WE need broadband in the Philippines. Cyber-Ed is simply abstract for a country who can’t even fulfill its constitutional duty to educate all citizens.
But my question is? Why pay a hefty fee to the Chinese when our own engineers and scientists can solve the problem of connectivity. All they need is a budget. Why spend billions for the Chinese when a hundred million would suffice? A billion spent on research and development within the Philippines itself will give us a return several thousand times that.
Even if the research fails in the end we could always get something out of it, precious knowledge that we will never get by outsourcing projects. In short, I don’t trust politicians and high-powered wheelers and dealers. In my opinion, they make a potentially strong country weak and a potentially rich country poor.
But I trust our engineers and scientists. This is where I want my taxes to go, to Filipino researchers and innovators, not to cheating politicians and rich boys with comb overs. This is my money, our money, not their money.
– Brian Brotarlo, Iloilo City, Philippines (via e-mail)
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September 28th, 2007 at 12:35 am
Foreign deals are not really bad, because sometimes they save time, money and effort. R & D costs are often expensive and the outcome may not work as expected. What’s wrong with foreign deals is when kickbacks comes in. If only our leaders make good deals where the country as a whole is benefitted and not a bit goes to their pockets, it would have been worthwhile. But again, these kind of leaders are rare.
September 27th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Maybe because there is no Philippine-based/Filipino owned company that could take on something on that scale? Most big IT companies in The Philippines are foreign owned who use smart Filipino workers. Name a Filipino company that could take on this project this massive? Also, even if the Philippine government decides to take on the task themselves by letting a agency do the job…. expect the cost to double, considering how many government officials with sticky fingers itching to get a share of that money and the job half done and half assed.
I mean your idea is noble, but when reality sets in, its impossible.
Also, I’m against the whole NBN deal anyway. The free market would eventually upgrade their broadband networks to meet supply and demand. This deal would simply let taxpayers foot the bill for the telcom companies.
Better use of that money would be to build more schools, since many schools are over crowded and how exactly would these school benefit from a broadband network when majority of public schools don’t even have computers?
This whole deal just stinks. They are using our children as scapegoats to pass a bill intended to let taxpayers pay for something that the telcom companies (PLDT, Digitel, etc.) should be paying.
September 27th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Almost all Philippine goverment projects are overpriced, thats why we have a huge foreign debt. Wala konsyensya ang nasa goberyno natin, taong bayan ang kawawa. tsk! tsk! tsk!
September 27th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
All I can say is that Abalos, Neri, Mendoza, FG, Gloria… et all; are products of “pagan roman catholics!”
God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness
(Romans 1:18~32)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man–and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
September 27th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
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