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The Local Water Utilities Administration, an agency earning in silence
ESTABLISHED in 1973 as a specialized lending institution mandated by law to promote and oversee the development of provincial waterworks systems in the Philippines, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) secures the access to safe water supply for many cities and towns, from the popular destinations of Cebu, Boracay, Baguio, and Davao, to the virtually unknown towns such as M’lang in North Cotabato or Culasi in Antique. During its nearly 33 years of existence, LWUA has invested more than R16 billion in various provincial water projects, with R7 billion put in from 2001 to 2005 without a single cent coming from the fiscally challenged national government.
Energizing the country
IN a clarifying response to my 20 February piece ("The debt trap"), National Power Corporation President Cyril C. del Callar recited chapter and verse to show how Napocor had broken even this year and even showed a net income after a decade of "bleeding."
Civilian superiority
UNDER Martial Law, then President Marcos ceded all kinds of power to the military, creating a super organization which to this day defies the tradition of civilian superiority.
Filth in MM waterways
(Editor’s note: Since the 1950s, Metro Manilans rested on their "natural right" to dump filth into waterways, as noted by the author.)
Consultants & corporate change
(Delivered at the induction of officers of the Society of Philippine Accredited Consultants (SPAC), March 9, 2006)
When our faith is tested
IN 1993, when I did a post-graduate study at the University of Leicester in England, there was a British lady personnel named Joan with whom I occasionally talked about religion. "I find it hard to believe there’s Someone up there," she said. "What I’ve gone through can’t make me accept God exists."
Love of enemies
JESUS said to His disciples, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for He makes His sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."
A culture of excellence, discipline, and integrity
A NATIONAL culture of excellence: This is more than a bit of a stretch! It should be one of our core values. It also happens to be a very tall challenge. It is a value we as a people have to spend a lot of heroic effort trying to actually live by.
Modes of conduct
ASSERTING freedom and rights that they do not actually have is plain roguish but that’s what seems to be getting in the way in the current controversies plaguing the country.
Media freedom under siege
I DON’T remember any event that had united even rival media organizations than PP 1017. Despite its having been lifted, nine journalist organizations and several media professionals filed a petition before the Court of Appeals to stop government from imposing censorship and prior restraint on the media. They noted that the "threat of official intervention – whether in the form of administrative sanction or criminal prosecution – is just as damaging to a free press as the fact of it." It asked the Court of Appeals to prohibit the Executive Secretary, the Justice Secretary, the PNP Chief and the National Telecommunications (NTC) Chair from "stopping, prohibiting, or censoring the publication or airing of speech..."
Silence is leaden
FIRST, denial. Then anger. Depression next, followed by a sense of defeat. In the end, retreat.
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