Today, Tuesday, is All Saints’ Day, when the Christian world usually pay their respects for their departed loved ones. Here in Cebu, all roads lead to our cemeteries as we pay our respects to our dearly beloved.
I am hoping and praying that our All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day would be peaceful with most of our people reminded not to bring those prohibited materials inside the cemeteries. It is important for us to be reminded that today and tomorrow are our dearly beloved days for us to pray for their souls.
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It didn’t take long for Environment secretary Gina Lopez to make up her mind about ordering the closure of the Inayawan dumpsite after an ocular inspection of the area despite the presence of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
In a way, I could not understand why the present administration is not throwing its garbage at the private landfill in Consolacion town when it has not yet filed a case against the previous administration despite asserting that the arrangement it had with the operator was anomalous and had no contract approved by the City Council.
That’s because the fee paid for by the city government is very reasonable compared to the fees paid for by the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu to the Consolacion landfill operator.
As a matter of fact, Councilor Joel Garganera told us in our last 888 News Forum that the court told the city government that there’s nothing to stop the city from renegotiating with the Consolacion landfill operator.
Garganera believes that the reason the present administration is not interested in the Consolacion landfill site is basically political. I think what should be considered by all the parties is public interest, especially their safety and health.
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I am happy and welcome the latest pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte that he will stop cursing or swearing because he got a message from God.
Admittedly, the President’s repeated cursing isn’t good for his administration and our country in light of the response of his pet peeves, the US and the European Union.
But it is good to keep our ties with the US and EU as we enter into new relationships with other countries especially China and Russia.
The President in his recent visit in China brought in many trade agreements with companies from China, some of whom were blacklisted in the international scene which is why we should look into them.
I think severing our ties with the US is not totally good for us Filipinos and our country. It would scare away the investors especially those business process outsourcing (BPO) firms whose principals are from the US.
Lest we forget the Filipinos who are in the US who remit their dollars to their loved ones back home and help prop up the economy.
Let me reiterate the importance of maintaining our present relationship with our allies. At the same time, we welcome our relationships with the other countries like China and Russia since it is good for our country and people.
Mind you, maintaining our relationship with the US and building new ones with China and Russia has advantages and disadvantages.