Organic municipal waste converted into organic fertilizer

One common problem that all cities and towns in the Philippines has is how to dispose of the waste its people generate.  While there seems to be no end to the amount of garbage generated by cities and towns, there are only a very few places where people will welcome the endless stream of city and town waste.  New landfills around Metro Manila are filling up and once filled up, there will be a need to look for new areas to turn into landfills.

Information from the National Solid Waste Management Commission indicates that the entire Philippines generates some 35,000 tons of waste every day, and some 8,400 tons come from Metro Manila.

Of the yearly national waste generation of 12,775,000 tons, some 40 to 70 per cent are collected and thrown in 1,205 waste disposal facilities.  Around 55 of the waste facilities are “sanitary” landfills and 1,172 are open or controlled dumpsites long outlawed by Republic Act 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Finding new places to dump city and municipal waste is getting much more difficult and most probably, costlier too.

Quezon City, the largest city in Metro Manila, is now beset with the problem of looking for a new dumpsite.  Recently elected Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, according to some journalists, is currently being criticized for a looming garbage disposal problem after RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act made the operation of the Payatas Dumpsite in Quezon City.

In the face of a mounting garbage problem and the need to comply with RA 9003 lest the Quezon City government face sanction, a blame game has erupted between the Quezon City government, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Put simply, the Quezon City government basically points out that its duty under the law is to dispose of its garbage but the duty of providing garbage dumpsites belongs to the MMDA and the DENR.

According to Philippine Star columnist Mary Anne Ll. Reyes, the Supreme Court rendered a decision where it “underscored that the MMDA is the entity primarily responsible for the implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act and that the MMDA ‘has the duty to put up and maintain adequate sanitary landfills.’”

Further more, according to Reyes, “Non-government organizations keeping watch on Payatas allegedly have photos to prove that the dumpsite remains in operation despite the announcement of the December 31, 2010 closure. They also allege that the new landfill promised by the QC government is a facility being built over the old pile of garbage in the existing dumpsite.”

In all likelihood, the MMDA might not have found an RA9003 compliant dumpsite that could accommodate Quezon City or if it did find one for Quezon City, perhaps its cost as well as capacity might have been a problem.

Quezon City and its looming garbage problem, however, is not hopeless.  Perhaps, if ever it does mount into a crisis, it might just force its local government and residents to find suitable solutions.

One such solution being espoused by Unilever Philippines is a “Zero Waste” program for every barangay.

Chito Macapagal, Unilever Philippines’ Corporate Affairs or Corporate Planning General Manager, had given me and other members of the Alliance for a Cleaner Earth a briefing on its corporate social responsibility projects.  Among those projects is the “Zero Waste” program where in communities are basically taught how to reduce the waste they generate through segregation, reuse and recycling.  The goal of the program is to enable communities to be so efficient in reducing the waste they generate that, eventually, they don’t throw away anything.

The impact of such a program being done in all 43,000 barangays around the country could be spectacular.  But getting all or even just a third of Filipino communities to reduce the waste they create to zero seems still quite far from actually happening.

Smaller companies such as the Agricultural Inoculants Corporation (AIC), a company engaged in providing rapid composting agents, has stepped up with its own solution in the form of a low-cost program that can be adopted by city and municipal governments.

Citing the fact that 50 to 60 percent of all household waste from urban centers are bio-degradable or organic in nature, the AIC created a basic business model for making organic waste conversion into a potentially lucrative venture.

It has offered this model for low-cost organic fertilizer production for free and the study can be re-scaled or adapted to suit various scenarios and scales.

AIC President Gene Gregorio points out that if properly implemented, any organic waste to organic fertilizer production with a business model could result in:

- a 50 to 60 percent reduction at municipal levelof organic waste being thrown into landfills

- production of an ample supply of organic fertilizer which can be used to supplement or substitute chemical fertilizers, thereby decreasing the farmer’s cost of production and widening his profit margin.  This could even possibly keep food prices from fluctuating with the rise in cost of petro-chemical derived fertilizers as well as aid in further decreasing dependence on non-renewable resources.

- additional revenue for city and municipal government or additional off season earnings for farmers who undertake organic fertilizer production as either a revenue generating or income generating project.

AIC’s organic waste to organic fertilizer production was actually designed for small-scale or even micro-entrepreneurs.  With training and an initial supply of rapid composting agents worth P50,000, the small-scale entrepreneur could produce 3,000 bags of ready to use organic fertilizer at a cost of just P87.40 per bag and retail it at P250.00 per bag.  Within an eight month period, the successful small scale entrepreneur could realize a gross earning of P750,000 or possible high net profit of some P487,800.

One important question that crops up with any business model is whether there is any market for the product or, to put it bluntly, whether there is actually anyone who will buy the organic fertilizer.

The answer isn’t a simple yes or no, according to Gregorio.

The AIC President points out that with the enactment of the Organic Farming Act of 2010 and the publication of the Department of Agriculture’s Implementing Rules and Regulations for the Organic Farming Act, there is a bright prospect for the propagation of organic farming practices.  Such practices include the use of organic fertilizer made from composted material and other organic wastes.

AIC’s organic fertilizer production method has been approved by the Dept. of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research 4 years ago and complies with the standards set by the Organic Farming Act.  Moreover, when compared to other methods of composting — such as ordinary composting or vermiculture composting — AIC’s method was found by the BAR to be faster (21 days production time) and of a more consistent quality when it comes to its nutrient composition.

Gregorio says that with the DA plunking down 2 percent of its budget or almost a billion pesos to support the growth of organic farming, there seems to be enough basis to believe that there will be a sizeable demand for organic fertilizer — a key input in making organic farms productive and feasible.

Discounting what could be a still latent demand for organic fertilizer, Gregorio pointed out that organic fertilizer is just as effective and even cheaper than chemical fertilizers.

Chemical fertilizers such as Urea, Triple 14, and others can cost farmers P1,200 to P1,800 per bag.  Organic fertilizers, if produced on-site in farms, could cost the farmer just P87.40 per bag to produce.

With such a proposition, it could seem that organic fertilizer production would be a great solution to a number of things including rising food prices, meager farm incomes, and the burgeoning garbage crisis of urban centers in the country.

However, just recently, I was told that municipalities around the country were being given free chemical fertilizers by the Department of Agriculture.  Most likely, such a free fertilizer program would most likely be supported by the suppliers and manufacturers of fertilizers.

Of course, Mayors and Vice Mayors of every municipality would be quick to support such a program that endowed them with free fertilizers to give to their constituents.  The supply of free fertilizer from the national government is limited, but for Mayors with a term of just 3 years, the prospect of immediate and ready political capital for the next elections in 2013 will seem much more desirable.

On one hand, we have organic farming practices that could deliver multiple solutions and on the other, big chemical fertilizer businesses aiming to ensure that Philippine agriculture will remain dependent on their products.

Faced with this uneven competition and with the still incipient organic farming program, AIC says that all it can really do is to continue informing and educating people about the possible solutions offered by organic farming.

“The solution to healthier food, less organic waste, climate change adaptation, and providing our farmers with additional income is here and it’s ready for the taking. We think that by just continuing in a drive to communicate with people about the benefits of what we are doing, we can make small shifts in the way people think and that shift could lead to just enough change that could make a difference.” said Gregorio.

“I am still convinced it is a matter of execution. I honesty think a Manny Pacquiao saying ‘Pilipinas kay Ganda’ will make a world curious and try to find out what it means.”

Sorry Mr. Romano, but Pilipinas, Kay Ganda and everything about it is just wrong.

Well, in fairness to the former undersecretary, he does deserve some praise for simply resigning. After all, it’s not everyday that a Filipino government official resigns over a misjudgment, an indiscretion or any other shameful reason. Of course, it remains to be seen if Romano’s, uhm, selfless act would have any positive influence on other government officials especially those with graver sins.

As expected, some people are now using the terms “honorable” and Romano in the same sentence. One of them is Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, who had this to say:

“Enteng offered his resignation, he admitted his mistake, it was honorable of him to offer his resignation and the president respects him for his act. And it is with reluctance that the president accepted his resignation.”

Someone should tell Lacierda to tone down his hyperbole. In that statement alone, he exaggerated not only his characterization of Romano’s act of resigning, but also his interpretation of the president’s state of mind when he came to know of the resignation offer.

Aquino reluctant? If that was the case then why did he accept Romano’s resignation on the very same day it was offered? Couldn’t he have waited another day to think about it? Just consider how the president handled Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno’s courtesy resignation over the Quirino Grandstand Hostage Crisis. Now that one was a display of reluctance or rather a strong unwillingness to let go of someone.

Perhaps, Lacierda should be reminded that 8 people died in that hostage crisis while so far there have been no deaths resulting from the unleashing of Pilipinas, Kay Ganda. Talk about misplaced reluctance.

There is one other detail about Romano’s press statement that is quite off-putting. Here it is:

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincerest apologies to President Aquino, Secretary Lim, and the Filipino people for the controversy that this branding exercise has generated.”

What was that apology to the President and Secretary Lim for exactly? Has Romano forgotten that they were also involved in this? Perhaps, this bit of info from inquirer.net would help him remember.

“At the unveiling of the new Philippine tourism label earlier this week, Lim told the Inquirer that the tarsier and the smiling coconut tree were inputs provided by President Aquino when his team presented it to him.”

C’mon, Mister Romano, don’t take all the credit. Leave some for your former bosses.

We are all guided by our consciences. My position has not changed. The state’s duty is to educate our families as to their responsibilities and to respect their decisions if they are in conformity to our laws.

The Catholic Church should definitely stay out of this issue for once. If it cannot it should at least refrain from issuing threats of excommunication or civil disobedience. Even better, the church should just gather all its bishops and concentrate on offering prayers. That’s what they normally advise people including those with serious practical problems. It just stands to reason that they should do as they preach, doesn’t it?

Now to clarify, I may or may not exactly support everything there is about the Reproductive Health Bill, but I do support the idea that the people need to be given access to information and options to help them come up with informed decisions.

In my view, Aquino’s assertion of this idea is a good start and ought to be supported. I would even say that any action against the Catholic Church’s self-appointed control over the Filipino’s way of life should be promoted. This is why I can’t help but laud the publicity stunt carried out by popular tour guide Carlos Celdran.

Although I generally abhor publicity stunts, I will have to make an exemption and support this one. Coming from a private citizen instead of a politician, this one strikes me as a sincere act. Lucky for Celdran, not a few people got the message and are now feeling a bit more empowered as well to express their disgust over the Catholic Church’s tyranny.

Could Celdran’s stunt spark civil disobedience against the church? We will just have to wait and see. In the meantime, these holier-than-thou bishops should remind themselves of the Golden Rule — Don’t do unto others what you don’t want others do unto you.

Ows? Of course it was a publicity stunt. The signs are all there — It was announced well ahead of the actual event. It was covered by his official camera crew and by the media. It was done publicly. It was done even though it was not necessary at all.

And Of course, this whole publicity effort would not have taken off if not for the complicity of the media. Here’s part of a report from inquirer.net.

Aquino party feasts on hotdogs in NY street, pays $54

By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:39:00 09/24/2010

NEW YORK—It wasn’t every day that a head of state would meet with Henry Kissinger and then step out to eat at a hotdog stand, while Secret Service agents blurt out, “Step aside, step aside.”

In a jampacked schedule that included meetings with World Bank president Robert Zoellick; Kissinger, a former US Secretary of State; newspaper editors and the RP-US Business Council, President Benigno Aquino III also took time to receive the Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, a top US Catholic school in this city.

Twenty-four years ago, the college that conferred its highest honor on the mother bestowed the same recognition on the son on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

The packed schedule did not prevent Mr. Aquino from grabbing a hotdog for lunch at a corner stand near Sofitel Hotel, where he is staying.

The presidential party paid $54 (about P2,400) for the sandwiches that Mr. Aquino and his group ate—a sharp contrast to the million-peso dinner his predecessor, now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and her entourage had during a visit to New York last year.

Was it really necessary to highlight how simple Aquino’s lunch was compared to that infamous steak dinner of former President Gloria Arroyo and her entourage? Aren’t news reporters and writers supposed to measure the value of a story with the simple question, “So What?”

And as if that piece of idiotic information about the President’s lunch was not enough, some news outfits even reported that Aquino got his tongue burned while enjoying his hotdog. They even used that info in the title of their reports. Again I ask, so what?

I have been trying hard to resist the urge to criticize Aquino because I honestly feel he should be given a chance. But how can one ignore the fact that this administration continues to operate in campaign-mode? Instead of focusing on real solutions to this country’s very real problems, this administration is wasting its time on publicity gimmicks. Shouldn’t that be enough reason for anyone who truly cares about this country to rise up in indignation and demand that Aquino start working more on national concerns instead of the public’s perception of him.

Well, okay, let’s acknowledge the possibility that all these PR gimmicks are the handiwork of his handlers. Now If this is indeed the case then perhaps Aquino should seriously consider getting rid of these people. They won’t be much of a loss to his administration anyway since they’re either amateurs or — as in the case of the one Aquino fondly calls “Prophet” — has beens.

C’mon Mr. President, the campaign season is over. Start acting like the President and not like some candidate or showbiz personality.

Hostage Crisis Handling can be easily addressed by proper staffing, better planning and training and the procurement of better equipment. The bigger Philippine tragedy which is more difficult to address is our damaged culture. We are our country’s greatest enemies, especially those who have a major influence on how we acquire information and shape our opinions.

I don’t know about you but I think Esposo is not the best person to lecture us about our damaged culture nor is he in any position to tell us who our greatest enemies are.

For one thing, Esposo himself is part of mainstream media and as such actually holds some influence on how people shape their opinions. Esposo himself thinks highly of his own genius when it comes to mass media and communications. Here are some of his career highlights, which he probably wrote himself on his website.

Billy devised the vital unconventional media plan that offset the Marcos regime’s media monopoly. The presidential snap election of 1986 which culminated in the great people power revolt was mostly credited as a media effort. And the whole world followed the events through the media.

In 1987, Esposo spearheaded the media campaign for the ratification of the new Philippine constitution. He also directed the publicity effort for the new party, Lakas ng Bansa, which evolved into the LDP – President Aquino’s main party. And he also advised the media campaign for the administration’s Senatorial lineup which eventually won 22 of 24 seats in the 1987 elections.

Truly a legend in his own mind.

I normally don’t resort to shooting the messenger, but Esposo is just begging for it. In case you forgot, just like the once highly respected Conrado de Quiros, Esposo had no qualms about using his position as a columnist to condition the minds of the public that Noynoy Aquino is this country’s best hope. He deliberately used propaganda to trick the gullible into voting for Noynoy and he succeeded in turning some people into yellow zombies precisely because he knew enough how to exploit the Filipino’s “damaged culture.”

I wonder if Esposo was actually referring to himself when he wrote:

We are our country’s greatest enemies, especially those who have a major influence on how we acquire information and shape our opinions.

Now, just to be fair, let’s check if there’s some sense in Esposo’s latest rant.

To summarize what he wrote, Esposo is basically complaining about those who continue to criticize the government’s dismal handling of the hostage taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand and the subsequent backlash. He is obviously disappointed with those who appear to be pandering to the indignation of Hong Kong’s government and people. He points out:

The fact is our government and people have more than undertaken enough to express our collective regret and apology over the hostage tragedy. The fact is President Noynoy Aquino (P-Noy) has more than bent over backwards to try to ease the pain of the Chinese people, including those in Hong Kong where most of the fatalities came from. The fact is that there is a multi-agency probe underway and there is no attempt to cover up for anybody.

For some reason, this paragraph from Esposo reminds me of a statement made by Senator Tito Sotto:

“It’s sad, there’s this Filipino practice of self flagellation. I don’t think we should overblame ourselves for what has happened,”

Esposo also seems to encourage that other despicable trait of many Filipinos to hit back with equal if not greater vitriol when criticized even if the reason for the criticism is completely valid. That’s the impression one gets with this bit of praise in his column:

Frankly, many Filipinos have been more circumspect about this hostage tragedy than Philippine media. On Facebook and the blogs, you’ll see many Filipinos who have taken China and the Hong Kong local government to task for their arrogance and overbearing attitude towards us and our government.

Like Eat Bulaga’s Tito Sen, Esposo basically wants us to stop criticizing ourselves. I suppose Esposo and everyone else who thinks like him subscribe to the odd notion that if one is Filipino he should not be overly critical of Filipinos because to do so “simply borders on treason.”

It escapes Esposo that the bigger “crime” that borders on treason is the deliberate effort to make people stupid.

I hope Esposo hasn’t forgotten that he was partly responsible for the Aquino nightmare this country will have to endure for the next couple of years. For that alone, I think, Esposo should consider a shift from writing columns to repairing wrecked chairs.

I heard in the news that the yellow horde will be unveiling a giant photo-mosaic of Missus Aquino (I would have liked to refer to the former president as Tita Cory, but the yellow camp’s annoying overuse of this appellation compels me to do otherwise). According to reports, the organizers of this distasteful gimmick plan to use the event to secure yet another Guinness World Record.

But why? Why? Why? Is that all this country is going to be good at — chasing after useless world records? I hope you get one for the “World’s Biggest Ploy To Keep People Emotional and Stupid”.

Now, I’m also wondering why the yellow horde would even pursue this thing at a cost of P2 Million. Isn’t the president trying to set an example of austerity? Reports say the cost is being shouldered by private sponsors. Even so, this is a wasteful undertaking. Those private sponsors should have just used the money they spent on this thing on something more productive and beneficial.

As I was enjoying my chocolate milkshake, three of those yellow ladies decided to take the action inside. Major anNOYance! One of them decided to chat me up. I tried to be polite, but, God, did she make it difficult. This lady wanted to give me one of their stickers, which had some slogan about pagbabago. I politely refused. It was then that this lady said to me, “Are you not interested in seeing the country change for the better?”

Huwaaaatttt?!? And yes, she said it in English because she was a bit Coño.

This lady who is probably a charming lola when she’s not annoying the hell out of strangers really got my blood boiling. Had I not been able to bite my tongue, I would have probably pointed out to her that there’s no way their Cory stickers would bring about change and that she better just get out of my face.

This is the sort of thing that makes the yellow camp a prime target for criticisms. Instead of just focusing on REAL work, all it ever does is come up with all sorts of showbiz gimmicks. Is this all we’re gonna get in the next six years? Useless events meant to appeal to the emotions?

I hope all Filipinos will wake up and see exactly what the yellow camp is doing. I won’t even blame this thing on Noynoy anymore. I’m convinced this is solely the handiwork of several of his advisers who fancy themselves as media and marketing geniuses, which they probably are. I’m 100% sure though they are not as patriotic as they want others to believe. They’re just protecting their real agenda the best way they can and that is through smoke and mirrors.

Just consider this truly pathetic attempt at getting people all sentimental again over Missus Aquino’s death. The following quote was lifted from Facebook.

“”We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe!” Thank you very much Auntie Cory!”

Hey emo-dude she’s dead. Saying a quiet prayer in her behalf should be enough. Ginagamit n’yo pang marketing tool ang dating pangulo. Mahiya hiya nga kayo!

And to that lola who made me lose interest in my chocolate milkshake: Don’t talk to anyone about change because you suck!

I had wanted it to be as comprehensive as possible but after much thought I realized a shorter and generic list would be enough.

So here goes. A list of things I would like the President-Elect to do immediately.

1. Stop making excuses.
2. Stop talking about your parents.
3. Start talking about your vision.
4. Start talking about your concrete plans.
5. Order your media handlers to stop feeding the Filipino people with showbiz crap.
6. Tell your sister Kris to stop talking, period.
7. Don’t appoint people based on their closeness to you. It’s distasteful especially when all they have going for them is their showbiz roots.

As simple as these are, I am confident these recommendations can help the President-Elect become more “presidential” and less “showbiz.”

Related to this, a commenter on my previous post “Aquino Wants Us To Lower Our Expectations” wrote:

Can we just let him be president first, and reserve the criticisms for later?

I think this is a sensible recommendation. However, I will follow it if and only if the President-Elect will start showing us that he is in charge of his camp and that he will no longer allow “showbiz” tactics and gimmicks to dictate his decisions and actions.

It’s time for REAL change. Are you up to it Mr. President-Elect?

Well, according to him he is not. Now I wonder why he and his mouthpieces are making a big point out of this only now.

As I recall, during the campaign period, Aquino and his Yellow horde were all promoting him as this country’s best hope. Remember his pompous slogan “”Kung Walang Corrupt Walang Mahirap”? It can’t be denied that mentally weak voters fell for it, which is exactly why the senator won the election.

Well, Mr. President-Elect you made the claim. Make sure you fulfill your promise. You wouldn’t want to disappoint those who pinned their hopes on you by becoming just another traditional politician who breaks his campaign promises.

I am very sure though you will not succeed in solving poverty and corruption. As PinoyBuzz pointed out in his newly-revived blog, these are all “biblical” problems.

Going back to his I-am-not-Superman-or-Einstein spiel, I suppose with the presidency now in the bag, the President-Elect and his advisers feel that now is the perfect time to clarify that the Yellow One is not The One. As the following report www.malaya.com shows, Aquino is now calling on the public to set reasonable expectations.

PRESIDENT-ELECT Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino hopes that the Filipino people will have “reasonable” expectations of him as the 15th President of the Republic, saying he is humble enough to admit that he does not have all the answers to the problems besetting the country.

Despite the hardships he would face, Aquino vowed to bring more food to the table and reform the “poor” educational system.

“Kung reasonable expectation di ko nakita bakit di natin magagawa,” he said.

“Mas maraming pagkain ang itatanim natin, ang kakainin, palalakihin,” he said. “Lahat ng bagay sa reporma, education system, sa dagdag na two to three years mako-complete yan.”

“Sana reasonable (ang expectations) but I’m sure there are a lot of people thinking there has to be a night and day difference,” he said in an interview at his residence on Times St., Bgy. West Triangle, in Quezon City Monday night.

Are you serious Mr. Aquino? You want us to lower our expectations? Ok, how low is low anyway? I’m sure your fans would like to know and many of them would gladly give in to your request… huwag ka lang mapahiya.

Well, just to be clear, I am not at all inclined to cut you some slack. I will keep score. I expect that will not be too difficult to do after all you never did give us much in terms of plans and platforms just that mumbo jumbo about “Kung Walang Corrupt Walang Mahirap.” I’m sure keeping track of that one thing should be easy.

By the way, I think fulfilling that one promise should also be manageable for you. But, of course, you’re just human and it is possible you’d have some episodes of self-doubt. Should that happen may I suggest that you re-visit your campaign advertisements and be reminded of the conviction you displayed there. Of course, I’m assuming that was real conviction not some showbiz posturing.

I don’t know about everyone else, but as far as I’m concerned it ain’t over till it’s over. And, no Mr./Ms. Commenter, Noynoy’s victory is not yet a certainty. It is just one of many possibilities.

Speaking of the Aquino campaign, I’m really wondering what his supporters expect from him in case he does bcome our President. As far those people in his inner circle, well, that should be obvious. They’re in it for the juicy government portfolios and other perks. How about the ordinary folks who profess to love him like he was some kind of messiah? It seems to me they’re in it for the fantasy. A better Philippines under an Aquino administration? That makes the Lord of the Rings more real to me.

incidentally, I was at one of the BIR offices last week and I got to talk to one of the examiners there. Out of the blue he mentioned that he and most of his co-workers are for Aquino. I asked why. He gave me a cryptic response.

“Basta,” he said.

I wondered about that piece of information. I tried to imagine what possible reason a BIR examiner could possibly have to support Noynoy who has been playing the role of an anti-corruption crusader. Hmmm. BIR personnel supporting a candidate who claims he will put a stop to government corruption… it just doesn’t match up. Is the end of the world upon us?

I reflected on his cryptic response. After about 10 seconds of deep thought, it came to me. I realized what should have been obvious to me from the very start.

Those BIR personnel aren’t supporting Noynoy because of what he claim he can and will do to ensure corruption-free governance. They’re going for Noynoy because they know he will not be able to do anything to stop the shenanigans going on at this esteemed government agency. In short, they’re putting their faith on Noynoy’s incompetence.

I don’t know about you but I think this is a sign of things to come should the greater number of Filipino voters think it wise to put Noynoy at the helm of our already troubled nation.

Sa pinakabagong survey ng Pulse Asia lumabas na tabla na sina Senador Manny Villar at dating Pangulong Joseph Estrada. Sa aking palagay hindi naman siguro totoong tumataas pa ang rating ng dating pangulo. Hindi naman siguro ganoon ka-bobo ang mga Pinoy para pagkatiwalaan pa si Estrada sa kabila ng nangyari sa kanyang administrasyon noon.

Sa mga nag-iisip, palagay ko bistadong bistado naman kung ano na naman ang panibagong gimik na ito.  Pero para sa mga hindi makasunod, ganito yan. Posibleng sadyang pinalalabas ng survey na ito na umaabante si Estrada para lalo pang mahikayat ang mga uto-uto nating mga kababayan na bumoto ayon sa baluktot na konseptong “lesser evil.” Napuna siguro ng mga nasa likod ng sarswelang ito na hindi pa rin tiyak ang tagumpay ni Senador Noynoy Aquino kung itatapat siya kay Senador Manny Villar kahit pa sabihing marami ang bumibili sa ideyang “lesser evil.” Ako man kung talagang si Aquino at Villar lang ang pagpipilian, si Villar na ang aking iboboto. Di hamak namang mas kakayanin siguro ni Villar na tumayo sa sarili niyang kakayahan at manindigan sa harap ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya. Duda ako kung kaya iyon ni Aquino.

Kung miyembro ako ng makinarya ni Aquino, ganito rin ang aking irerekomendang istratehiya. Imbis na si Villar, si Estrada na lang ang palalabasin kong pinaka-mahigpit na kalaban ni Aquino. Kung tutuusin nga naman kung sa ganitong tapatan mas madali sigurong ma-uuto ang mga tao na si Aquino na lang ang iboto. Sino nga ba naman ang boboto pa kay Estrada sa panahong ito kung hindi ang mga talagang kulang sa tamang pagiisip. Hindi naman siguro kulang ang pagiisip ng mas marami sa atin? Ewan ko lang baka mali rin ang tantya ko.

Pero sa totoo lang bakit nga ba tayo magpapaniwala sa mga survey na ito? Kitang kita naman na may sinusundang script ang mga ito. Mas maniniwala pa ako sa mga survey na isinagawa sa iba’t ibang paaralan kung saan ang kadalasang nanguna ay sina Senador Richard Gordon at dating Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. Bakit nga ba mas naniniwala ako sa mga naturang survey? Unang una, harapan itong ginawa at agad na nalaman ang resulta,. Malinaw na malinaw na may mga tinatawag na respondent. Sa mga isinagawa (daw) na survey ng Pulse Asia at Social Weather Station meron nga kayang respondent? Duda ako dahil sa tagal kong ito sa mundong ibabaw wala pa talaga akong nakikilalang taong na-survey ng dalawang kumpanyang ito. Kahit pa kakilala na may kakilala na may kakilalang na-survey noon o ngayon wala rin.

Kung ako sa inyo, tingnan nyo na lang ang mga survey na ito na parang libangan. Para bang yung mga paborito ninyong teleserye o yung mga noontime game show kung saan kailangan magmukha ka munang tanga bago ka ma-premyuhan. Nakakalibang naman kasi talaga di ba kung papaano nila nilalaro o binabago ang kanilang script. Kung dati Aquino vs. Villar ngayon naman Aquino vs. Estrada.

Uunahan ko na ang mga survey company na ito at baka sakaling makita nila na bistado na ang kanilang sarswela at maisip nilang tigilan na lang ang pinaggagagawa nila.

Sa aking palagay sa mga susunod nilang survey si Estrada na ang number 2 at number 3 na lang si Villar. Posible pa nga na palabasin nila na nauungusan na ng dating pangulo si Aquino. Siempre nga naman para mas maging malakas ang hatak ng ideyang “lesser evil.” Sa totoo lang hindi ako magugulat sakaling gawin nila ito lalo na’t mukhang dumarami na ang nagigising sa katotohanan na marami pang mas karapat dapat kaysa kay Aquino para sa panguluhan ng  ating bansa.

Panalangin ko huwag naman sanang mag-tanga-tangahan ang mga Pinoy.