An uncanny chain of events

A number of recent developments of significant import in the political arena should serve as a cue for anti-Arroyo elements that they should, perhaps, revisit their positions on the impeachment issue. The occurrence of these events seems rather uncanny, and fortuitous for Malacanang for they all seem to converge at a time when the President is facing yet another challenge to her continuation in office.

First is the capture of six Magdalo mutineers in a joint police-military raid in a subdivision near the Batasan Complex in Quezon City. Second is the airing by the ABS-CBN of a tape where cashiered Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim was shown declaring his group’s "withdrawal of support" from the President. Third is former Ambassador Roy Señeres’ revelation of a conspiracy against the government, with him as one of the people who egged on Gen. Lim to act as leader of the military component of the plot, and naming several prominent civilians as among the plotters.

These three developments confirm the existence of an attempt to overthrow the Arroyo government. They serve to strengthen the government’s position vis-à-vis the declaration of a state of national emergency. In effect, they laid the legal and constitutional basis for the issuance of Proclamation 1017, one of the grounds listed in the impeachment charge sheet.

Administration allies contend that these circumstances have weakened the cause of those attempting to impeach the President for a second time.

Now comes the refusal of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to lend its moral authority to the impeachment move. In a clear setback to the opposition, the bishops said the impeachment is an unproductive political exercise and correctly observed that it will only serve to reinforce negative public perceptions about politicians as a whole.

The CBCP made no bones of its suspicion that some political personalities are riding on this new impeachment attempt to gain publicity mileage and advance their selfish political interests. The most vocal in airing this suspicion was Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa who pointed out the apparent link between the impeachment bid and the "political ambitions of some people" who, he said, just want to replace the incumbent President and are just "trying to get into power."

Finally, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted June 22-28 revealed that the number of people who were dissatisfied with President Arroyo has declined by almost 50 percent. Although still negative, she registered a net nationwide satisfaction rating of -13 percent for the second quarter of 2006, as against the -25 percent for the first quarter of this year.

The improvement was even more substantial compared to her -30 percent rating in the period October to December of 2005. Excluding Metro Manila, her rating in Luzon rose from -23 percent in March to -10 percent in June. In the Visayas, the rating for the same periods jumped from -12 percent to a positive 2 percent. The biggest improvement came in Mindanao, from -32 percent to a mere -7 percent.

What should please Malacañang even more is the seemingly growing acceptance for the President among the "masa," conceded as the constituency of former President Estrada. From -22 percent in March, the rating went up to -10 percent in June among the D class. For the same period, the President shaved off 11 percent in her negative rating, from -33 percent to -22 percent.

Does this improvement in her ratings suggest an encouraging shift in perception and public acceptance for the President? Is this uncanny convergence of events merely coincidental or does it reinforce the growing speculation about the "luck" that seems to accompany her political career?

These are questions for the opposition to ponder.

* * *

People have noticed that Speaker Joe de Venecia has been quietly exploiting the China connection to the hilt.

The Speaker recently led a Philippine delegation that visited 10 cities in China and secured commitments for substantial investments from our giant neighbor. Reports say the Chinese had pledged to build one million low cost homes and put up an industrial park in Clark Field for large and medium-size factories. The Speaker also asked that China construct 100,000 new schoolhouses nationwide. He likewise proposed additional investments in other areas like agriculture and fisheries, funding for the extension of the PNR Southrail to Sorsogon in the Bicol region and 30 to 40 tourism facilities to include airports and seaports.

The Speaker had earlier helped in securing a $400 million loan commitment from the Chinese for the Northrail project, which is now ongoing.

The Speaker’s achievements in the legislative arena and in forging economic ties with the economic giant that is China may have helped tremendously in giving the President a much better acceptance rating.

* * *

A P3.2 billion grains terminal in Sariaya, Quezon province, can help prevent the hoarding of rice, corn and other essential grains and thus assist the government in stabilizing the prices of these commodities. Built by Nation Granary, Inc., the terminal has 14 silos and a flat warehouse that can store up to 225,000 metric tons of grains. It can serve as a huge storage facility not only for rice and corn farmers but also for traders who import such grains, including wheat and soybeans.

The company also constructed a complementary port in the area, said to be the only natural 18-meter deep water port in Southeast Asia. This will allow on-shore docking of cape-size vessel, said to be the largest type of cargo vessels used by international grains traders.

With its ultra-modern facilities and equipment acquired from Europe and the US, this grains terminal promises to transform the Philippines into the leading transshipment hub in Asia for rice, corn, wheat and other grains. The terminal is also expected to serve the needs of feed millers and flour millers in the Calabarzon area and Metro Manila, and serve as catalyst to the economy of Southern Luzon.

Incidentally, Speaker de Venecia’s appeal for China to help extend the PNR service to Sorsogon could also serve as an unexpected boon to the rice and corn farmers and the grain traders who may want to make use of the warehousing and storage facilities of National Granary’s grains terminal.

That’s because once the railroad is rehabilitated, it would be much easier to ship grains to Metro Manila and down south to the Bicol region. The grains shipments could also be taken to the Samar-Leyte area through the ferry in Matnog, Sorsogon.

It is to be noted that upon the completion of both the Northrail and the PNR Southrail rehabilitation and modernization projects, these two lines would be linked to effect one continuous railroad system that would traverse the whole of Luzon, from the Bicol region down south and up to La Union in the north.

Imagine how much the grains terminal would benefit the economy in terms of stability in the supply and prices of commodities once the Northrail and the PNR South Line are completed. This would really banish any question about the accessibility of the trains facility to grains producers and traders.

* * *

AT A CHANCE MEETING I had with Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Director General Arthur Yap in Malacañang the other day, he accepted my invitation to be the Guest Speaker at Bulong Pulungan sa Westin Plaza Hotel on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 – a weekly Forum of media practitioners. He said he welcomed speaking about job generation, a priority concern of the Arroyo administration.

By the way, the weekly forum, which is open to the public, was organized 14 years ago, by founding members Jullie Yap Daza, Letty Magsanoc, Deedee Siytangco, Donnie Ramirez and Gilbert Perez. Core group members are Domini M. Torrevillas, Joanne Ramirez, Llita Logarta, Cielo Vilaluna, Ethel Soliven-Timbol, Nelson Navarro, Mina Paras, Sol Vanzi and Iskho Lopez. Founding and core members and active participants like Nellie Sindayen, Ellen Tordesillas, Chay Santiago and Frank Evaristo take turns moderating the forums.

* * *

My email: [email protected]