MANILA, JANUARY 4, 2012
(STANDARD) EDITORIAL - Despite repeated warnings against
the use of firecrackers and the setting up of designated fireworks display
centers in several parts of the country, last weekend's New Year revelry still
turned up the usual consequences—injuries and a smog thick enough to cancel some
flights.
The Health Department claims there were 454 firecracker-related injuries this
year, representing a 13-percent drop from the previous year's level. It was
quieter and safer, said Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, but he
conceded more could still be done.
The secretaries of the Health and Environment Departments support a
firecracker ban, saying only local government units may use firecrackers in
specified areas, and with controlled use. We hope, though, that these proposals
will not be forgotten until next year, especially since many other
issues—political and otherwise—jostle for the headlines these days.
It's another deadly smog that threatens to envelope the country the rest of
the year. The Aquino administration has shown no signs of slowing down on its
pursuit of Rep. Gloria Arroyo and Chief Justice Renato Corona despite everything
else that needs its urgent attention.
As it is, the creation of jobs, the improvement of our competitiveness, and
the provision of basic social services—not to mention immediate assistance to
disaster-struck areas—all take a backseat to the administration's main agenda.
Mr. Aquino remains popular to a people enamored with the simplicity of
protagonists and antagonists. He should not squander this popularity by leading
a passionate but economically futile attempt to show himself the only person in
government who is capable of good. Determined action is commendable—but not when
done selectively.
In the meantime, Filipinos must be discerning enough to know which things in
government are mere distractions and which are the real concerns. Without this
distinction, we will always remain lost—this year and in the next ones.
We must demand that this administration let us know where we are headed
instead of giving us a lot to talk about—but nothing to look forward to.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
phno-digest@yahoogroups.com
phno-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
