statist free market fundamentalist. Yet his bread is buttered by two state institutions. The DBP of all institutions is one of them.

Subsidized loans for the privileged few backed up by foreign funds which come from foreign vendors of capital goods. All guaranteed by the state. That is the DBP.

So much for his fundamentalism when his economic self interest is at stake.

A prime example of a person using his skills as a writer to game the system. How come a person like him can get away with this sordid type of pandering to the powers that be and get away with it.

Man are we all so dumb?

KG on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 11:29 am 



myanmar/uss reagan.

The food and water that were distributed by the crew of Ronald reagan was for myanmar, they it rejected and we needed it so we accepted it.

swerte lang talaga kahit papano na hey were at HK have they been somewhere else di tayo nakakuha ng rice and water nayun.

UP n student on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 11:31 am 



vic: Forget my “naive” side-comment. It is Canada’s money; theirs to decide if it gets disbursed and Canada to decide if their citizens will be glad to see the results of 80% vs 90% vs 100%-”untied”.

The other lesson (maybe for KG… definitely not for cvj nor the Ca t nor deQuiros) “Untied” food-aid charity program creates a business opportunity that can be matched to a Diogenes supply-chain logistics business model.

KG on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 11:42 am 



as to no time for long term solutions.

we are on crisis mode fellas

true when evat for oil was slapped it was 25 to 35 dollars
sabi ng ni roxas nakabawi na daw sila kay it is time to give back.
If he was not a candidate, I wish could believe him.
During his time as trade secretary he was for high tarrifs as protection daw.
he was for level playing field daw kaya he was vocal during the wto summits.

now this supersize tide,how can he propose such a saving technique when only the rich can save by doing so.unless kasya pa sa budget ng middle class.

on my question on a one time big time hike nakita ko lang sa news yan. pina taas ko lang ng konti dahil pag nagbigay sila ng below ten pesos increase pagkalipas lang ng ilang linggo installment increments na naman.

our inflation rate was june,knowing the usual delay it was probably may’s.
wait for next month release of economic indicators.

PSI on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 11:58 am 



as to no time for long term solutions. – hvrds
we are on crisis mode fellas – kg

We didn’t prepare well enough for these rainy days.

How long ago was the last crisis? Eleven years since the Asian financial “tsunami.”

We are always in a crisis situation anyway. Sanay na tayo, ika nga.

leytenian on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 1:32 pm 



“We are always in a crisis situation anyway. Sanay na tayo, ika nga”

it’s easy for me to say that the provinces can sustain without sulpicio. the qouted above statement also support my statement. true… sanay na ang mga tao. the crisis has never left our people.
stop sulpicio and pay first the victims…

leytenian on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 2:03 pm 



we cannot compare Canada’s food policy to ours…
importation has hurt our farmers regardless if it’s cheap or not. The consequence of our import policy did not consider the result of
unemployment of our farmers. Was there subisidies given when their production no longer marketable in terms of price? Our economy is not flexible enough like Canada. Canada don’t have the debts that we have.

Bert on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 3:12 pm 



“So much for his fundamentalism when his economic self interest is at stake.

A prime example of a person using his skills as a writer to game the system. How come a person like him can get away with this sordid type of pandering to the powers that be and get away with it.

Man are we all so dumb?”-hvrd

How indeed so many others of Gloria’s minnions and a handful of supporters, can get away with it…easy as pie.

Most of us here in Manolo’s blog including the 80% of the population is trying so hard not to be so dumb, but the remaining 20% are so overpowering. So what to do?

KG on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 3:29 pm 



We did not have do the thai rak thai. thais helping thais;thais donating jewlery and gold to the treasury.nasaan ang bayanihan na tinuturo na meron tayo nung grade school tayo?

if they fell from the top floor,tayo sa first floor lang, siguro nga dahil sanay na tayo.

leytenian kahit first world me utang

in external debt:

US:12,250.000,000,000
canada: 758,600,000,000
philippines:61,830,000,000

internal debt

canada 21st highest at 64% of gdp in its public debt

rp 23rd highest at 63% of gdp in its public debt

so stop the we have so muchdebt mantra

i know you are concerened but that is not the way how to show it.

Bert on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 4:01 pm 



“We did not have do the thai rak thai. thais helping thais;thais donating jewlery and gold to the treasury.nasaan ang bayanihan na tinuturo na meron tayo nung grade school tayo?”-KG

Sarap sanang mag-ambag ng jewelry kung meron tayo at gipit ang ating gov’t. treasury, kaya lang baka naman ibulsa ng treasurer ang pendant, hindi kaya?

Bayanihan tayo, pero hwag lang pera at alahas.

Malala rin ang corruption sa Thaiand, di ba, KG? Bakit kaya mas may tiwala sila sa kanilang treasurer kaysa sa mga Pinoy?

hvrds on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 4:10 pm 



A lot of loans for the purchase of inter-island vessels (reconditioned) were coursed through the DBP.

The probability is high that Sulpicio has vessels bought through the DBP.

That is part of the modernization of the shipping industry, kuno.

KG on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 4:43 pm 



kahit naman pano siguro me mayaman na pinoy ano.me sinabiba ako na gipit ang magbigay?

nung 1930s lamang at lyamado tayo. sinara ng us sa ibang bansa ang bansa nila pero ang mga sugar barons natin me suki at sureball na customer ang tate.

nasaan ang trickledown bakit ang ang hacendeo lang amg yumaman at ang asindero hindi.

bakit nagtiwala ang mga thai sa treasury nila sigurto dahil mahal nila bansa nila.
kaya nga sinasabi ni benigs na trust ang solusyon dahil wala tayo non.
meron lang tayo trust family planning program.

the koreans are more corrupt but they love their country, tayo we certainly are afraid to show it.

kelan tayo sumigaw sa laban ni paquiao na mabuahy ang pinoy, minsan lang yata pero madalas pagtapos ng viva la rasa ,viva mehico

tayo: manny,manny!

vic on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 9:09 pm 



UPn, to further assure the recepient’s populace that our country’s food aid although untied, won’t just disappear, it is channelled usually through CIDA or other NGOs that will look after the transparent disbursements of AID. That’s what these countless NGOs jobs are and some of them are very good at them with the watchful eyes of Consular Officers. Most of these NGO depends on Government Largess for the their operations and budget and they need to impress the Government of their works.

leytenian on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 10:20 pm 



KG,
“US:12,250.000,000,000
canada: 758,600,000,000
philippines:61,830,000,000″

Comparing apples to banana? Consider unemployment rate, investments, cash outflow and inflow , credibility, governance, implementation, system process, rule of law, crimes, poverty, inflation ,corruption., financial stability, healthcare, education, facilities, infrastructures, equity , land area , acces to capital, natural resources with infrastructure and many more…america can sell hawaii easily to pay its debt. canada leverage their oil reserve to get financing … Philippines is already at the point where we don’t have nothing left.
What’s positive is we can learn from these two countries.

http://www.quezon.ph/1872/if-you-cant-beat-em-distract-em/#comment-857829

hvrds:”A lot of loans for the purchase of inter-island vessels (reconditioned) were coursed through the DBP.”

OIC… DBP is one of the list for guaranteed loans. I think most of our banks. Sulpicio then can easily be taken over. It’s not their money.

leytenian on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 10:28 pm 



KG,

how do you show that our debts do not contribute GREATLY to our ills. our debt is our third WAR. It’s not minor that we can ignore. Let’s face it and accept it and make a solution base from it. If we don’t understand how this debt afffected us then this country is in DENIAL.

KG on Wed, 9th Jul 2008 5:55 am 



You tell me it’s apples and oranges

you keep on saying that we have debts and they don’t;just scroll up for canada

COME ON LEYTENIAN!

have I said that the debts do not contribute to our illnesses?

sure we suck on debts ;like the nuclear powerplant loan;that loan to develop shipping ;etc. plus the automatic appropriation and other semi automatics.

so what do you want to do,not pay them, who is in denial?

we also borrow to pay maturing loans?

have you not learned from the cat ,o selective learning ka?

leytenian on Wed, 9th Jul 2008 7:52 am 



lol. you are right it’s my theme song. you have a point but our situation is third world. you are comparing first world to third world. it’s not fair. the management skills of the first world is first class. if they have corruption it’s also first class. common KG…

Tell us what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!

You must be logged in to post a comment.