How to nip drug cartel in the bud

The National Housing Authority (NHA) aims to build 60,000 houses for families displaced by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

Vice President Jojo Binay, the country’s housing czar, said work will begin in the initial eight project sites in Leyte and Eastern Samar provinces soon.

The government should make the displaced families rebuild their own homes.

Give them tools, like hammers and saws, and construction materials like plywood and GI sheets.

The government is promoting indolence by rebuilding houses of the Yolanda survivors  without requiring them to help in the effort.

Instead of paying construction workers, why doesn’t the government hire the able-bodied men among the victims?

That’s what Tzu Chi, a Buddhist charitable organization, did in the first few weeks after Yolanda: It hired victims to clean up the streets of Tacloban City of debris and dead bodies.

Tzu Chi not only helped some of the victims financially, it also started perking up the economy of the city by spreading money.

A little common sense on the part of government people involved in the rehabilitation efforts is needed.

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Speaking of Tzu Chi, it sent millions of pesos worth of construction materials to Tacloban City as its contribution to the rehabilitation effort.

But the construction materials, which came from Taiwan, were seized by the Bureau of Customs at the Cebu Port.

Tzu Chi officials asked former Sen. Ping Lacson, Eastern Visayas rehabilitation czar, to help in the release of the cargo.

Lacson called up Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, and in no time, the cargo was on its way to Tacloban City.

That was an example of perfect coordination between two government officials,  cutting through red tape to rebuild Eastern Visayas from the ruins left by Yolanda.

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I have no love lost for Lacson, but he’s doing an excellent job this early in the rehabilitation of Leyte and Eastern Samar.

So, if private individuals are stymied in their efforts to help in rebuilding Tacloban City and other Yolanda-battered areas, they should run to Lacson.

When I asked Lacson, through our mutual friend Wally Sombero if I could help in the rehabilitation efforts, the following was Lacson’s reply through a text message:

“Most welcome. Good to hear that. I’m adhering to a policy of inclusion. Tacloban and all areas affected need all the help they can get. I’ve been there at least 3 times. Anyone who has seen the devastation will be emotionally touched as well.”

Let’s set aside personal feelings and politics—at least, for a while—to help in rebuilding Eastern Visayas.

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Sen. Tito Sotto says that if the six people arrested in posh residences in Makati and Taguig cities are members of the Mexican drug cartel, then it’s worrisome.

The senator suggests seeking the help of Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp), the military’s premier intelligence agency.

“If they’re members of a Mexican drug cartel, I’d start to worry. It’s a danger sign. I suggest that the Isafp come in,” said Sotto.

Why doesn’t the government resort to the final solution to nip the Mexican drug cartel in the bud?

When President Marcos ordered the public execution of Lim Seng, a Chinese drug dealer, during the early days of martial law, the country didn’t have a  drug problem  for a long time.