P200-B lost to smugglers each year

The government loses P200 billion to smugglers every year, according to Jesus Lim Arranza, chair of the antismuggling committee of the Federation of Philippine Industries Inc., a nongovernment organization.

Arranza said the revenue losses did not include factories closing down, adding to the rising unemployment rate.

For example, half of the textile factories have shut down because of textile smuggling, said Arranza.

He said one of the reasons the country has been left behind by its neighbors in economic prosperity is because of smuggling.

Arranza said his group has been encouraged to come out after President Noy castigated the Bureau of Customs for unabated smuggling.

“We’re praying they (government) will listen to us this time,” he said.

* * *

I kept saying “wow!” as I was walking inside  Solaire Hotel and Casino to catch my dinner appointment in one of the restaurants of the country’s first ever six-star hotel.

The place is huge!

More hotels-cum-casinos in the same category as Solaire are being built at Pagcor City off Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

The number of tourists visiting the country is expected to grow because of Pagcor City, which was envisioned by former chair Efraim Genuino of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

No matter what you think of Genuino, the guy was a visionary.

* * *

The next US ambassador to the Philippines is Philip Goldberg, assistant secretary at the Bureau of Intelligence Research of the US State Department.

He will replace outgoing Ambassador Harry Thomas who has completed a three-year tour of duty in the country.

Thomas, unlike his predecessor Kristie Kenney, has rubbed some Filipinos the wrong way.

He will not be missed when he’s out of sight.

* * *

Former Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta, vice chair of the Manila Historical and Heritage Committee, called to say that the precious mural by National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco at Manila City Hall’s  Bulwagang Antonio Villegas is undergoing  restoration.

“It’s intact and is being restored at the National Museum,” Cruz told me in a phone call.

People who attended the swearing-in of former President Erap as Manila mayor were looking for the mural and were wondering why it had disappeared.

* * *

Housewife Maria Hazel Sagovac wrote to complain that a doctor of Asian Hospital tried to hit her during an altercation over a minor traffic incident.

Sagovac said the doctor’s attempt was foiled when a man on a motorcycle shouted at him in Filipino, “Hey, don’t fight with a woman!”

The incident was witnessed by Sagovac’s 8-year-old daughter, Nicole, who got was reportedly traumatized as a result of the incident.

Aren’t doctors supposed to be gentle people since they save lives?