I think my first train-related entry was back in 2005, in Debating solutions to squatting, I pointed to this entry by Torn and frayed in Manila on how our country possesses “one of the most ramshackle railways in the world.” That’s putting it politely. Torn was reacting to a report by Howie Severino (and The Unlawyer also commented on it, including detailing the extremely low fares charged by the railroad).
One major problem, as recalled in Pain On The Train, was that squatters had encroached on the tracks and were, at times, hostile to train passengers. There was once a haunting post by Pulsar in 2006 (well, who says once on the Interweb, something’s forever? The blog’s gone!). Or sometimes, the problem were the passengers themselves, see Test-Riding The Metro-Tren:
But there were dreadfully more — and this was what made me uneasy and had second thoughts about using this mode of transpo on a regular basis or asking friends and family to patronize it. Dark thoughts ran in my mind thinking if I can actually still get out of this situation alive! Here we go:
Amongst the passengers in my coach were shirtless dudes who were not even drunk but were just as dangerously rowdy. Okay, to be fair, not all of them were topless. Two were wearing sando, one did not even have a footwear, and all of them did have confidently loud voices enough for anyone to understand that they are the “masters” in this place. They were huddled on two right-side doors. Some were standing and some were seated on the floor and the little steps that people use when boarding or getting off via those doors. Obviously, no one passed by those two doors. They were not just rowdy in the normal kind of kid things. They had very foul language offensive to many.
These folks were not young kids either. They were men probably in their 20s up to late 40s and they seemed to know just about every person who lived along those rail tracks as they often had a lewd or foul comment at everyone they saw. Samples? Here we go… “Hoy hostess, bihis ka na! Rampa ka ng maaga nang makarami”, or — Tangina! Nakaw ang cellphone na yan, kahapon lang”! And they most certainly elicited equally shouted responses from those they were shouting at. Some of the younger kids they teased even ran with wooden sticks or little stones attempting to catch and whack or pelt them as the train chugged along. And you guessed it, these men would run scampering towards the inner portions of the train (which was naturally a commotion that would make you panic). When kids on the ground can’t keep up with the train, these men would be back at the two doors and back to their usual shouting spree at people we passed by. I even saw two women-passengers stand up and walk further front — obviously to get away from this.
I’d be a liar if I said I was not alarmed. I was actually more than frightened! Then again, I could have been over-reacting, right?
Now hear this: As the train went a chugging slowly after that Espana Station going towards Blumentritt, a guy came walking from the front coaches who seemed to be looking for nothing but trouble. As he passed where I was seated and just about to pass the rowdy men by the door, someone shouted on top of his voice saying “o kayong lahat, ingatan nyo mga gamit nyo, yan naglalakad na yan isnatcher yan… The walking man did not even look back but shouted equally loud saying “tangina mo, hindi ako isnatcher, naghahanap ako ng masasaksak” and as he said that he lashed out a knife in mid-air. I looked at the faces of many passengers and almost all had the same facial expression — they pretended to have not heard that and they all did not look at the knife-brandishing man — and so I did not dare look at him too! This time I felt my balls were already above my forehead.
After having gone to the end part of the train, that knife-wielding man returned to the men perched by the doorway and he joined in the laughter, banter and dirty shouts at people we passed by. I clearly heard him telling the group that it was too unusual the week was almost over and he has not had a fight yet. As if to emphasize that, he said “kahit asawa ko ayaw akong patulan, nakakainip pare”!
This is a Wikipedia map of the NorthRail and SouthRail lines of the Philippine National Railways -theoretically, at least. I happen to like trains very much (perhaps not to the extent of being a trainspotter) and really wish rehabilitating our railways will be accomplished: just getting NorthRail and SouthRail functioning will actually merely return us to where we were prior to World War II, the last major extension having been accomplished with the inauguration of the Manila-Legazpi Line in May, 1938. That still marks the last major addition to our railway network. However, Marcos’ obsession with highways had led to the deterioration of the railroad.
The result? See photos in A Ride On Philippine National Railways Part I and A Ride On Philippine National Railways Part II. See also RILES in Digital Phtographer Philippines. In response to this sad state of affairs, an ambitious program of modernization has started.
One sad side-effect of modernization, however, is the destruction of heritage sites: see Las Estaciones Ferrocarril Manila-Dagupan in the ICOMOS Philippines site.
There are some extremely informative railroad enthusiasts’ blogs out there, which combine a strong historical sense with efforts to document the rehabilitation of the Philippine National Railways. See their mother organization, Railways and Industrial Heritage Society of the Phils. (and its Reese Blog), and these enthusiasts’ blogs: Philippine Railways S.I.G., Philippine Railways, and Laguna Railways,
Courtesy of Augusto de Viana is The railways in Philippine history which, however, so compresses the most interesting years, the 20s to the 50s, as to render that section meaningless. Oh well. Viviana overlooks the ambivalence and even hostility American officials felt towards railways, since it would affect the Philippine market for automobiles (see The Colonial Iron Horse: Railroads and Regional Development in the Philippines, 1875- 1935). When autonomy was achieved, railroad development accelerated. And the policy debate on highways versus railways also began, along with still-unrealized plans such as a railroad for Mindanao (the development of Maria Cristina Fall’s hydroelectric power was originally envisioned as primarily powering the Mindanao railways: there are interesting snippets on these debates in F.B. Harrison’s diary: as an Anglophile, he was pro-railways, pointing with envy to Britain’s not altogether altruistic promotion of its own steam engine industry in its colonies; as for its biggest handiwork in that regard, here’s an interesting item on accomplishing transport reform: Things Looking Up for India’s Trains).
I remember when I was still new in the Inquirer, the President had a dinner with editors and spent much of her time discussing the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (this will be one of her lasting achievements, I think). Along the way, she discussed trains and how she wanted to eliminate the old PNR lines, and have new railroad lines simply feed the metropolis, with intra-city travel done on the LRT. At the time I remember remarking that her strong grasp of detail was one of the President’s most impressive qualities, but one little-seen by the public: just as the overall schemes fed by her grasp of detail failed to be grasped, in turn, by the public: and government is at fault for this.
Today’s Inquirer editorial, Derailed, looks at the possible permutations of the ongoing problem with NorthRail: Even as our government insists that NorthRail project to push thru the reality seems to be Gov’t scrambles to save NorthRail: China threatens withdrawal, legal suit over a situation caused by the sad reality that Northrail ‘mobilization’ ate up 23% of total loan. (Here’s a helpful Northrail timeline.)
See Target for Northrail: ‘substantial’ completion by 2010:
As things stand now, the most realistic assumption is to have a partially – or at least, substantially – completed stretch of rail road some kilometers short of the first section of the 80.2-kilometer distance between Caloocan City in Metro Manila and Clark in Pampanga.
Officials familiar with the twists and turns of the project told abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak that the initial goal to complete at least the first phase, or the first 32 kilometers up to Malolos in Bulacan province, is not realistic anymore…
A year since the project’s 36-month construction period kicked off in February 2007, clearing the tracks, acquiring right-of-way, and relocation works are still to be crossed out from the list of pre-construction must-do’s.
No civil works on the actual railway have commenced nor has a project design been finalized, yet the designated contractor, the Chinese National Machinery & Equipment Group (CNMEG), wanted to add almost $300 million on top of the current $421 million agreed upon and signed construction cost…
According to various sources, including correspondences from NLRC and the demand letters from CNMEG, the latter unilaterally suspended work on the Northrail in February 1, 2008, with CNMEG’s Chinese engineers returning home.
Pamintuan explained that the engineers have run out of things to do since the project design has yet to be finalized.
But that was only part of the story. Apparently, while the design plan is still pending, CNMEG has been verbally demanding to increase the project cost. In succeeding correspondences, CNMEG has pegged the additional cost, based on computations as of March, 2008, at $299 million.
That would increase the project cost of the 32-kilometer Caloocan to Malolos stretch from $421 million to $720 million. That means the cost of the entire 80-kilometer Manila to Clark distance, which has no financing in place yet, will increase from $1 billion to $1.39 billion…
…After President Arroyo thumbed down CNMEG’s verbal demand in February to increase the construction price by $299 million, CNMEG formalized its demand in their May 13 notice of claim and in their June 3 demand letter to Northrail.
Of that amount, $88.63 million was due to variations in the original scope of work, such as the need to build viaducts instead of embankments in Valenzuela and Marilao areas.
The remaining $211 million was mainly due to foreign exchange losses ($106 million), inflation ($71 million), and cost of the delay in construction. CNMEG pointed fingers at Northrail’s inability to clear obstacles within the right-of-way areas and its non- completion of squatter relocations…
…In the April 24, 2008 letter of resigned Northrail president Arsenio Bartolome III to President Arroyo, he referred to a “presidential directive” regarding the completion of the Caloocan-to-Clark phase.
The directive emphasized two things: that it should be finished by 2010, the end of President Arroyo’s term, and that it should be within the project cost of $1.008 billion.
Construction cost for the 32-kilometer Section 1 from Caloocan to Malolos is $421 million, while Section 2 from Malolos to Clark is $673 million.
The design, supply, construct contract with CNMEG, for Section 1, Caloocan to Malolos, stipulates a construction period of 36 months, or 3 years, after Notice to Proceed was issued in Feb 19, 2007. It was meant to be completed by February 2010, perfect timing for the national election in May 2010.
The relocation of urban poor residents (one day, perhaps, destined to be only immortalized in photos or some videos) has proven expensive but relatively successful (most recently: an amazed foreign friend who had done some filming for a documentary in Blumentritt, Manila, and then saw how the community he’d filmed has been relocated and disappeared) see From ‘Home Along Da Riles’ to ‘Dreamland‘) Of course, not every delay is due to gross inefficiency or corruption on the part of government:
The report also says,
Unlike other controversial projects that were also cancelled, like the NAIA-3 airport terminal, where there is already a massive building that just needs a few months worth of repair and remediation work, the Northrail project’s railway construction has not even started.
I’m not sure if this is accurate.
The thing is, if you look at the reports and photos in the railroad enthusiasts’ blogs, you’ll see that a tremendous amount has been accomplished in terms of rehabilitating the railways (see Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project Update and Rail Lifting at Paco Station for example) though perhaps it’s fair to say no real laying down of track has taken place.
The question is to what extent the whole gigantic effort -and it is gigantic, you’re reversing the deterioration of the past forty years while at the same time laying down an entirely new railway system- has been marred by inefficiency or even corruption. These things take a toll on ongoing projects, as the headlines make pretty obvious, but it also raises another problem: even if hounded by corruption and inefficiency, is the solution to simply tear up contracts and scrap the project?
I once heard someone explain Romulo Neri Jr.’s pragmatism as follows. First question: does the country need a modern railway system? Yes. Since it does, can it be built without corruption? No. If it cannot be built without corruption, then whether major or minor corruption takes place, what is essential is for the railway to be built, because the economic benefits of the project dwarfs whatever corruption will take place.
And pragmatically speaking, Neri is correct and was thinking in true Southeast Asian fashion. This was the Marcos way: anyone who remembers the ferocious debates on MRT-1 along Taft Avenue (expensive! impractical! will never work!) will realize that despite all the objections, the elevated railway line has become an essential part of metropolitan infrastructure.
And this brings me to Neri, his latest reincarnation as SSS Chief.
The PCIJ in a Special Report reveals that the resignation of Corazon de la Paz and the assumption of the leadership of the SSS by Romulo Neri Jr. has a major policy shift at its core:
De la Paz first intimated how she has not been able to accustom herself to the workings of government, indicating a preference to return to her work in the private sector. But upon further questioning by the media, she eventually relented to a little known fact: she had stood up against the use of SSS members’ funds for the government’s pro-poor agenda, in the process offending the powers that be.
“Using the fund has limits. (It) cannot be used to finance pro-poor projects of the government unless it is defined in the (SSS) Charter,” De la Paz explained, serving up a warning to SSS members and the public of the potential danger of the fund being misused.
With Neri at the helm of the SSS, many have indeed expressed fear that the funds will be used for partisan political interests. Both Malacañang and Neri’s avowal that the funds will not be touched for government’s welfare programs has not helped assuage such concerns for the very reason that the appointment boils down, not so much to the issue of competence, but to Neri’s integrity and credibility - and that of the one who appointed him – as a public official.
Those who insist that the economy in general, or government financial matters in particular, can and ought to be insulated from politics have another lesson coming in why this is neither possible nor desirable. This is a defect that afflicts not just loyalists of the present dispensation, but bureaucrats, too, as the PCIJ report reveals:
Neri also probably felt his detachment that he had to bring along with him to NEDA people whom he could trust. His consultants, many of whom were not known to the NEDA staff, were like a parallel office which acted as his political arm. At first, some at NEDA appreciated the arrangement as it insulated the staff from politics, preferring not to deal with politicians and just continue to do their work professionally. Later, on instructions by Neri himself, NEDA officials had had occasions to interact with his consultants. Even his meetings with them were recorded as part of his official schedule.
The way one director understood it, Neri played politics as a matter of course in public policy. The NEDA Secretariat and other oversight bureaucracies are to exert effort in providing full information to decide policy, he says, and that necessitated engaging with politicians and playing the game of politics.
From his own experience working with him, the CPBO’s Vicerra believes Neri played politics not in the sense of politicking, which he says Neri always tried to avoid. “It’s more of realpolitik,” he explains, “as he always wants to involve himself in policy issues. And he has his advocacies.”
Doing so may have made the NEDA Secretariat more aware of the nature of public policy in their work, but it also made them vulnerable, admits the same director. “It put the organization and employees unprecedently in an unrequitedly bad light,” he says, though maintaining that the Secretariat has remained nonpartisan, its own standard of integrity and professionalism undiminished by this initiation into politics.
But Neri’s pragmatism, the NEDA staff also claim, conflicted with his reformist image. Some would say on hindsight that this probably explains why he is seemingly not appalled by unethical behavior, that is, corruption by way of commissions, extortions, kickbacks and the like, because these make things move or work. Others find it ironic that he wanted reforms yet “still wants to be in the good graces of this government.” Still others comment that since he is a “political animal” himself, it was not surprising that he had been offered bribes as he had admitted.
This is a confusing passage, but then it neatly illustrates the confused, because ignorant, attitudes of bureaucrats themselves about politics and its place in governance.
Government’s policies and management of the economy can be left alone if the public feels officials are capable and trustworthy stewards. If not, then they can and should be guarded every step of the way.
In its editorial, The Business Mirror, not inclined to be an instinctive critic of the administration, advocates retaining the VAT on oil, but points out the essential problem with expectations being built on spending the windfall for the public good:
Removing the oil E-VAT may be akin to a voluntary disarmament at a time when we need all the weapons we can get our hands on to confront grave threats to our economy.
Gordon’s proposals may not be popular – but they make sense. Having said that, the only problem with following his tack is this: Local experience is replete with evidence that, in this country, it’s next to impossible to get a good accounting of where and how precisely special-purpose funds – say, E-VAT “windfall” as used for infrastructure to rebuild disaster-ravaged areas and spur local economies – were applied. For even as critics complain that letting the government use the E-VAT windfall for doles is tantamount to giving more money to crooks, that same peril lies in using the funds instead, as Dick Gordon wants, for infrastructure.
Finally, in a town where a crusading auditor who keeps asking a warlord to “please liquidate” millions of pesos in public funds may easily get what he prays for – that is, be literally liquidated from the face of the earth, his killer(s) never brought to justice – accountability, like honesty in the Billy Joel song, is such a lonely word. So, to Dick Gordon, you may be right on this one, but, good luck.
Which goes to my point about NorthRail, the handling of the economy, and what Yen Macabenta points out: that the economy is coping with increases in the cost of oil pretty well, not least, it seems, to some pretty OK handling of economic matters by the powers-that-be; the problem is that while this redounds to the benefit of big business, ours is Still a jobless-growth economy; and the powers-that-be don’t quite know how to effectively toot their own horns and even if they do, there’s a widespread assumption officialdom’s on a looting spree (made even deeper, I think, because most of the public can’t quite grasp how it’s being done):
The report on Monday that the government kept its first-semester budget deficit at about P18 billion – only half of the programmed ceiling – despite the food and fuel price crises is encouraging. Two points stand out in the report:
First, revenue collection improved during the first semester.
And second, our fiscal managers were concerned that the various agencies of the government have not been able to absorb additional funding to help perk up domestic growth. In other words, the problem is not lack of funds, but projects to spend on.
When the President decided that the government would no longer aim for a zero budget deficit this year, it was for the specific objective of cushioning the impact of high consumer prices on the most vulnerable among our people. The government has the resources to provide subsidies to the needy during these trying times. And just as important, it has the funds to put into infrastructure and social and economic programs that will boost economic growth this year and next year.
Inflation for now is our biggest worry, as it hit a 14-year high of 11.4 percent in June. But Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. believes the problem should ease before the end of the year, and the country should fully recover by next year.
If you’re wondering why skyrocketing oil prices – with talk of crude hitting $200 a barrel by the end of the year – are not taking the bottom out of the economy, here are a few reasons:
1. It’s not just the price of crude oil that has soared to record levels this year; the prices of other commodities have hit peak levels, as well. This is the difference between this oil-price shock and the shock of 1974. Higher commodity prices across-the-board are also benefiting the exports of the Philippines and other countries. So our import bill is not as crushing.
2. Oil is not as all-pervasive in our economy as many believe. It affects mainly transport. Most of our electricity needs are fueled by other sources of energy, such as hydropower and geothermal energy.
3. The general prognosis of experts is that oil prices should come down during the second half of the year, though not to the same level as last year. The bubble is simply unsustainable. Demand will ease and supply will rise following the basic law of economics.
But again, the windfall is there. Surely it’s helped fund the following: Government subsidy for cheap rice in first half reaches P8.6B:
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the rice stocks were distributed and sold through 3,197 Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke, 8,080 Tindahan Natin outlets, 540 Bigasan sa Parokya and 199 rolling stores nationwide.
Government subsidy for cheap rice is expected to rise as the DA said 28 million more bags of rice will be infused into the domestic market from now until December to stabilize prices.
The NFA will be injecting some 6.5 million bags monthly, from now until August.
This volume will be reduced to 5 million bags by September, when palay harvests for the wet or main crop will start coming in.
Yap said the government is confident that it will have more rice to distribute until the end of the year as 900,000 metric tons (MT) will arrive in the country before September 30.
But the questions won’t go away whether the windfall’s economic potential’s being maximized. As it is, the President has announced Round Two of her “Katas ng VAT” program (no mention if it’s part of the commemoration of National Nutrition Month):
Which brings me to something Jarius Bondoc puts forward in his column for today (no link to the Star because it still hasn’t figured out permanent links):
The truth is unraveling, slowly but surely. A clique in the Arroyo admin is capturing the energy sector for kickbacks.
First, there was a sudden flurry to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act. Rep. Mikey Arroyo, the presidential son who chairs the House committee on energy, said it was necessary to bring down consumer rates. His congressmen-brother Dato and uncle Iggy assented as committee members. It turns out, however, that the main amendment is to advance the start of open access from the time 70 percent of Napocor generators are privatized to only 50 percent. While speeding up open access is fine on paper, since it will allow big users to pick their own electric retailer earlier, it would be unfair in practice. State-owned Napocor will still control half the power plants, so there won’t be true competition. Worse, the Napocor mafia will continue to dictate, for multimillion-dollar kickbacks, imports of coal to fuel the plants, whether sold or not.
Then, Gloria Arroyo appointed amiga Zenaida Ducut as Energy Regulatory Board chief. Aside from Ducut being the town mate from whom Mikey inherited his congressional seat in 2004, they have a common friend, the oft-named jueteng lord Bong Pineda. Ducut’s posting jolted the industry because of a recent Napocor scam. The state firm last Feb. awarded to a four-month-old, undercapitalized and flighty broker a P956.4-million coal import from Indonesia. There must have been P258-million overprice, since the bid price was $109.50 per ton, although the Indonesian posted rate then was only $77 (at P40.418:$1 for three shiploads of 65,000 tons each).
Among the listed incorporators of broker Transpacific Consolidated Resources Inc. are Leslie and Ressie Ducut, but Zenaida disclaims kinship. Still, there are many inconsistencies. Napocor faxed the bid invitation two weeks prior to TCRI’s only known address then, the nearby Danarra Hotel’s business center, closed since Christmas. Now Napocor insists it awarded the deal when TCRI moved into a real office – in two short weeks. Paid-up capital was only P62,500, but Napocor says “so what?”, in disregard of the Public Bidding Act that requires congruity of capital with contract price. Ducut says the scam does not matter since, as ERC chair, she will have nothing to do with Napocor operations. But Napocor spokesman admits that the ERC, aside from the energy department and NEDA, needs to approve coal imports.
The capture of the electricity sector is complete - from the executive and legislative branches to the quasi-judicial ERC. From there the clique can move to other energy sectors - say, oil exploration - if it has not already.
(Incidentally, a sense of deja vu comes from this article: Lights Out in Indonesia: Jakarta as 1990s Manila? With India, Indonesia, Vietnam,scrambling to put up more power plants, and with the Philippines going to need more power plants soon, those who position themselves in the energy sector now are going to be positively minting their own money in years to come) If you’ve ever read how Ferdinand Marcos squirreled away funds abroad, then the stories -occasionally dribbled out in the press, but more often than not, whispered about in business circles- of what’s going on in the energy sector are equally intriguing -because the money’s come home, unlike most of Marcos’ stash. One day, hopefully, someone will write it all down, from the time money began to leave the country, a hop, skip, and a jump ahead of sleuthing legislators, journalists, and American anti-money-laundering officials, with the money making its way to places as far afield as Austria, then eventually, back home again where it could be used to buy banks, and dummy firms.
Manuel Buencamino looks at the curious story of Homobono Adaza’s alleged attempt to extort money from a Japanese businessman.
Ellen Tordesillas has the skinny on what the President was up to in Washington:
A Malacañang source who was part of Arroyo’s entourage in her recent US visit said there was no mention by Arroyo of any plans to implement martial law or authoritarian measures in her meeting with Bush, the first since she fell out of his grace after she pulled out the Philippine military contingent in Iraq in exchange for the release of kidnapped Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz in July 2004.
But he admitted that increased military assistance was top in her agenda in her talks with American officials.
The source was amused that Philippine media covering Arroyo’s US visit followed Malacañang’s spin about the near passage of the Veterans Equity when they know very well that it has a slim chance of it passing in the House of Representatives despite the approval of the Senate.
He said the real reason Arroyo wanted to meet with American congressmen was to explain to them the government’s side on extra-judicial killings. Like in the Philippines, any appropriation bill originates in the House of Representatives. That’s the reason behind the idea of giving the newly minted Order of the Golden Heart Award, which is different from traditional Order of Sikatuna awards given to diplomats or nationals of other countries who have made outstanding contributions to strengthening of relations with the Philippines. According to press reports, not all awardees showed up during the conferment affair in Washington D.C. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came very late.
(Just a correction, which I told Ellen: the Order of the Golden Heart was established by President Magsaysay. It was not “newly-minted.” A more relevant question might have been whether the Philippine Legion of Honor might have been more appropriate; but then a lower-ranking Order might be appropriate because no law has been passed yet.)
Foreign Affairs officials lobbied hard to get a meeting for Arroyo with Senator Barbara Boxer (D., Cal.) chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific. It will be recalled that Edith Burgos, widow of press icon Jose Burgos and mother of missing activist Jonas Burgos, met with Boxer last March.
In the hearing that she conducted on alleged extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the military, Boxer said, “We do not want blood on our hands. We do not want to use US taxpayers’ money to train their (Philippine) military and police to kill their own people.”
Arroyo was able to meet with Boxer, the source said. The meeting must have been so insignificant that it didn’t merit a line in Boxer’s website. Not even Malacañang reported it.
It was unfortunate for Malacañang that whatever propaganda it wanted to generate domestically for Arroyo’s US trip was negated by typhoon Frank which struck on the eve of her departure, sank a passenger ship and devastated many parts of the country. Compounding the stigma was the junket of 63 congressmen whom Arroyo brought along with her as part of her pre-2009 impeachment payment.
But the source said, despite the bad press that Arroyo’s US visit got, she feels that she accomplished her main objective which was to impress the military that she still has the support of the US establishment.
It maybe a meeting of lame ducks but it was still a White House meeting, the source said. Add to that was her meeting in Pentagon with Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
She may not have gotten categorical support for the things she might do in case her unpopular administration is shaken by the wrath of a long-suffering people, but it is good enough for Arroyo that she has given the military the illusion that the US is behind her. With that, she believes that her presidency, whatever questions about its legitimacy, is safe.
In the blogosphere, radicalchick aims a broadside at ABS-CBN and its Ces Drilon Kidnap Special.
Bencard, you can trace our inability to build our own railroads (while Korea has its Hyundai Rotem as mentioned by Supremo above) with the different road we took from countries like South Korea. Over there, they implemented land reform and then focused on home-grown industrialization. In summary, addressing the problem of inequality works from two directions:
From the point of view of creating a domestic market [Demand Side]:
land reform –> creates domestic market —> industrialization
From the point of view of allocating capital by our business class [Supply Side]:
land reform —> minimizes/eliminates money making opportunities (aka rent seeking) of landlords —> so entrepreneurs look for business opportunities in industry
Of course, the above would not work without an active carrot and stick from the government which includes import and capital controls. Diosdado Macapagal with his Decontrol is one of those responsible for the wrong turn.
Unofficial talk in halls of US Congress about providing benefits to Filipinos who fought under the US flag during WW2. The problem is not the dollar-payments to a limited number of people with very short lifespans:
The fear is that providing the recognition to the Fil-vets is to give them (and therefore their children and their children’s children) US-citizenship rights.
We need more professionals in govt like Vicky. Sadly, she couldn’t stomach the corruption and mismanagement in Malacanan, which tend to bring down every honest and well-meaning officials who would like the govt to succeed. But Vicky’s loss is a huge gain to Ayala, which is doing the country proud in modernizing the public secondary schools by getting them wired to the internet thru project GILAS (Gearing Up Internet Literacy and Access to Students).
Recently, Vicky passed by Hawaii to sell her ideas, to which many Fil-Ams responded. In one fund-raising campaign early this year, $22,000 was raised to fund the project in remote high schools in northern Philippines. One pinoy medic here even donated a hundred computers to a Cebu high school in an effort to make young Filipinos competitive in the IT arena. Vicky’s modest success is a bucket in the ocean, but surely overshadows the DepEd’s proposed cybered project, which is likely to become another white elephant, a palaisdaan , of those corrupt in the public service.
Try ask Jesli Lapuz to do the same here, and he will bring home $0 for DepEd’s rotting system. He was one of those junketeers led by Gloria, who brought home nothing but added strain in the already limited budget of poor pinas. Not a single computer, or internet connection, donated; yet millions of pesos spent. Pathetic!
UP n student,
‘The fear is that providing the recognition to the Fil-vets is to give them (and therefore their children and their children’s children) US-citizenship rights.’
The citizenship right was granted in 1990. The issue now is full benefits for Filipino veterans living in the Philippines. Filipinos living in the US receive full benefits (half before 1997). The Filipinos living in the US are also asking for additional(?) benefits.
it’s taken so long when the original question was less about citizenship than our veterans availing of the gi bill and benefits promised them during the war.
the problem’s compounded by our own government stripping usaffe veterans of their pensions due them as veterans of the philippine army. they’re entitled to both.
Read this in this blog
“Government’s policies and management of the economy can be left alone if the public feels officials are capable and trustworthy stewards. If not, then they can and should be guarded every step of the way.”
My goodness! How simple!
GOVERNMENT MUST NEVER BE LEFT ALONE TO MANAGE THE ECONOMY. THIS APPLIES TO ANY GOVERNMENT, ANYWHERE, AND AT ANY TIME.
Our country’s development technocarcy is often accused of being “faceless,” “detached” and get this, “anti-people.” Yet when the technocrats need to negotiate (and they do, in all countries and at all times) with the ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE, they become, what, “politicized”?
It is the Political Arms of Government that set policy and that, most important of all, have the power of the purse. The technocracy also has power, but of different origins and of a different nature.
It is the interplay of these various “powers” with and against the vested interests, petty and great, of the realm (shall we say) that constitute “politics” and “government.”
And you should be eternally suspicious of those who say they speak for the People Oor the Public). The popular will certainly does exist, but outside of elections, everything depends on who interprets it (or, to be more blunt, who is selling it).
That’s what makes the Paeliament of the Streets such an iffy proposition. Everyone has an agenda. Even our Holy Mother Church (just read the papers on family planning the last few days)
Unfortunately, this interplay among the powers and the vested interests may become sordid or might damage the greater good. (But not always. Lobbying has been known to get public libraries built and bridges repaired)
This unpredictability is why a sharp eye must always be kept on government.
Unless you live in Plato’s Republic, this is the way world works. Get used to it.
(It would help, sometimes, if people making comments actually had real world experience in running a government office to meet targets or a company to meet a payroll)
“GOVERNMENT MUST NEVER BE LEFT ALONE TO MANAGE THE ECONOMY. THIS APPLIES TO ANY GOVERNMENT, ANYWHERE, AND AT ANY TIME.”
Ever since the Federal Reserve was created by law it was tasked with managing the entire economy. The creation of the fiat monetary system under a fractional reserve banking system essentially made the banking system a quasi-public utility with an implict guarantee from the Republic.
Thus was born the full faith and credit of the Republic underpining the dollar.
Paul Volker recently declared that some of the actions recently of the Fed are illegal in opening up the lending window to non banks. Institutions who do not take in deposits and are funded by rich people.
What is more basic than determing the short term price of credit!!!!
Who does it?????
The government.
You wanna fight the governmanets mangement of the economy become a tax evader and or a smuggler… Here in the Phils it is actually the norm.
Who is the only animal who can create inflation????? The government by managing the economy……Who allows the importation of inflation?????
The government. How come???? Because it is the govenrment that sets the terms of capital mobility!!!!!!! Was there ever a vote on it anywhere????
When you question the government as to how and why in terms of international agreements, you might get the SC saying that it is only the business of governments!!!!!!
You know capital mobility and free trade!!!!!Think JPEPA……
It seems in this country it becomes a patritotic act to become a smuggler…. You actually help lower prices.
DOTC Sec. Mendoza now wants to restart the NBN project?!
He says “that project is needed. What happened to MV Princess of the Stars, there was no signal there. NBN can help in enhancing phone signals.”
What a twerp of a statement. Using the sinking as a reason for restarting the NBN project!!
Even if there were telecom signals, that Sulpicio vessel would still have sank because the Sulpicio management with profits rather than safety in their minds chose to brave the typhoon. They knew the typhoon was along their probable path…just as the majority of other major shipping lines knew of it.
So don’t use the Sulpicio tragedy as a reason, for God’s sake.
Twerps running the DOTC. Expect more sea, air and land tragedies. Expect telecoms to go haywire. With the restart of this NBN, expect billions to sink again into bottomless whirlpools of incredible greed.
Bencard,
Bow, one day the truckers have to give in.
I liked the dresden’s cargo by light rail picture and looked for an article about it.
http://www.apta.com/services/intnatl/intfocus/cargo.cfm
we can’t even produce our own tanks and armored vehicles for our military?
We do. The MX-8 is proudly Philippine made.
we had iron mines but never had a world-class steel mill.
We did. Im sure you remember Philippine Blooming Mills in Pasig? Whatever happened to that? We also had textile mills. Whatever happened to those? There were plans once to put up our own plastics raw materials plants (naphtha crackers, etc.) but government (not this one) pulled the plug on that as it will conflict with a crony’s plastic raw materials importing business.
Department of Human Resources?
Ano yan maliit na corporation.
Haven’t you heard about CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION or you are just clueless?
http://www.csc.gov.ph/cscweb/about.html
NEW? ano raw, bakit may old ba?
MX8 ,yes it is Filipino.
dyan tayo ang concentrate sa light,like MX8
The MX-8 Armored Escort Vehicle is an experimental armored vehicle currently under development by Philippine steelworks fabricator Steelcraft Industrial & Development Corporation, in collaboration with the Philippine Army, arising from a need by the latter for smaller, tougher armored vehicle that can fill an escort role larger armored vehicles cannot; a consideration confined Philippine jungles aggravated. MX-8 stands for “Military Experimental 8”, following from a list of prototype vehicles developed by Steelcraft during the latter half of the 20th century. The Philippine Army has expressed significant interest in the project, helping to bankroll a few aspects of the prototypes, indicating intent to purchase a number units once the MX-8 has exited the development stage.
we had plans to develop ultra light aircrafts for surveilance purposes, and of course for the ultra light air craft clubs
Steel?
What happened to the rehab of National Steel Corporation?
http://reyadel.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/national-steel-corporation-an-introduction/
for naptha;
PHILIPPINE FIRMS REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN NAPTHA CRACKER PLANT.
AsiaPulse News, January, 2003
no full article found:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go1523/is_200301/ai_n6507827
i will join the petition to remove the professor in my university. she can only talk about corporate, and government function ( goal and mission) but she has not been able to teach that result of performance and the process of implementation is very important. This professor don’t deserve respect.
It seems that the bishops have successfully used scare tactics to bully the congressmen against passing the proposed population control program, called the Reproductive Health Bill.
The bill been tagged with a ‘pro-abortion’ label. There are news reports that communion and marriage will be refused to those supporting the bill. And it was reported that PGMA will go with the bishops’ position.
In this case, the Catholic church should also provide subsidies for the poorest. Or, ang simbahan huwag nang maningil sa binyag at kumpil ng mga bata.
The sooner the better when they build a light-rail line (with cargo) is between NAIA and Clark. Statement from Amer-Chamber of commerce:
And its high time for the Philippine catholic church to endorse artificial birth control methods. Some of the priests get into trouble because they didn’t know or learn these methods. You know what I mean.
Back to Train and Road thread:
The development of Metro Manila has become so eclectic that it seems we’ve lost some of the city’s pizzazz. The iconic Tutuban station is now I believe a mall. A bus station was built in front of the art-deco Met Theater. Intramuros was at least saved from being converted into a gym??? (Never mind the golf course beside it). And the way the LRT/MRT stations were built really leave much to be desired aesthetically.
Bara bara ang dating.
The Gloria Arroyo administration will do anything to extend it hold on power beyond 2010.Gloria is desperately trying to force the nation to amend the constitution.It will invent any excuse to do so shortly.Here’s one dumb example:
“A federal state is not allowed within the current framework. And so because of that, the final agreement will not be executory until we have an enabling act [for a federal state]. This will come in the form of an amendment to the Constitution,” he said.
“If there is a need to accommodate or amend the Constitution because of the provisions in the peace agreement [with the MILF], then we will go through that,” Esperon added.
‘Never mind the golf course beside it’
The golf course used to be the moat that surrounded Intramuros. They were drained by the Americans and converted into a golf course and parade grounds for the Philippine Scouts.
cat, well you know as well as i the real decisions are made in the palace and that the civil service commission isn’t particularly capable of enforcing anything. and certainly not in influencing the quality or lack thereof of executive appointments.
mlq3, how many times will we argue that we have laws that even the executive branch is subject to? we have a working judiciary, haven’t we? or is it only working , as far as you and like-minded people are concerned, when a court decision goes your way?
the civil service is governed by law, not by executive orders. the president can try to influence its supervision and control of career personnel but it cannot substitute its judgment for that of the constitutionally appointed commisioner. the latter’s judgment is appealable to the courts which has the final say.
just because we have spineless and timid leadership in our civil service system, easily cowed and intimidated by malacanang, does not necessarily mean that the commission itself is “incapable of enforcingf anything”. in short, it has the power but is it courageous enough to test the limits of its prerogative under the law?
PSI says : And its high time for the Philippine catholic church to endorse artificial birth control methods. Some of the priests get into trouble because they didn’t know or learn these methods.
At least, they should preach during each Sunday sermon for men to abstain — NOT TO EAT — watermelon. Watermelon is a natural Viagra 😉 because the fruit is very rich in an amino acid called citrulline.
http://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/news/20080701/watermelon-a-natural-viagra
equalizer, when are you going to stop making alarmist predictions as though you have a direct line to the future? one other problem of pinoys is that we have too many “madame aurings”, jeanne dixon or nostradamus wannabbees, and too many gullibles.
your “examples” don’t wash. it appears that esperon is simply saying that it needs an amendment to the constitution to do anything different from what it now provides. one does not have to be a constitutional expert to know that.
Atienza pushes pro-life policy – Manila Standard
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics3_july16_2008
“Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza yesterday defended the administration’s policy on population and supported the Church’s strong advocacy in promoting a culture of life among Filipinos. ”
“But other administration allies took a more aggressive stance and slammed the Church for blocking a proposal in Congress to enact a bill promoting the use of contraceptives. ”
This is the big problem in policy making in this administration. There are too many mouthpieces. From the half-dozen spokespeople, to the Executive Secretary, to Gov. Salceda speaking on economic policy, etc.
Why is the Environment Secretary making pronouncements on population control, when precisely overpopulation adversely impacts the environment??? Communications 101!!!
What gives? Confuse the enemy or incoherent policy?
Bencard: I have a related thought on your comment that timid leadership in our civil service system… should not be interpreted to means that Pinas institutions do not have power … ….under the law.
———————————————–
I had made previous blog-entries commenting on “how great it will be!!!” (my sentiments) if the media has more stories about current-day heroes. Not the dolphin, but a real-life Filipino who braved broken bones and drowning to help a stricken during the Typhoon Frank or an earlier storm or a Filipino soldier who risked death (or who may have died) for comrades or for civilians during a mission against the MILF or the NPA.
The reason is in human psychology. More heroes come out now if the public has recollection of acts of heroism two years ago or the year before that. A reason cited often in the psychology literature is the BYSTANDER EFFECT. A person’s instinct to help someone in distress (or to cry “foul!!!” against an injustice) can get muted — no action — during a split-check cross-reference to the norms of society. If he can’t recall someone who acted courageously as he may need to and if his neighbor and his neighbor’s neighbor all seem to be disinterested, then the pressure is for non-action. What was the norm — no heroes — still is the norm — don’t be a hero. So with a muttering of “.. Oooops, false alarm. OA lang pala ako” an act of courage is pfffftttt and gone.
[and again the disclaimer : above is my opinion, not of the Inquirer]
‘Why is the Environment Secretary making pronouncements on population control, when precisely overpopulation adversely impacts the environment?’
Because plastic condoms are not biodegradable. The latex type is biodegradable but it will still take time.
UP n,
I think its quite difficult to get what you’re looking for about real-life stories of heroes when most mainstream media are owned by/affiliated with some vested interests. I’m not putting into doubt the policy of the editors or news directors, but think about it?
The cross-ownership structure looks like this, if I’m not mistaken:
Manila Bulletin – Yap, owner of Manila Hotel
Manila Standard – Affiliated with San Miguel Corporation
Manila Times – Enrique Razon, mainstay oligarch and owner of ICSTI; close with Ayalas
Philippine Daily Inquirer – affiliated with PLDT/GMA7
Philippine Star – close to PFVR circle
Business Mirror- Cabangon Chua, owner of Fortune Life and motels
ABS-CBN – owned by Lopez Group, MERALCO, Benpres, etc.
GMA7 – has some relationship with PLDT’s Manuel Pangilinan
Of course, the government has the sequestered broadcast stations for its own propaganda.
I don’t know what the regulations are in the United States, but given the above ownership structure, can you honestly say that what you are getting are ‘news” not “views”?
“how can we build our own railroads, we can’t even produce our own tanks and armored vehicles for our military? we had iron mines but never had a world-class steel mill”.
We did have National Steel Corp (NSC) now Global Steel Philippines (GSP) in Iligan City.
Here is the info below:
Global Steel Philippines (SPV-AMC), Inc. is the leading manufacturer and principal supplier of flat products in the Philippines and other ASEAN markets. Products include hot rolled coils, hot rolled plates, cold rolled coils (fullhard, annealed) and tinplates. Formerly known as National Steel Corporation, the plant is currently under the management of Global Ispat Holdings Limited, one of the worlds pioneering steel producers, having facilities in countries like Bulgaria, Nigeria, India, Bosnia, Libya and Zimbabwe. With integrated facilities, the plant operates hot rolling, cold rolling and tinning lines capable of producing more than two million tons of steel annually.
“how can we build our own railroads, we can’t even produce our own tanks and armored vehicles for our military? we had iron mines but never had a world-class steel millâ€Â.
The Philippines initiated a missile project in the 70s but the US opposed it. The fuel for that abadoned missile project are now stored in Corregidor.
Funny, supremo. But then again, there are methods when all one has to do is withdraw or spit. No harm on the environment, don’t you think?
PSI,
It’s hard to teach the withdrawal and spitting method. Withdrawal requires timing. I’ll let the other commenters discuss spitting.
“real decisions are made in the palace and that the civil service commission isn’t particularly capable of enforcing anything. and certainly not in influencing the quality or lack thereof of executive appointments.”
President Arroyo literally demolished any opposition to her decision making from co-equal congress on impeachment to co-equal judiciary on executive powers issues by appointing new justices. If those 2 powerful institutions can be neutralized, then nothing can stand against her run of the mill decisions and corruptions.
It is understandable why various leaders say civil service became spineless and timid. They can’t rely on Congress to fix the law or Justices to give them protection of the law. No wonder, capable technocrats just resigned from the service or get replaced when they do not toe the line of the Palace.
The only viable option is NERI SOLUTION – you get out or you can dance.
In the Philippines, what you planted is what you get.
o.k, o.k., we produce steel (i was wrong), but do we produce finish products in commercial quantities either for export or domestic use? where are the “made in the phil.” cars, jet liners, fighter planes, helicopters, navy ships, rail roads, tanks, and so forth?
cvj, when will you ever learn? decontrol (as president macapagal advocated and impemented) is basically the discontinuance of artificial valuation of the peso, letting it seek its own level in foreign exchange. did you want it forever tied to the u.s. dollar? i thought you hate america. make up your mind, man.
“And its high time for the Philippine catholic church to endorse artificial birth control methods.”
MLQ3 mentioned before that you cannot ask the Church to violate its own beliefs. However, the Church should not control the state policy on sex and population with separation of state and religion.
psi, in fairness, atienza is entitled to his own personal advocacy or opinion, as you are.
i don’t quite understand you, people. when individuals in public service express their own views which are not necessarily in agreement with the others, you say “there are too many mouthpieces”. when they maintain a docile, passive, stance and follow the official line, they are “tuta”.
i say everyone, including office holders, are entitled to properly express their points of view which may or may not be consistent with the administration’s policy. when their opinion doesn’t carry the day, they must learn to accept defeat and work for the adopted objective.
I hear you, Bencard. But Atienza is a government minister. Like it or not, official or personal, people will hear or absorb that as or part the government’s position. When you are in the public eye, your private views take the back seat.
Are we in the same page, mlq3?
I was responding to the clueless recommendation of a department of human resources by leytenian which from i understand is for the national goverment. If I can understand you correctly, you are referring to executive appointments which fall under appointive positions specifioally presidential appointees .
The Presidential appointees have no government tenure; their appointments are co-terminus with the President.
you should know that it was civil service commission which made the professionalization of personnel in the BIR and NBI possible.
In the past, even a dentist can become a BIR examiner and in the NBI, they started recruiting agents preferably those who are CPAs and lawyers.
You cannot become a regular employee in the government not until you have a civil service eligibillity.
the reason why I suggested that you take up MBA is because that is one eligibility that can be credited as FIRST GRADE if ever you want to teach or to work in a government university in lieu of the professional degrees such as CPA, law, MD and RN.
Northrail is a typical project management. A project must have a specific start and completion dates- undertaken to create a unique product or service which brings about beneficial change or added value. The primary challenge of project management is supposed to achieve all of the project goals and objectives while adhering to classic project constraintsâ€â€usually scope, quality, time and budget. Scope and quality were supposed to be delivered by the Chinese contractor. The time constraint was not addressed by whoever was in charge ( the most important is breaking down years) Budget constraint was no longer a big issue because the deal was financed by $ 503M from the Export-Import Bank of China.
Therefore, the project was corrupt and someone was making money..
The Northrail Project, a deal financed by a disadvantageous loan of around US$ 503M from the Export-Import Bank of China and awarded to Chinese contractors, was overpriced and allegedly involved some US$ 50-100 M in commissions and kickbacks to high-ranking government officials. This project is a burden to the people. The $400,000 monthly interest that the government is now compelled to pay can be used for subsidies and other projects for the poor and marginalized.
Withdrawing the full amount of $503 mil was not necessary Now we are paying 400,000 of interest. This issue is lacking money management. here’s why… example only….. in very basic concept.
budget constraint: $503 mil ( full loan amount) divide by 80 kilometers is $6.28 mil per km..,
time constraint : 2005 to 2010 that’s 6 years..
scope and quality : 80 km divided by 6 years= 13.3 km per year.
13.3 km per year x $ 6.28/km=$ 83.73 . this amount should have been our first withdrawal. The 400,000 monthly interest should have been avoided.
it’s only an example… but that’s how true project must be calculated and manage. That’s what transparency is all about. there are other ways.. Most projects are done using software and even excel spreadsheet can do. Our engineers are good at this unless the leader knows how it’s going to be done.
The Next calculation would be the revenue generated on the first year from the completion of the first 13.3 KM. this revenue could have helped pay some of the interest….
contract provisions to protect inflation of goods and services that are associated with the project will prevent contractor to charge more during the six year period. the whole 80 KM is a contract… if the price of oil and labor have increased during the installation of rails due to external market forces, then the contract itself will prevent changes of pricing.
it’s only an example…
$ 400,000 monthly payment of interest…
does it make sense? why withdraw all the money… why did china extend the credit on the first place? knowing that our leaders are known to be swindlers. (the most corrupt country of Asia. ). just think about it. if we cannot pay, then china is partly at fault.. lol
leytenean, where did you get your facts and figures? did you read the actual contracts. is the $503 mil you are talking about fully paid to the phil. govt.? is the $400 mil monthly interest accrued and owing?where did you get the $50-100 million alleged kickback. is there a paper trail?
btw, thanks for repeating (w/ no attribution) my views @ 2:05 a.m. re contract repudiation by changing the contract through alleged “adjustments”.
sorry bencard..
here’s few links.
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20080718/tph-government-deadlock-chinese-northrai-541dfb4.html
advnave payment of $150 mil just for bribe could have been used to construct the first 20 KM at least.
http://www.topix.com/world/philippines/2008/07/huge-bribes-delayed-503-m-northrail-project-says-lawyer
http://www.pinoypress.net/2007/11/21/philippines-pimentel-seeks-senate-inquiry-into-503-million-north-rail-project/
bencard if the $503 mil is only for 33 KM so be it… but correct my numbers if i’m wrong. I was giving an example on what project management is all about…
bencard,
this is the fact: Philippines is the most corrupt country in Asia. paper trails are hidden by lawyers.
“Meantime, Filipinos continue to carry the bag. From the $112 million first tranche of the loan from China’s Export and Import Bank, we are burdened with P1.08 million in interest dues daily. ”
actually bencard,, 1.08 mil pesos daily interest is 36 mil pesos in a month… in dollars it is close to $ 1 mil a month… not $400,000 on my above example.
http://newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5117&Itemid=88889051
@supremo
plastic condoms????? ano yan, plastic para sa ice candy ginawang condom??? 😀
As usual, since GMA takes the Catholic stance as a matter of government policy we might as well rename our country The Catholic Republic of the Philippines.
If I were a corrupt government official would I keep a paper trail??
Ano ba yang Bencard logic na yan.
“Meanwhile, the North Luzon Railways Corp. (NLRC) has been paying an average of $400,000 (P17.118 million) monthly in interest payments since January 2005 although the Chinese contractor has yet to build the modern Caloocan-to-Malolos railroad.”
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=100560
since there is recorded interest payment, can this be used as paper trail? why look on paper trail of who receive the bribes.. the obvious paper trail is the debt payment of interest. let’s look on BSP or our central bank.. but who controls the bank? Gloria right?
“She may not have gotten categorical support for the things she might do in case her unpopular administration is shaken by the wrath of a long-suffering people, but it is good enough for Arroyo that she has given the military the illusion that the US is behind her. With that, she believes that her presidency, whatever questions about its legitimacy, is safe.”
So far, President Arroyo demonstrated her ability to control and dominate whatever situations that threatened her presidency and continue her plans. She paid the legislators and military generals, undercut the bishops and changed the SC justices makeup. Except for one thing, the US which has the interest not to have communication key (broadband) be in the hands of the Chinese. To-date, that is the only contract she willingly forgo for very good reason after it generated too much heat. Talking to President Bush and Defense Secretary Gates cleared up the potential risk and worth the US trip despite the country’s state of natural disaster.
leytenean, so that was your basis, huh? it figures. keep reading and believing whatever you read. but you are not fit to make judgments. you don’t know what facts are made of. they are not the allegations of the chinese contractor, the suspicions of drilon, or the media reports.