We don’t know about you, but we’ve decided to stay away from Naia for the next few weeks not only because it would be difficult to leave anyway, what with all the flight cancellations due to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. We wonder though if there will be any more “laglag bala” or “tanim bala” incidents at the terminals for the duration of the Apec conference with thousands of delegates and participants arriving and leaving intermittently.
This negative publicity has become viral with the news carried by many international papers and networks. No wonder even the UN saw fit to warn its people to make sure their luggage would be fully secured, so there will be no opportunity for vultures to extort from them. Sure, there are dimwits out there who think it’s cute to have a bullet as accessory or some superstitious people regard the bullet as an amulet—and there’s no question they should be haled to jail. But that should not blind the DOTC and its agencies from the glaring truth that there are extortion syndicates operating at Naia who bilk thousands of pesos from hapless victims, who are so afraid that they would agree to pay off just so they get on board the plane.
Trust the Filipino though to still find humor in the situation, with the OFWs posting photos of their bags and luggage mummified with saran wrap and packaging tape to make them “bullet proof.” Some even showed themselves with fake bandoliers and huge bullets, along with a message for the airport security personnel not to bother looking for bullets to plant because the OFWs already have them right on display.
Typically, some Malacañang appointees were indignant at the impression that corruption still exists among government people, insisting that the reports were “blown out of proportion.” (Blame the media, will you?) That’s such a typical kneejerk reaction and people are no longer surprised to hear it from the likes of Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya who has been christened with such unflattering names as Boy Pabaya and Jun Abala (as in annoying disturbance). Even Palace mouthpiece Abigail Valte does not want to comment about Abaya’s statement – and that’s saying a lot.
Hitachi keen on Mega Manila Subway project
If there’s one bullet that the Philippines should be trying to “plant,” it should be the Shinkansen bullet trains built by Japanese conglomerate Hitachi Ltd. Instead of destroying lives and taking away livelihood opportunities, having Shinkansen bullets will drive the economy as it will speed up the transport of goods and people. Unfortunately, we only have the unreliable, decrepit MRT trains that under the term of this administration have deteriorated, with many of the 70-plus units they “inherited” from the Arroyo government now inoperable.
But it will probably take the next century before ordinary Filipinos will get to experience a ride in these bullet trains, what with transport infrastructure spending still very low, with projects put on hold because of legal problems and issues—all of which could become big turn-offs for serious investors.
Fortunately, Hitachi is reportedly eyeing a possible opportunity to invest in railway projects in the Philippines. This is in relation to the recent proclamation of the Philippine government that initial steps have been taken with Japan to establish improvements for Metro Manila transport and infrastructure which includes a possible implementation of the Mega Manila Subway. Following the PH statement, Hitachi Ltd. chairman and chief executive Hiroaki Nakanishi said during a press briefing at the recently held Hitachi Social Innovation Forum in Tokyo, Japan, that there have been discussions on this opportunity.
“We have already started discussions on thinking about making feasibility studies. In the case of the railway systems, Hitachi has a very big advantage to give all of the facilities not just in terms of locomotive vendor, but we also have signal, electric supply and also train management systems so we can cover the whole project. The next step is to know what’s feasible for this project,” Nakanishi said.
Nakanishi also volunteered that apart from transportation projects, the Philippine power grid is an area of interest for Hitachi. “I’m very much interested about the future grid of the Philippines. Philippines has a very specific structure and there are so many islands in the area. We would like to discuss the future grid of the country. The rapid economic growth requires infrastructures. It’s a very important area,” he stated.
•••
For comments, reactions, photos, stories and related concerns, readers may email to happyhourtoday2012@yahoo.com. You may also visit and like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/happyhourmanilastandard. We’d be very happy to hear from you. Cheers!