No decision yet by Leni

Camarines Sur Congresswoman Maria Leonor “Leni” Gerona-Robredo asked for more time to make up her mind on the proposal for her to be the vice presidential candidate of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Mar Roxas.

Her September 30 deadline was moved to October 5, Monday. It will be announced in a gathering at Club Filipino in Greenhills, where Roxas will also name the administration’s senatorial slate. People are wondering what is holding up her decision – the agreement of her three children who earlier expressed disapproval of her possible candidacy or the amount of campaign funds offered? To be fair, she will need at least P500 million to conduct a good national campaign, with at least P300 million needed for TV-radio ads. Robredo also pointed out that she’s earning low ratings in surveys. However, she acknowledged the need to settle her decision by next week.

Roxas and President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino have run out of time. It has to be Leni Robredo. There’s no other choice.

LP stalwart and Senate President Franklin Drilon specified that the LP is deadset on drafting Robredo to run as vice president under Roxas. They believe Robredo is the best tandem of Roxas. Drilon said, in case Robredo declines the offer, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is definitely out of contention as the LP standard bearer’s running mate. As for Cayetano, in case he does run, his choice of running mate was Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Drilon added. Cayetano declared his vice presidential bid in Davao City where he also tried to convince Duterte to run for president but he was unsuccessful. In Drilon’s opinion, Roxas-Cayetano is out of the picture even with Leni still undecided.

For some LP stalwarts, the Roxas-Robredo tandem for 2016 is now a done deal. There is no plan B, LP is hundred percent sure of Robredo.

House Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr., vice-chairman of the Liberals, expressed confidence that Robredo will be their vice presidential candidate.

Drilon announced the LP’s national executive council has filled up four of the administration party’s 12-person slate: Senators Ralph Recto and Teofisto Guingona III; former Senator Francis Pangilinan and himself.

Among the LP’s potential senatorial candidates are Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, PhilHealth director and former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, Pangasinan Rep. Rachelle Arenas, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, TESDA Secretary Joel Villanueva, Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares, Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar, and former Pampanga Vice Governor Mark Lapid.

Worst traffic in the world

Waze survey, in its Global Driver Satisfaction Index (GDSI), reported that Metro Manila has the World’s Worst City Traffic, and also the longest commutes, ahead of Rio de Janeiro and Indonesia. Not only that, our country was listed as the third worst place to drive in the world.

Manila scored 0.4 on the 1 (miserable) to 10 (satisfying) numerical scale. The Metro Manila congestion has resulted from institutionalized corruption, political incompetence, and neglect of the growing transportation problem. The continuing volume of new cars every month to fill the roads is also adding to Metropolitan traffic.

While there has been improvement at EDSA, heavy traffic have been seen at Katipunan, Commonwealth Avenue, C-5 and Roxas Boulevard.

The traffic at Ortigas Avenue in front of La Salle Greenhills has been relieved. But there is still traffic congestion at Ortigas and Wilson Street up to Ortigas and Santolan.

Highway Patrol Group (HPG) announced they will apprehend tricycle and pedicab vehicles along national highways.

Roxas, no sympathy for the poor

Despite business, trade, professional, and labor groups having pressed for tax reform, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has not firmly supported the proposal as he considers the possible adverse effect of tax cuts on key programs like construction of school buildings and classrooms, PhilHealth, and conditional cash transfer (CCT) intended for the poorest Filipinos. 

For UNA, his position for tax reform smacks of arrogance and contempt for ordinary Filipinos. His stance was not a surprise to others because Roxas was just showing his true colors as a member of the elite who is out of touch with the sufferings of the common man, UNA spokesperson Mon Ilagan said.

According to critics, the government will only lose one percent of the proposed P3.002-trillion budget for 2016, or P30 billion, if the tax reform will be approved. So any shortfall can be addressed through proper government spending and improved tax collection.

If Roxas truly cares about the three-to-four million middle-income workers who stand to benefit from lowering income taxes, he should find a way to make it work, according to Escudero.

Tidbits

Filipino-American Bobby Murphy has made the list of 400 richest billionaires, according to Forbes Magazine.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares announced his candidacy for senator. He was endorsed by Mayor Joseph Estrada, Senator Grace Poe and Senator Chiz Escudero.

Nineteen people were wounded in an improvised explosive device (IED) bus explosion in Polomok, South Cotabato. At the same time in Isabela City, Basilan, four people were killed while 11 others were injured in a roadside bombing attack, in front of Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar’s house, on the convoy of Vice Mayor Abdulbaki Ajibon.

Dengue cases in Metro Manila up by 90 percent, while 4,800 dengue cases were reported in Bulacan. In Maguindanao, the Integrated Provincial Health Office announced there was a 24 percent increase in dengue cases, from 342 to 425.

A Filipina nurse in Jeddah is latest Middle East respiratory Syndrome-corona virus (MERS-Cov) case involving overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Saudi Arabia.