WHEN THERE ARE PLENTY OF MONEY, THERE ARE A LOT TO SPEND!

THE 62ND REGULAR SESSION OF THE 20TH CITY COUNCIL OF QUEZON CITY HELD YESTERDAY (MAY 28, 2018) ENDED WITHOUT FINISHING THE AGENDA BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PROPER DECORUM. A COUNCILOR MUST EXHIBIT A REMARKABLE MODESTY AND DECORUM ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE PERFORMING THEIR LEGISLATIVE DUTY. SOME OF THEM ARE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN THE SESSION AND DOING SOMETHING ELSE WHICH RESULTED TO THE DECLARATION OF THE SUSPENSION OF THE SESSION BY THE CHAIR.

TO GIVE MY READER A BACKGROUNDER, THERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT MEASURES IN THE AGENDA. ONE IS A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ANNUAL INVESTMENT PLAN (AIP) OF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION NO.1 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018 IN THE AMOUNT OF FIVE BILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY THREE MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY EIGHT THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY EIGHT PESOS (5,183,888,758.00) TO FUND VARIOUS MAINTENANCE AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES, PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT EXPENDITURES AND PROCUREMENT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

AND THE OTHER ONE IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET NO.1, GENERAL FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018 IN THE AMOUNT OF FOUR BILLION, THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY THREE MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY EIGHT THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY EIGHT PESOS (4,383,888,758.00) TO FUND VARIOUS MAINTENANCE AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES, PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT EXPENDITURES, AND PROCUREMENT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

THERE IS A SAYING: "WHEN THERE ARE PLENTY OF MONEY, THERE ARE A LOT TO SPEND". ACTUALLY, THE ORIGINAL SAYING IS, "WHEN THERE ARE PLENTY OF MONEY, THERE IS A LOT TO BE SPARED". MIND YOU MY DEAR READERS, THIS MONEY ARE NOT THEIRS, THIS ARE THE PEOPLE'S MONEY AND IT SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY WAY OF SCRUTINIZING EVERY SINGLE DETAILS OF HOW IT SHOULD BE SPENT.

THE SESSION IS THE PROPER VENUE TO DISCUSS THE APPROPRIATED BUDGET WHETHER IT WILL BENEFIT THE PUBLIC OR IT IS A MERE NONSENSE EXPENDITURES.

AND THE COUNCILORS ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO SCRUTINIZE THE EXPENDITURES BEFORE PASSING IT. BUT TO MY DISMAY, ONLY FEW COUNCILORS STOOD TO QUESTION SOME QUESTIONABLE APPROPRIATIONS.

FOR THE SAKE OF FAIRNESS IN EXPRESSING MY PERSONAL OPINION, I WILL NOT MENTION NAMES BUT RAISE SOME ISSUES IN APPROPRIATIONS FOR CONSIDERATIONS:

1. MILK FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AMOUNTING HUNDRED OF THOUSAND VS. MEDICINE AND VITAMINS (MILK FOR SENIOR CITIZENS IS APPROPRIATED BUT THE MEDICINE AND VITAMINS ARE NOT).

2. ELECTRIC POST AMOUNTING TO MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND EACH.

3. AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WORTH MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND EACH.

4. REQUEST FOR BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR ANNIVERSARY EXPENDITURES OF THE QUEZON CITY GENERAL HOSPITAL VERSUS NO REQUEST ALLOCATION FOR THE MEDICINES.

5. INCREASE OF BUDGET FOR THE SALARIES OF THE SECURITY GUARDS.

I HOPE THAT IN THE NEXT DELIBERATION OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET OUR COUNCILORS WILL PARTICIPATE ON THE FLOOR AND MUST QUESTIONED EVERY SINGLE CENTAVO APPROPRIATED. THE PEOPLE'S MONEY MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COST.

WHEN THERE ARE A LOT OF MONEY, THERE ARE A LOT TO SPEND BUT PLEASE, SPEND IT WISELY.

STATUE OF DIVINE MERCY

THIS GIGANTIC STATUE OF THE DIVINE MERCY MEASURED 50 FEET HIGH PERHAPS THE MOST REMARKABLE MONUMENT IN MINDANAO. IT IS SITUATED IN EL SALVADOR CITY, AND IT WAS NAMED AFTER THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, JESUS CHRIST. THE STAIRWAY IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT OF MRT. THOSE WHO HAVE HEALTH CONDITION ARE ADVISED TO STAY ON THE GROUND. TOURISTS AND OTHER VISITORS ARE ADVISED TO OBSERVED PROPER DECORUM SINCE THE ENTIRE PLACE IS SACRED. THOUGH I AM A REFORMED CATHOLIC, VISITING THE PLACE IS A RARE EXPERIENCE AND I WAS AMAZED TO SEE HOW PEOPLE STRIVE TO CREATE ENORMOUS STATUE LIKE THIS. PILGRIMS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF ARCHIPELAGO FLOCKED TOGETHER TO SEE THIS WONDERFUL PLACE. I AM A STRONG BELIEVER THAT PEOPLE'S FAITH CREATED THIS PLACE. THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WORKS WONDER FOR THEM RECEIVING POSITIVE ANSWERS TO WHAT THEY WISH FOR.

SAVE YOUR SPEECHES FOR THE BEST

THE POLITICAL ARENA IS VERY COLORFUL. WHETHER YOU ARE PARTY MATES OR YOU BELONG TO THE OPPOSING PARTIES, AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU WILL DO YOUR BEST TO OUT-DO AND OUT-WIT ONE ANOTHER FOR ONLY ONE REASON, TO ENSURE VICTORY AND REMAIN ON TOP. LOOK AT THEIR SLOGANS OR WHAT THEY ARE CLAIMING DURING POLITICAL RALLIES AND CAUCUSES. SOME CLAIM THAT THEIR ONLY VICE IS SERVICE (ANG TANGING BISYO NILA AY SERBISYO). SOME SAYS, "BAYAN ANG NO.1, KAMPEON NG PALUPA, TAGAPAGTANGGOL NG KABABAIHAN, KAMPEON NG EDUKASYON, GUSTO KO HAPPY KA, TAPANG AT MALASAKIT, LAYLAYAN NG LIPUNAN, ITULOY ANG DAANG MATUWID AND A LOT MORE. THEIR SPEECHES ARE WELL ORGANIZED AND CRAFTED. THEY WERE EVEN SUPERB IN THE DELIVERY OF THEIR MASTER PIECE. TO BE HONEST AND FAIR, THERE ARE CERTAIN TRUTH TO WHAT THEY ARE SAYING AND CLAIMING BUT MOST OF IT LACED WITH FLOWERY AND SOMETIMES EVEN POISONOUS. SELLING YOURSELF TO THE PEOPLE IS NOT AN EASY JOB. THE PEOPLE WILL KNOW HOW SINCERE YOU ARE AS PUBLIC SE...

Urban Reforestation

FOR QUIET SOMETIME, THE WANDERING BLOGGER SEEMS INACTIVE IN WRITING FOR ONE REASON, NOT BECAUSE HE RUNS OUT OF IDEAS BUT MAINLY BECAUSE OF THIS STRANGE FEELING THAT I DO NOT WANT TO WRITE AT ALL. I NEED TO MOTIVATE MYSELF TO FIGHT THIS STRANGE FEELING WITHIN ME AND CONVINCE MYSELF THAT I NEED TO WRITE AGAIN. I BELIEVE MY READERS ARE VERY EAGER ANTICIPATING MY NEXT ARTICLE.. CLIMATE CHANGE IS A BY-WORD NOW AND ECO-WARRIORS WAS BORN TO RESTORE THE FAST DETERIORATING PLANET EARTH. DURING MY CHILDHOOD, MY FATHER AND I AS WELL AS THE OTHER SIBLINGS ARE ARMED WITH BOLOS CUTTING SMALL TREES, CLEARING THE WEEDS AND LATER ON BURNED THE SITE IN PREPARATION FOR PLANTING SEASON WERE CROPS LIKE PALAY AND CORN WERE PLANTED. THIS SYSTEM IS CALLED THE "KAINGIN SYSTEM" AND WERE CALLED THE "KAINGENEROS". WE WERE NEVER INFORMED DURING THAT TIME THIS SYSTEM OR PRACTICE IS ILLEGAL AND HARMFUL TO ECOLOGICAL BALANCE. NOT ONLY DESTROYING THE NATURAL HABITAT OF SMALL AN...

Wandering Blogger

Search This Blog