Opinion 6/3/16 (Philippines, climate change, water, Duterte, security)

Sun.Star Cebu's Carvajal: "How long?"

WITH the onset of heavy rains, we can declare victory over a long and nasty drought. But the remarkable thing is we survived it in spite of the absence of pro-activeness in our political leaders. We survived it by pure luck or, as the bishops might want to claim, by God’s answer to their oratio imperata.
Local officials did nothing but declare a state of emergency (which causes no water to spring from the ground) and distribute free water containers. But how crazy is it to give people water-containers when there simply is no water to put in them? Yet, previous to this drought, they had a water summit. People were glad then to hear that, in addition to declaring a state of emergency and distributing water-containers, they will build water impounding systems and reservoirs. But the rains came and water impounding systems were nowhere to be found. Hence, the last drought was even worse (for water) than the previous one they had a summit on. Now the rains are here again, thank God. Yes, so far it is God alone we can thank because, again, where are the vaunted water impounding systems, the dams and water reservoirs in mountain barangays to store excess rain water for dry days ahead? Where are the mandatory cisterns in city buildings to keep rain water, at least some of it, from washing down to the sea? [full text]

Freeman's Lastimosa "Di kabalibad sa seguridad"

Mahimong nilampos na ang Presidential Security Group pagkumbinser ni Vice President-elect Leni Robredo sa pagtahan sa iyang naandan nga pagsakay og buses gikan ug padung sa iyang buhatan sa Metro Manila ug sa iyang pinuy-anan sa Naga City sa Camarines Sur. Matod ni Robredo inanay na siyang nakasabot sa mga implikasyon sa iyang seguridad isip ikaduhang labing taas nga opisyal sa nasudnong gobyerno. Mas lisod pasabton si President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. Kinsa niinsistir nga sa unang mga semana sa iyang pamunoan, gawas nga di siya mopuyo sa Malakanyang, mosakay siya og commercial flights pagpauli matag gabii sa Davao City ug pagbalik sa trabaho matag buntag sa palasyo. Daghang nihangop sa pahibawo ni Duterte nga usa sa mga simbolo nga daghan ug dagkong kausaban ang atong mapaabot sa mosunod nga unom ka tuig sa iyang pamunoan. Angay sang hangpon ang pasalig ni Robredo nga bisan did-an na siya pagsakay og bus magpabilin ang iyang pamilya sa ilang yano nga pagpuyo. [full text]