A toast to Ironman

Last Sunday the Ironman 70.3 triathlon was finally held in Cebu and was indeed very successful. Many participants were satisfied with the sporting event except for that an untoward incident where a Cebuano cyclist, Ramon Igaña Jr.  died during the race. Ramon was a member of the Cebu-based relay team TTB-Extreme with his wife Humility.

The Half-Ironman race also caused traffic congestion outside the routes that were closed to vehicles.   But most of the athletes  were one in saying that they really enjoyed the venue of the race and the warmth of the spectators along the triathlon route.

The Cobra Ironman 10.3 triathlong  gave tourism in Cebu a big boost, which it really needs. Government agencies should start looking into addressing  needs of the industry. I think the tourism sector especially the government should be sensitive to the needs of stakeholders including  those in in the car rental business. The accreditation of their fleets should not be delayed.

Government should not demand of  car rental merchants  something that was not required before. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) national office should distribute franchises to legitimate car for rent businesses instead of hampering them. Otherwise this would cause  the proliferation of illegitimate or colorum operators who encourage the kabit system.

I cannot also fathom the new policy of the Department of Foreign Affairs that restricts the number of travel agencies that may facilitate the processing of passport applications of clients. The old practice helped a lot passport applicants who did not have to line up several times outside the DFA office as early as 5 a.m.

This service  by travel agencies helped a lot in raising  revenues of the DFA. I think the  government should have a stakeholder-friendly policy to help boost the tourism industry and listen carefully to  complaints of travelers and businessmen in the industry.

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Yesterday Congress was to vote on the  Reproductive Health bill. As I wrote this column, the vote did not start yet but many were anxious about the result. Last Saturday the Catholic Church held rallies all over the country to show  its opposition to the passage of the bill.  The thousands who attended the rallies was a show of force by the the Catholic Church to convince lawmakers who  supporting the bill to withdraw their favor  but the government is not backing down.

The United Nations is egging the Philippines to pass the RH bill in order to speed up economic development.  President Benigno  Aquino III has since then advocated responsible parenthood to deal with poverty and other problems of the country.

Last Sunday while I had coffee at Bo’s Coffee at F. Ramos Street, many children were playing along the road. These were children, older than two years old to beoug 15, roam the strteets of F. Ramos asking passing tourists  for alms.Where were their parents? Why were they not being taken care of and why were they not at home?

I hope the the government agrees on a program to promote responsible parenthood that would not contravene the teachings and doctrines of the Catholic Church. Whether we like  it or not.  there is now a need to hold parents responsible for taking care of children they can afford to raise.

Today you see hundreds of children wandering aimlessly about or living in the streets and sleeping on the sidewalks because their parents are poor and can’t provide a decent life for them. Many children have become mendicants and even snatchers.  I hope the Church and the government will also be sensitive to the needs of these children and help them find a better life in a stable home.