cover story magazine

The Sunday Times

May 2, 2010

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■ Almeda with presidential candidate Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. and his constituents and allies

Almeda said that if elected, he would remedy the situation by allocating 10 percent, or around P7 million, of his pork barrel fund to improve the healthcare system of Caloocan. He explained that this would mean upgrad- ing the only public hospital in Caloocan, which is the Diosdado Macapagal Hospital. Almeda stresses that he wants all of the city’s indigents, senior citizens and barangay officials to receive free medical treatment in the said facility whenever they need it. Explaining why he is keen on giving barangay officials medical benefit, he says, “The barangay tanods [foot patrols] are the city’s first responders and first line of defense against criminal elements. I don’t want to see a tanod die because he can’t afford medical treatment.”

Building an economic zone

Almeda believes that Caloocan’s proximity to

South Harbor and the Manila International Container Port, unnoticed for so long, could be utilized for the city’s economic gain. He said that building a special economic zone in Caloocan would greatly cut the transport cost of container vans. Almeda explained that this would largely benefit import-dependent companies whose 15 percent of operational expenses goes to transport and hauling. Stressing the point, he relates, “To give you an example, the hauling cost of a 40-footer container from South Harbor to Laguna or Cavite where the industrial zones are is approximately P30,000 minimum. If we can build a special economic zone here in Caloocan, the transport cost of that same container would only be P10,000 to 15,000. Now, tell me, who would not want to do business with Caloocan?”

The plan if materialized would not only attract investors but create jobs as well. Almeda intends that 75 percent of the economic zone’s skilled workers should be coming from Caloocan City.

For the record, Almeda promised that if given a chance to serve Caloocan as congressman, he would fully use the pork barrel fund for the betterment of the lives of his constituents. “If the 10 percent of the pork barrel fund would go to healthcare, the remaining 90 percent would be spent on the development of the barangays in the second district. I will bring that remaining 90 percent to the barangay level prorated equally. I will let the barangay captains draft their own development programs like the acquisitions of land for the construction of barangay halls,” he says.

Grand promise

Almeda was dismayed seeing makeshift barangay halls and healthcare facilities in Caloocan many of these were just old container vans, “I want to bring back decency to the barangay government,” he emphasized. Almeda revealed that each congressman is receiving a minimum of P70-million pork barrel fund every year, “And yet, we cannot feel it here in the Second District of Caloocan,” he bemoans.

Moral fiber and societal woes

While over-population is a problem not

only in Caloocan but in many areas in the Philippines as well, Almeda stated his straightforward opposition to the controver- sial reproductive health bill, “I am pro-life, I came from a Catholic background and I

believe in individual responsibility and responsible parenting,” he emphasized. Instead of seeing people as problems they should be appreciated as assets. People are the creative producers. They also are the market.

Almeda opines that many of the

country’s woes could be attributed to its low moral fiber. He said that a strong republic should have a strong moral fiber as well, “Morality has a far reaching influence to many societal problems including teen pregnancy and criminality,” Almeda explains. According to him, a society with a rickety moral foundation also breeds indifference and this can be also be seen in the neglect of the environment. With a sense of nostalgia, Almeda pointed to the compound where he grew up, “If you saw this place 20 years ago, it looks like a country club, we have a nice house as well as a farm and we even breed horses here.” But with the flooding problems left unattended, the place eventually degenerated into a flood catch- basin, “In time our creeks and esteros that funnel the water out into the Manila Bay dried up and died making Calocan more prone to floods,” Almeda narrates.

Ready for the job

Almeda attests that by measure of qualification and experience, he is ready for the job, “I graduated college from De LaSalle University with a degree in History and Political Science. I studied Law at the Ateneo Law School although I only reached third year but I have a good legal background,” he says.

On the process of making laws, Almeda said that his job for the past half decade is a good preparation for becoming a congress- man, “I would say, and as far as legislative matters are concerned I have been working in Congress for the last five years as chief of staff of not a mere ordinary politician and congressman but the very son of the President [Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo of Pampanga, chairman of the House Committee on Energy], so I believe I’m ready to take the responsibility.” Almeda expresses high hopes for the elections this month, “This election will be very significant because this is the first national election that is fully automated,” he relates with excitement. Almeda points out that through the speed and accuracy of automation technology, the people could now really rely on the power of their votes to elect the leaders that they want. As a parting shot, he calls on the people of Caloocan to safeguard the sanctity of the ballot, “Be vigilant and do not sell your votes. Let us not waste this great opportunity for change.”

NET 25 teams up with the Cultural Center of the Philippines as its official broadcast partner for Earth Day 2010 themed: “Luntiang Lungsod, Luntiang Sining” (Green City, Green Arts).

Artists, cultural workers and environmentalists converged

at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex recently, as part of a city-wide event to to celebrate the country’s commitment to tackling climate change.

Net 25’s program “Tribe,” showcased its Earth & Art Exhibit

entitled ECO-life through VideOmage . Here, 13 artists created new stories through their artworks to share a deep understanding of the precariousness of our relationship to the natural world.

Deviantly showing the masterpieces in AVision LCD

monitors with video annotations from the artists themselves instead of the regular canvass, TRIBE has pulled together a group of painters, photographers, sculptor, and a gallery owner to explore various issues as it relates to the theme of caring for the environment.

Each artist’s distinctive approach conveys these ideas

profoundly, capturing our imagination and inspiring environmentally friendly actions among its visitors.

INSTEAD OF SEEING PEOPLE AS PROBLEMS THEY SHOULD BE APPRECIATED AS ASSETS. PEOPLE ARE THE CREATIVE PRODUCERS. THEY ALSO ARE THE MARKET.

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NET 25 and CCP mark Earth Day 2010

Caesar Vallejos, Net 25’s Marketing Officer: “NET 25 has been

a very active institution in the protection and conservation of the environment. We have invited artists, both young artists and experienced ones, to feature their works of art. ECO-life through VideOmage will be shown to the viewers and to the attendees of the Earth Day celebration.”

CCP President Raul Sunico expressed his gratitude to Net 25 in promoting the arts & culture and for a cleaner and greener Philippines.

CCP President Raul Sunico: “We’d like to thank NET 25 for its

continuous support for CCP for our events that have actually registered for quite a wide coverage among our viewers. And now with its new twist of our collaboration, we certainly are excited about promoting our environment for a greener Philippines through NET 25.”

For his part, Net25’s Marketing Officer reiterated the

station’s support to transforming lives through significant projects like these.

Caesar Vallejos, Net 25’s Marketing Officer: “We hope that

this partnership with CCP will continue and whatever their environmental projects are, NET 25 will always be there to support as a media partner.”

Net 25 has always been an advocate as media partner in campaigning to take action to stop the global warming with our simple daily acts.

■ CCP President Raul Sunico and NET 25 Chief Marketing Officer Caesar R. Vallejos team up for Earth Day 2010 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

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