To DFA: If it ain't broke... why fix it?

Starting on June 30 here in Cebu, if you want to get your passport from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through the usual travel agencies, this will no longer be allowed purportedly in order to promote equality. We learned this during the 888 Forum the other week, as this was thoroughly discussed by the media with their guest DFA Regional Director Elias Balawag, who told us that June 30 was the deadline for this. Equality? Haven’t we heard this before? Or is it a way to practice becoming a communist state? This was the clamor of the proletariat eons ago... but then the reality on the ground is... some are more equal than others.

This got the ire of the Cebu Tours and Travel Association (CTTA) who handles this business, citing that there was never any problems that they encountered about their past relationship with the DFA. So the question thrown back at the DFA is... why is this being done outside Metro Manila? Honestly, I don’t blame Director Balawag — he only got the directive from DFA in Manila. Robert “Bobby” Joseph of National Association of Independent Travel Agencies, Phils. (NAITAS) who is with the 888 Forum told us that a protest from his group was already lodged at the DFA in Manila asking why this was happening in Cebu?

The fact is... among the biggest problems we face in most national government offices are the long lines or queues to get your permit for something. At least in the Land Transportation Office (LTO), I got my driver’s license renewed in less than an hour. While I personally know LTO Regional Director Raul Aquilos, I never called him because I never use connections just to speed up things for myself. But I did call the LTO Regional Director later to request him to fix the air-conditioning inside.

As for the DFA, when they were still at their old office along Osmeña Blvd. my travel agency made it convenient for me to secure my new passport because they already have their people assigned to the DFA office to handle their client’s documentation. This has been going on since time immemorial, so why is it that the DFA no longer wants travel agencies to be accredited? Mind you, travel agencies are small entrepreneurial type of business operators and with this new directive... they are pulling the rug from under these legitimate business groups that actually help the DFA and our Tourism industry.

As the Americans always say, “If it ain’t broke... don’t fix it!” At this point.... I would like to make an appeal to the DFA not to aggravate the situation because too many Cebuanos hate Imperial Manila and this directive only strengthens our dislike for our centralized government.

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While the Supreme Court (SC) which is now firmly under the clutches of President Aquino readily approved the use of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), they did so without looking into the seriousness of the problems in the PCOS machines owned by Smartmatic. We’ve written about the problems we’ve experienced with the PCOS machines, that it could still be manipulated and who else could manipulate these machines? The Comelec of course!

You may not know it... but there’s a multitude of people who no longer trust the Comelec. If President Aquino could use BIR Commissioner Kim Henares or DoJ Secretary Leila de Lim to testify against ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona... then it must be said that the President can also order around Comelec Commissioner Sixto Brillantes. This is why a lot of us no longer trust the Comelec to be neutral in the next elections.

But all is not lost... our Comelec officials can still redeem themselves if they too show us their Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). Those of us seeking transparency have already seen many Congressmen, a few Senators who showed us their SALNs... but so far no one has asked the Comelec for their SALNs. So let’s start with Comm. Sixto Brillantes followed by all Comelec officials to show us their SALNs.

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The Aquino Regime always trumpets that it is for reforms. Perhaps they should focus on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). In Cebu City... if you didn’t know... there are two road widening projects on national roads that was started ten years ago and until now, the project has not been done.

I’m referring to the Escario St. road widening from Gorordo Ave. to Arch. Reyes Ave., which is around 400 yards in length. The other road-widening project is right beside the Cebu Provincial Capitol along M. Velez St., which started way back in 2003. While the DPWH pins the delays on our courts because of Road Right of Way (RROW) problems, this is one problem the past administrations have never solved. So when will these projects finally be finished? I hope it gets done during the term of P-Noy.

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