MIDGIT ECONOMY? Are the diminishing sizes of canned goods in the store and supermarket shelves a dire indicator of the continuous downturn of the Philippines economy?

Lately, consumers were dismayed to find that the sardines, corned beef, meat loafs, pork & beans, etc. being sold from its former 175 gram-containers have now been reduced to 100-gram tin cans at almost the same prices. The manufacturers had to resort to this marketing ploy amidst the increasing costs of production, the deteriorating purchasing power, and meager incomes of the buying public.

Our economy is in shambles, while unemployment and underemployment are in record high due to the Lilliputian minds of politicians who focus their time and energy to petty political agenda like the Charter Change that aims to achieve primarily their parochial and vested political interests.

Although, we have a president who has got a doctorate in Economics, the benefits of her economic policy and measures yet remain to be seen.

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COCO LEVY. The local chapters of the Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA)-Bicol, and the Nagkakaisang Ugnayan ng mga Maliliit na Magsasaka at Manggagawa sa Niyugan (NIUGAN) held a presscon last August 19, 2005 at the Naga Regent Hotel.

The farmer leaders led by NIUGAN National President and Coconut Industry Investment Fund or CIIF Director ka Noni Clemente, and ka Vic Fabe of PAKISAMA took turns denouncing the attempt of some sectors to circumvent the execution of the Supreme Court Ruling declaring the Php50 billion coco levy as public funds, and the Sandiganbayan decision declaring the government and coconut farmers as rightful owners of the coco levy-funded assets.

They revealed that the coconut farmers in Bicol and other parts of the country, are gathered by compromising leaders with vested interest in bogus conferences to whip up resolutions for a compromise agreement which is favorable to Danding Cojuangco. This involves the 27% CIIF-SMC shares, which the Sandiganbayan had already ruled in favor of the coconut farmers but held in trust by the government. The coconut farmers are wondering why their erstwhile leaders are initiating a compromise agreement with Cojuangco when all they are waiting for is a summary decision for the execution of the Supreme Court and Sandigan bayan rulings that could apply as well to the 20% share that Danding Cojuangco has frantically protected.

The PAKISAMA believes that the new campaign is politically driven, and is a ploy of the present administration to win over Danding Cojuanco and his National People’s Coalition (NPC) block in Congress to shoot down the impeachment process against President Gloria.

The farmer leaders strongly stated that the stand of majority of the 3.5 million coconut farmers is NO COMPROMISES. They said the poor, long-suffering farmers are demanding for the immediate release of the coco levy assets in order to alleviate their economic condition, and put a new lease in life to the dying Philippine coconut industry.

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PGMA’s 20-minute Fifth State of the Nation Address last July 2005 is supposed to be the shortest in Philippine history.

But did you know that President George Washington’s inaugural speech lasted for only one and a half minutes?

Opposition stalwart and Bicolano congressman Chiz Escudero surmised, “ I guess there’s not much to say anyway if you are a politician who can’t tell a lie.”

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WELCOME to Dr. Eric Wedum and Party of Washington D.C., USA who will be arriving at Naga City to attend to a very important ceremony next week. Like thousands of Bicolanos and foreigners throughout the world, Dr. Wedum is a regular reader of Bicol Mail online in the Web. No wonder he is constantly updated with the events and news of Naga City and the Bicol Region.
God bless you all with a safe trip. Mabuhay!

JOKE TIME
Question: How many politicians does it take to change a light bulb?
Answer: Five. One to change it, and the four to deny it.

QUOTES:
“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” - Edmund Hillary
“In the long run men hit only what they aim at.” - Henry David Thoureau

“History, although sometimes made up of the few acts of the great, is more often shaped by the many acts of the small.” -Mark Yost of The Wall Street Journal