What’s on P-Noy’s radar?

Unless a really catastrophic accident happens, MRT 3’s sad state will not be on P-Noy’s radar screen. He will get a short self serving report from Sec. Jun Abaya and P-Noy will be happy to assume all is well.

Neither is the predicted power crisis in the Luzon grid next year (or just seven months from now) on P-Noy’s radar screen. On top of that power shortage is a water shortage that may require water rationing. None of those things consume P-Noy’s time these days.

That is unfortunate because unless P-Noy focuses on these looming crisis situations, nothing good is going to happen. Some cabinet members are experts in simulating work… making it look like they are busy. It will take P-Noy’s laser – like focus on these critical problems before things start moving in this government.

These days, however, P-Noy’s focus is on the Supreme Court and how, in his mind, the High Court has abused its power and diminished his. He is disappointed big time with his appointees in the High Court for that 13-0 repudiation of DAP. He is obsessed with showing his displeasure even at the risk of losing much of his political capital.

It is obvious his resentment of CJ Sereno’s failure to protect his rear end is behind the appointment of Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza as associate justice in the High Court last Wednesday. Jardeleza has this tiff with Sereno… and the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Thus, Malacañang wrote the SC to include Jardeleza in the short list of the JBC. Former President Arroyo used to do this too when the short list presented did not include the name of the person she wanted to appoint. This destroys the JBC’s independence, as the framers of the constitution saw it. The President is supposed to just act on the shortlist the JBC produces after a screening process.  

Up until that 13-0 vote, COA chair Grace Pulido Tan was seen to have a clear shot to be appointed to the SC. But after that DAP decision, Tan was seen to be pretty much like Sereno and may be difficult to convince when push comes to shove again. These women have balls! 

The Palace probably thinks Jardeleza would be easier to talk to. As solicitor general, he argued the case for the administration on the DAP case. Even if he inhibits himself, as he should, in the resolution of the motion for reconsideration on DAP, the Palace probably hopes he could be depended upon to influence the other justices to reverse themselves. Jardeleza could, however, prove to be independent minded as well.

It is ironic that Jardeleza got his name on the short list of nominees for the SC seat with the support of the Arroyo appointed justices. The more idealistic Aquino appointed justices like Marvic Leonen argued for preserving the independence of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

With the Arroyo justices helping the Palace get its wish on Jardeleza, I wonder if P-Noy wasted his time ousting former CJ Corona. It turns out the former CJ is more to P-Noy’s liking in the sense that he should be easier to talk to than current CJ Sereno. P-Noy got truly independent SC justices with Sereno and Leonen like he said he wanted. Next time he should be more careful what he wishes for.

It’s a step backward. The framers of the constitution wanted to insulate judicial appointments as much as possible from political interference. That’s what the JBC is supposed to do. But it has come to a point when a public hearing by the Commission on Appointments would be better than the secretive conclave of the JBC, that bows to the President’s wishes.

Now that P-Noy has reminded the SC, particularly his appointees there led by CJ Sereno, of the limits of their independence, will he forget his displeasure over its DAP decision and get back to real work? Probably not.

P-Noy was pissed enough at the SC to bring up the specter of charter change to cut the powers of the judiciary. Then he hinted he wants six more years after 2016 to see that is done.

Getting a second term requiring charter change is an incendiary idea that will be very divisive to this nation. But I get the feeling the idea was said in a fit of anger and maybe a trial balloon as well because the Liberals have no viable candidate to succeed him.

Now we are hearing that the term extension chacha will not cover P-Noy himself but the next president. P-Noy seems more interested in cutting the SC down to size rather than staying in office himself for another term.

All these political jockeying for power is exciting media and those involved in politics. But more important for our people are such things as a functioning MRT that is safe, working toilets in airports and other government offices, the rising cost of food from rice to vegetables and chicken, health care, inadequate job creation, worsening crime rate and a poverty situation that has proven tough to address.

It is important for P-Noy to shift his attention from politics to producing something tangible. He has to leave this country in better shape than when he assumed office. There have been significant gains in the economy but the poor comprising the majority still has to feel it. 

Inadequate infrastructure is making life tougher than it already is. Next year, on top of a power shortage, there is apparently a water crisis that could happen too.

According to an official of MWSS I contacted, “El Niño is more pronounced in the coming year… early next year. Sec. Singson has convened an El Nino Task force… I believe we can manage. Critical to bid out new source.”

I am not too encouraged by that response. I take that to mean that indeed, we may have water problems next year. I saw a report on TV Patrol saying that water level in Angat Dam, the principal source of Metro Manila water (up to over 95 percent), is less than normal today despite all that rain we have had.

In the case of electricity, we can buy a generator to take care of our home needs. For water, we cannot even drill a deep well as this is no longer allowed. We need to protect the water table. We are totally dependent on government for our water.

My guess is, we will have water rationing. Government has failed to look for other sources of water to augment Angat. They tell me they know where to get additional water for Metro Manila. But they have not started doing anything to tap that source and it takes years to build that kind of infrastructure.

As in the case of the MRT, there was a private sector unsolicited offer to develop this new water source in the hills of Rizal province which government rejected. While there are probably good reasons for rejecting it, government should have acted quickly to make sure the job is done anyway.

Gerry Esquivel, the man entrusted by P-Noy to be responsible for our water needs is a good man with his heart in the right place. He is also technically capable, but we need more than good intentions to get a new water source secured… or even preserve the current one from a potential devastating earthquake.

Gerry will need all the help he can get from PNoy to get going with his projects. I understand he had been rather frustrated with the difficulty of getting anything done on government. Water is a life and death issue for some 25 million people in the Greater Metro Manila region. Water is life… Water needs the laser focus of P-Noy.

As of now, those of us who can afford to get out of the country during the summer months next year probably should plan on doing so. The shortages of water and electricity should make life that more brutish in our beautiful country at the time of the year when outside temperatures could hit the 40s. If only our politicians did the real work we elected them for!

MRT 3 accident

More information on that MRT 3 incident. It appears that the train that had an accident at Taft Station wasn’t even supposed to have been operated by DOTC that day due to defects resulting from poor maintenance.  It seems DOTC is allowing unfit trains to operate to cover up the fact that they have less and less of them running. They also don’t have enough spare parts. 

The MRT-3 system and the trains were designed to take a heavy load for over 25 years, but not the 40 percent over capacity day in and day out without proper maintenance. I am told Sumitomo was able to keep the trains running by upgrading the maintenance procedures and spare parts replacement program several times over the years. 

Recently, DOTC announced a new bidding for the maintenance contractor. But DOTC did not include the eligibility requirements for bidders in the TOR. And the bid is not taking into consideration the results of the long-delayed MRT audit by the HK MRT which should start to happen next week.

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco