Opinion 11/12/15

Inquirer on public transportation

Can the commuting masses who demand better public transportation services be deemed unreasonable? Are they being petulant when, in exchange for their money, they expect the MRT/LRT rush-hour queues…The way it looks, the way transportation officials headed by Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya behave, the teeming masses forced to put up with all manner of glitches almost daily in their commute are being a spoiled bunch in their expectations. [full page]

Sun.Star Cebu on health care

Relative of the child that died at the Minglanilla District Hospital Saturday night are cool to filing a complaint against the doctor and other hospital personnel who refused to treat the patient because her parents didn't have the money to buy medications. […] This is not surprising considering the social status of the family of the child, one-year-old Mary Jane Bariquit, who succumbed to vomiting and diarrhea. […] The administration of Gov. Hilario Davide III may have poured money and resources into the district hospitals, but it has become obvious that there is still more room for improvement. [full page]

Manila Bulletin about salary increase in public office

An administration bill has been filed in Congress calling for increases in the salaries of government personnel. […] The timing is suspect to opposition quarters who think it is aimed at winning  support for the candidacy of the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate Mar Roxas. […] Whether or not the coming salary increases are linked to  the election, they are most heartily welcomed by the 1.53 million workers in various government offices whose pay suffers in comparison with those in the private sector. [full page]

Philippine Star about disaster relief

Malacañang and the city government of Tacloban are feuding again, this time over the absence of President Aquino at ceremonies last Sunday marking the second anniversary of the day Super Typhoon Yolanda brought grievous death and destruction to large swaths of Eastern Visayas. […] Overlooked in all that attention is the plight of the other disaster victims, and there are many. As in Samar and Leyte, it will take years before the coconut and banana plantations in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley…Also needing sustained assistance are the victims of Tropical Storm Sendong, which struck Mindanao on Dec. 16, 2011. […] Even Zamboanga City has not completely recovered from the three-week siege staged in 2013 by a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front. [full page]