Two top ranking US govt officials: Secy of State and Defense met with their Philippine counterparts regarding the promised $500 million defense aid to the Philippines This will be used to build infrastructures for EDCA agreement.
Will this lessen Chinas aggression or bring Philippines to the brink of war?
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr recently, after the floods last week, ordered the review of flood control projects as they many no longer be appropriate.
With due respect to the President, may this post humbly point out why there are floods:
1. There was too much garbage clogging the waterways, and were clogged --->> we must implore our people to dispose waste properly, enforce no littering, proper solid waste disposal
2. The Manggahan floodway is heavily silted, the Laguna lake is silted. --->> dredging projects needed
3. There are too many settlers in low lying areas and river banks --->> relocate them. Building officials must enforce danger zones construction ban.
4. Denuded forest around Marikina watershed - ---> tree planting projects by schools and military
5. River bank projects and accretion Eg. Pasig river was like a sea before 200- 300 meters wide before. What remains of Pasig river. LGUs love river bank projects which narrows the water ways. ---> reclaim rivers from LGU and private indidvisuals
There were subdivision developers that backfilled creeks and or made creeks narroweer vs Ortigas or Ayala which widens creeks and dig them deeper.
6. Too many reclamation projects were permitted at Manila Bay and Laguna Lake - stop and or cancel titles granted to those who undertook the reclamation projects.
7. There was a deluge. Too much rainfall. Even countries in Europe, South America, China had floods because simply there was too much rain
The problems are clear and equally the solutions should be too.
Some economist say the effect will be minimal. Govt officials say that the revenue from POGO is not that much. China welcomed the banning of POGO
There is much negative social effect: source of criminality, scams, well losses from gambling. And as the Senate investigation is pointing out, can be source of security risk - espionage. Some of their workers could be spies, or soldiers of the PLA
All ready, real estate companies are predicting drop in rents as many offices will be vacated. Initially the real estate market reacted. The prices of real estate companies drooped days after the POGO ban was announced.
So when US hiccups, the weaker smaller economies panic. So we have to know what the elephant is doing, or its current condition.
The little things that happen in USA reverberates, has a large impact on countries like the Philippines. A travel advisory can drive away tourists from Philippine destination and adversely affect the economy. A shortage of nurses in USA means much to Philippine nursing graduates, and nursing schools
Political bickering, in anticipation of 2025 elections has increased in intensity: political rallies denouncing PBBM, snubbing of SONA, leaked pulvoron videos. Back to tribalism and mudslinging. Luzon vs. Mindanao?
It should not be for we are one nation on the way to unparalleled growth and progress. We are target of envy of other nations that are not growing as much
But power struggle, politics is real. Unfulfilled promises = position, budget are causes of difficulties and challenges. Plus new entrants in the political arena.
As Lincoln reminded us "With charity for all, with malice towards none...."
Majority of barangays in San Mateo were flooded, and evacuation has to be implemented. Floodwaters reached the roofs of some houses. Some are not accessible though. The Mayor asked help of PNP and
AFP.
Work and classes are suspended as of July 25, 2024.
La Mesa dam too has breached the highest water level and floods in low lying areas in Bulacan is expected. La Mesa dam has no floodgates. Maybe just spillways.
Deep floodwaters in Quezon City Ignacia Ave, Araneta especially at Corner of Maria Clara were deep. Quezon City is supposed in elevated area. How come there is flooding.
(This post used to live in Maria Clara, we sold the house a long time ago)
Brought by typhoon Carina which is expected to intensify.
Elevated subdivision that are flood free will be in demand. What can be done to mitigate flooding?
Residents, citizens certainly contributed to this disaster. See the garbage?
Brought by Typhoon Carina, no landfall and yet brought plenty of rains. Flooding due also to clogged drains, due to garbage, and flood control programs not working?
Manila too is below sea level. Used to be a marsh/wet land
Is MM to be relocated? Just like Jakarta which is constantly flooded?
Its a disaster; state of calamity in the country, 600,000 individuals evacuated. Relief and rescue operations ordered and on going.
Caused by typhoon Carina which has intensified and OTW to Taiwan.
NDRRMC has repeatedly warned residents of flooding and landslide in affected areas. Typhoon holiday was declared: schools and stock trading were suspended.
We get alarmed by this unusually high flood water level. And yet we continue unabatedly, reclamation projects or residents along the river banks getting titles to accretion (deposition of sediments along river banks, sometimes illegally. And this has been tolerated
Rivers are in need of dredging because channels have become narrow because of siltation from erosion, lack of trees to stop water flow, development. LGUs also construct along river banks further narrowing river channels.
We should not interfere with the rivers. Sometimes we backfill creeks and construct on the backfill. When floods come, nature reclaims the creek.
There is a lot of rains because we have 2 typhoons that visited us: Butchoy and Carina. Hence rains are non stop.
Is it Karma, is it God punishing the Filipinos? That was the narrative/comments thread regarding flooding in China.
We should be thankful for this rains because we will have water filling up dams and reservoirs, This is good news for the water of concessionaires because there is plenty of water to sell.
It could be a brilliant strategy. Now Trump, GOP has to start all over again. The GOP has even thought of suing Dems for the move.
Kamala Harris turns out to be a stronger candidate: younger, (to harness the young voters) female, (for all Amercian female voters, and black. Thats a lot of sectors captured. Harris is actually ahead of Trump and winnable.
They thought the withdrawal of Biden was a sign of defeat? Its actually a victory for Dems?
The dollar has continued to be the world's reserve currency. A robust economy healthy job creation high interest rate, all contributed to robust Dollar. The currency of BRICS were beaten by the Dollar.
BRICS is composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Iran, and United Arab Emirates.
China Rembi is seen as a risky currency due to geopolitical risk associated with news about Taiwan invasion.
The U.S. dollar remains the world's primary reserve currency, and neither the euro nor the so-called BRICS countries have been able to reduce global reliance on the dollar, a new study by the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center shows.
There are efforts to use a diiferent currency but is still in nascent stage and has not gained traction
The POGOs have until year end to be legal in the Philippines, after which they are banned. This could be on offshoot of the discovery of crimes coming from POGOs due to problems in Bamban Tarlac and Porac Pampanga, and as a result of on going Senate hearing on Alice Guo.
The chamber of commerce have pointed out the negative effect on real estate, employment, revenue collection with POGO ban. Maybe its politically unpalatable to the President. So he had to decide against POGO.
This was contained in PBBMs SONA address July 24, 2024. He said that POGO ban would solve many of our problems but not all of them . He ordered PAGCOR for the winding down of their operation by year end 2024
A feature of MS (Bing) notified this gadget not to pass Baytown up to Velasquez (Villa Road) late
yesterday afternoon. After a few hours of rains due to typhoons Butchoy or Carina.
The said road has been added several layers of concrete (about 3 layers?) and yet flood continues. The residents of Baytown complain of year round inundation..
This post can cite several items for analysis and discussion:
1. The area being discussed is part of the lake - famous elevation 12.5 mlle which LLDA sets as demarcation for non development. And yet a road was built, and reclamation extending up to several hundred meters were undertaken;
2. Despite the posted prohibition, the reclamation continued;
3. Elevation 12.5 is at the end of Richmond, thus Baytown is beyond the said elevation. Thus when it rains the lake takes back what its hers, hence the flooding.
This post presupposes that the flooding the problem at Baytown will persist when it rains. Only when it rains. (Or even when it does not rain because water seeks its own level)
A pro - Duterte rally (a coalition of Duterte supporters) parallel to SONA report by Pres BBM at Congress will be held today, July 22, 2024. at Liwasang Bonifacio (a freedom park). Some 5,000 attendees are expected.
Why is this so? Isnt this divisive. During the time of PRRD, no such thing were conducted against him by predecessor... We add more problems to leftist anti demo, more confusion
We need loyalty and respect to the duly elected chief of the country. We cant move forward if anger, divisiveness, negativism is cultivated.
Better not. A former congressman, ally to the said former president found himself in hot waters, was censured for making comments that were labelled as anti govt. We need the unity we have. We are one country. Its not Mindanao vs Luzon or MM. After all, these people should be thankful that bulk of IRA comes from Luzon and MM, not the other way around.
It is more fun criticizing
The new Senate building construction is reported to be under investigageion and thus stopped. Why do we need such an expensive building?
It is more fun criticizing
It is surprising that he is one of the world's richest. He should not put the world at risk. He should be happy with his wealth.
It is more fun criticizing
The US Secret Service is tasked with protecting the President, including former Presidents. A lot of question is being raised, and an oversight committee investigation is being planned at US Congress. There are allegations of lapeses: why the shooter was only 140 meters away. Why they did not act when he was seen at the vicinity. A picture of the suspect was even taken by a SS personnel. Improvement in manpower, process needed
It is more fun criticizing
Its microsoft outage vs. men's normal life. Plane flights, bank transactions, media transmission were halted. It shows too how dependent we are on tech companies, or why Bill Gates is so rich. Many of our daily transactions are dependent on MS. May the outage be soon repaired and life back to normal
It is more fun criticizing
A TV host said the bandaged ear of Trump was a prop. It was unkind. The man had his head nearly blown off, had he not rotated his head. The press in USA can be inconsiderate and cruel...
It is more fun criticizing
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Fmr Pres Obama are joining together to convince Pres Covin to quit reelection. Because of many gaffes and his poor performance in the debate with fmr Pres. Trump. He is now sick with Covid
Comelec chair to file cases vs alleged fake accounts. The Bahamas files were alleged to have been mailed from Philippines and then mailed back to the Philippines. The font used were the same
A former Congressman had made allegations over wrongdoing at Miru contract for election automation: alleged $15 million bribe. Tagged as Bahamas files Comelec chief denied the wrong doing.
So much bribery and scandal allegations for the govt chiefs.
He was shot by 20 year old from a rooftop in Butler Pennsylvania. There were reported lapses in the Secret Service (they are duty bound to protect) former Presidents. And the head of the Secret Service, a lady was being pressured to resign.
The networks in the US were being criticized how the incident was being reported: Fmr Pres Trump fell in a political rally, Why was he wearing a bandage on his right ear (a prop?) and that he was injured...
His head could have been blown off had he faced directly forward. But as fate would have it, he turned to his left that was why the bullet whizzed by parallel to his head and grazed his right ear.
We hope USA, Pres Trump and their election would be well and not as violent as it is now.
Former Pres. Trump was shot in what is reported to be an assassination attempt. The shooter, a young 20 year old boy has been neutralized by snipers guarding the former President. The shooting injured the former Pres in his right ear. Several others were injured and one was killed.
Pres. Biden condemned the killing and said he would call his opponent. This has never happened in US (only the Philippines) What happens next?
This came after abuse by Chinese coast guard of Philippine military at West Philippine sea. Many of citizens comment that this is divine justice and is instant karma
This kind of conversation must stop. The flooding is a natural phenomenon and God is good. He does not want his creatures to die and suffer. Let is pray for their leadership to decide better in WPS
Let us pray for their safety and for the rains to stop. Calamities do happen to every one, including us. We had our share of earthquakes typhoon and flooding. And its not because we were unjust to some people or that we are sinful (as some say we are)
Mindanao now is experiencing flooding. Are people from Mindanao sinners? Or are they persecuting other people. I think not
We note that there are many high rise buildings that were erected recently mostly exceeding 50 stories. Building officials and investors should have been more circumspect. When the big one strikes, we can not imagine the results....
Can they withstand intensity earthquake? Are they earthquake proof (with shocks, gimbals and and all?)
Corruption has no place in saving lives and limbs in case of big one
In my experience you get well read if you are any of the following (or none of the above) controversial, funny, odd, extraordinary. Pr use SEO - keywords and/or go along with trending news
To do this, you must be willing to be in the boundary between truth and lie. You may hype, exage, or detract from the truth.
Or you may go the extreme: burning your own car, house, or diving down a ravine or waterfall. To which I am not willing to do.
Is it because of the glory, the $ that You Tube pays, or they are outright __ of their mind?
History is full of stories of empires, its rise, its height, and eventual decline. Persian, Ottoman, Russian, British, Alexander the Great.
Empires come and go.
Is USA an empire? Is it on a decline with high rates of crime, woke, homelessness, drug addiction, high levels of debt (preceded by too much war footing)
Pres Biden was highly criticized for his very poor performance in US Presidential Debate with former Pres. D. Trump - sometimes hesitating, blundering, incoherent. Signs of dementia; cognitive decline
Elsewhere he did not do well in radio interview - mixing up his thoughts regarding working with black Pres, and black woman VP. The gaffes are sometimes pitiful.
There have been clamor for him to stop his reelection bid from his own party and have him replaced by the VP
Are this gaffes and signs of old age minor, or is it bad for his campaign and his stature as Pres of USA, to the rest of the world who look up to USA.?
Several distinguished lawmakers from the south have been in ways and means committee in Congress. These are powerful committees control on how government funds should be allocated in different parts of the countries. Many other congressmen and perhaps curry their favor. One such solon hails from Quezon and two are from Bicol right now: the surname of the ways and means, is the same as the middle name of the one in appropriations committee. Together they are powerful tandem.
News/buzz had it also that the island province in far north were paved because the islands son became the DBM secretary.
Now it appears as it appears now that one of 5 star resorts in the South is owned by this guy. And so with Casinos being owned by some politicians. Some people cant help it that when they are in power, they take advantage of their positions.
We can not prove the buzz and the maritess right and wrong. Hmmmm but we all know.
A defaulting borrower who got money from an on line lender complained of the collection process involving the barangay. The debtor got a text message informing the latter of hearing before the barangay, specifying the time of the hearing and the charge.
However it was found out:
1. No such hearing was scheduled for the day;
2. The barangay secretary has no knowledge of such hearing;
3. There were no hard copy of demand letters sent to the debtor;
4. The barangay official present said that such collection cases and it is written on the walls of the Hall of Justice of the Barangay, that such cases are not within the jurisdiction of Barangay Justice. Find out too if the Lending Investor are legit and duly licensed by BSP and or SEC
Clearly the text messages of the hearing was a sham. And for many online borrowers who defaulted, and this is not encourage non payment but to relieve stress and anxiety from such proceedings, ignore if the procedures herein mentioned are the same, Know your rights and correct procedure
There could be many illegal on line lending investors. And they must be ferreted and their shaming collection tactics , lies usurpation tactics should be stopped
This should limit the disturbance to pedestrians and commuters who were unduly harassed during the last St. John the Baptist festivities.
Thanks to the good mayor for making amends to the public that his townmates have wronged unduly
A commuter reportedly lost her chance to be employed abroad. Her documents were damaged and she was late for the interview. It is hoped she will be hired
It is more fun criticizing
See for yourself the debate between former President Trump and current President Biden. Is he fit to lead the strongest and Number 1 nation of the world.
