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LAS VEGAS in Manila? Macau in Manila?
That’s how PAGCOR is selling its new gaming
and entertainment complex to be built on an eight square-kilometer
tract of land in the reclamation site in Pasay City. It’s supposed
to generate millions in pesos in revenues as well as countless jobs.
A big selling point, also, is that government
will not spend a single centavo in its construction.
The revenues and jobs the project will generate
are definitely an appealing thought.
But forgive me for being cautious upon mention
that no government money will be spent on it.
There is never, ever any free lunch. Too often
in the past, when it is said that no government money is spent, it
only meant that we all got screwed. We don’t shell out any cash,
but we pay for whatever it is eventually.
Church people—those who weren’t at the
project’s groundbreaking, at least—are woried that PAGCOR City
will further erode our morals by encouraging a culture of gambling.
I agree. But, considering that we have jueteng,
jai ali, cockfights, video karera, ending, sakla, masiao,
encouraging a culture of gambling is not my biggest worry.
I’d like to be assured that contracts given
out to PAGACOR City’s developers are all above board. That there
is nothing questionable about them. That nobody cut corners to cut
costs.
I want to be assured that they did not shower
any government executive with gifts—especially cash gifts—in
exchange for favors or preferential treatment. That PAGCOR City is
another controversy or pay-off scandal waiting to be investigated by
the opposition-dominated Senate.
It sounds a bit shortsighted, I concede.
But you and I have to
agree that this country needs to generate revenues and employment
that actually benefit the people.
Over the years, we’ve heard government promise
us that this project or that will generate the revenues we need to
bring us out of grinding poverty. But apart from a number of
individual families becoming richer—the same families who were
rich to begin with—the country is about as destitute as it was.
That is why I do not tire of hearing about a new
investment project’s potentials in improving the economy. One of
them has got to click.
However, I am tired of being disappointed that
the big investment project has failed in doing so because it was
never really designed to benefit more than a handful of individuals
or groups.
As construction progresses, PAGCOR City should
expect louder and more fierce opposition from conservative groups.
But if PAGCOR City helps feed the hungry and
helps fund government mechanisms that will improve the economy so
there will not be as many poor people, then so be it.
There is some discontent in the Philippine
National Police (PNP) over the system of promoting officers.
Reportedly, apart from the promotions board
based in Camp Crame, there are two other bodies that consider
applications for appointments. One is in Commonwealth Ave. and the
other is in Parañaque.
One would think that three bodies considering
promotions would result in the best of the best people getting the
best of the best assignments.
Apparently, what’s happening is that only
people with the best of the best of connections get the good
assignments.
One general who was supposed to be appointed
regional chief in the Visayas got diverted back to a Manila command.
The reason? Well, somebody “more qualified” was given the
assignment instead.
This system of promotions isn’t a surprise as
much as it is a disappointment from an agency that has been
struggling to become more professional.
johnnavg@hotmail.com
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