Erap's 75th birthday

Today is President Joseph Estrada’s 75th birthday anniversary. A round of celebrations started Monday when his cabinet members, classmates and close friends hosted a surprise party for him at Enderun College sponsored by Focap at which affair he was presented with a 248-page book entitled “Ito ang Filipino,” a tribute to Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

Speaking at the affair were Vice President Jejomar Binay, former Finance Secretary Jose Pardo, Antonio Lopa, Boots Anson Roa and Grace Poe.

Yesterday, President Erap did his traditional gift giving distributing 4,000 food bags to the poor residents of Payatas in Quezon City and Baseco, Parola and Smokey Mountain in Tondo capping the day with a visit to the Damas Orphanage in Paco.

Today he is throwing a birthday bash at Le Pavillon at the Mall of Asia.

On the eve of his birthday his picture was on the front pages of newspapers as he made an early endorsement of Vice President Jejomar Binay as the UNA Presidential candidate for 2016.

A Pulse Asia survey placed President Erap as 3rd top endorser for Senatorial candidates in 2013. Vice President Jojo Binay is the top endorser.

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AT THE BOTTOM . . Despite rosy predictions by Malacañang, Department of Finance and NEDA, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the Philippines would be the laggard in economic growth among the Asean countries with the projected growth of 4.2% GDP growth for 2012 and 4.7% for 2013.

The Department of Trade and Industry reported that investments approved by the Board of Investments for the first quarter went down by 83% compared to the same period last year.

Part of the problem is caused by slow approval of projects by NEDA. Korean investors are complaining their projects are still pending at NEDA. JICA, the lending Japanese investor, is also slowing down in granting ODA projects for the Philippines due to underutilization of approved ODA grants.

There have been only 2 NEDA board meetings since President Aquino assumed office, compared to monthly meetings convened by President Gloria Arroyo. There are also no regular weekly cabinet meetings contributing to the delay in the approval of projects.

Two Ledac meetings have been held but which did not really spell out a clear legislative program after 20 months in the office. The suspended Belgian dredging project of Laguna lake and the French Ro-Ro project have not been resumed or changed.

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LETTERS . . Congressman Enrico B. Anuventado, 2nd district of Bohol wrote us this tribute on the occasion of my birthday.

I am happy that after serving the Philippine Senate with distinction as “Mr. Expose,” you have continued this line of public service through your column in the Philippine STAR — Search for Truth. The column is very incisive, instructive, and informative. Please continue the good work until you return to the Senate.”

Greetings to avid readers Mrs. Carmina Uyguangco who wrote to ask if we can make our column daily. Thank you, ma’m, but it takes about a day to write a column. Writing daily will take up all my time.

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LOWER RATINGS . . The latest Pulse Asia survey showed that out of 11 issues surveyed, the Aquino Administration got a passing mark in only 4 issues.

The public’s biggest concern is high prices (68%), wage increases (62%) corruption (53%), job creation (53%), and poverty reduction (52%). Only 12% were interested in the impeachment trial.

There has got to be an in-depth review of government programs. Certainly, majority of the population is unhappy with the Administration’s performance especially in controlling inflation. Cabinet changes are in order to inject more vigor into the different cabinet programs.

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LOW ESTEEM . . LP President DOTC Sec. Mar Roxas announced he was not planning to run in 2016. That is headline news but the newspapers did not carry it in their front pages. It was carried in the inner pages. Looks like Sec. Roxas has a lot of political fence mending to do.

There appears to be no rush to join the Liberal Party. The United Nationalist alliance is way ahead in attracting new members, the latest being Congressman Manny Pacquiao. The Nacionalista Party is steady in retaining members.

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CONTINUING CORRUPTION . . Congressman Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. has raised concern on the P1.3 billion textbook program of the DepEd which were procured without public bidding.

Corruption at the Bureau of Customs is still ongoing with smuggling going on in all ports. Smuggling of meat, rice, celphones and laptops and i-Pods are in full wing.

There’s big-time corruption in drug trade protection as it continues to flourish. There’s a lot of complaints against the bidding activities at the National Food Authority.

As reported by Pulse Asia survey, the public is very much concerned about the anti-corruption campaign.

TIDBITS . . . The Executive Order on the mining industry has been further delayed. Why not just suspend it for one year to give reassurance to existing mining operators?

DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo announced a P300,000 bounty has been offered to any information leading to the arrest of Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother Corona Mayor Mario Reyes Jr.

Sen. Koko Pimentel, PDP president, said he has no obligation to the inclusion of Lakas member Congresswoman Mitos Magsaysay in the UNA slate.

Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian attended the 100-day state of area message of Governor Mujiv Hataman in Cotabato City.

President Aquino announced he will be naming a new nominee for the post of Ambassador to Beijing. Domingo Lee has failed to get confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

Former AFP Chief of Staff Eduardo Oban has been appointed a member of the board of directors of Clark Development Corp. (CDC) replacing Cesar Villanueva. Former Comelec Commissioner Mehol Sadain was appointed to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.