Fred M. Lobo
CLASSES have opened "smoothly’’ nationwide despite the piling up of 17.8 million students in public schools.
Hooray! We’ve gotten used to shortages and overcrowding.
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Overall, school opening was generally smooth despite complaints about shortages in classrooms, textbooks, desks, chairs, among others, says acting DepEd Secretary Fe Hidalgo.
That sounds honest and acceptable. Let’s ask Malacañang.
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Earlier, Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor reiterated President GMA’s assurance that the problem of classroom shortage has been remedied.
Let’s believe him – until TV footages would say otherwise.
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Defensor did not, however say that the Palace is even building an extra room for a new Secretary of Education.
Ssssh… no alarming insinuations!
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Aside from PGMA’s assurance, the DepEd and the Senate have also vowed to address this year classroom shortage and related problems affecting public schools.
Yes, let’s uphold the constitutional declaration that "the State shall give priority to education… and total human liberation and development.’’
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Meanwhile, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) have started evaluating petitions for wage increases – after the House of Representatives has passed a R125 legislated wage hike spread over three years.
No problem. We’d be happy to receive wage increases from both bodies.
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PGMA has expressed preference for a wage increase coming from RTWPBs that would balance the welfare of workers and the stability of business.
A tough balancing act, Madam President – but workers are eagerly waiting.
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Unluckily, many OFWs and their families have started returning to the country to escape danger from the strife-torn East Timor capital of Dili.
A major misfortune. Magdidildil sila ng dilis.
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Sen. Nene Pimentel Jr. has blamed Malacañang for the Senate’s scrapping of the R10-billion funding for the proposed government bureaucracy rationalization plan for lack of implementing guidelines.
No problem, sir. Just don’t scrap Malacañang!
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The Senate has rushed plenary debates on four priority measures, from the proposed Biofuel Act to the abolition of the death penalty.
But certainly, the Upper Chamber will not discuss its own abolition.
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Both houses of Congress are actually claiming they are rushing work in preparation for adjournment sine die on June 9.
This simply means that after passing a few pieces of legislation, they’ll enjoy many days of vacation!
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Meanwhile, the United Opposition (UNO) says that Charter change won’t likely materialize as they have attached 50 signatures to effectively block a proposed resolution or the convening of Congress into a Constituent Assembly.
Tyranny of numbers – in favor of the opposition?
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So the opposition’s focus now is on preparing and making their candidates win over administration bets in the 2007 local and national elections, reveals House Minority Leader Chiz Escudero who is running for senator.
Politics is a continuing business proposition.
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UNO’s Rep. Imee Marcos projects that opposition bets will likely get the upper hand with the planned resurrection this year of the impeachment case in Congress.
The game plan is laid. And who says that politics is not a game of strategy – and stealth?
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