FROM President Aquino’s “no wang-wang” to President Duterte’s “no tiwangwang.” Just Du it, Secretary Mark Villar.
While two other cabinet secretaries faced the cameras and microphones to promise that construction of infrastructures and public works should now be done ‘round-the-clock, 24/7 to free up road space, we have yet to hear from the chief of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Although they are labeled “DPWH,” excavation, repairs, maintenance, etc. are carried out by private contractors, so what’s to stop DPWH from ordering them to speed up construction by hiring three shifts of workers to work – and be seen working – and give the streets back, a.s.a.p., to drivers, passengers, and residents. Which monumental project of DPWH has ever been completed on time? What penalties does DPWH impose on foot-dragging contractors who cause stress, waste fuel and squander our precious time? Just Du it, Mark.
Ten-year-old Paolo has a message for Education Secretary Leonor Briones. Like thousands of schoolchildren who wake up before the crack of dawn to make it to class at 7 or 7:30 in the morning, Paolo pleads that “like in the States, where class starts at 9 a.m.,” Filipino children need to sleep eight hours at night and take their breakfast when they wake up in the morning.
I told him “Lola Leonor” might not like the idea because in public schools, classes are conducted in two or three shifts, and starting the first class at 9 a.m. would push back the schedule to later than 9 p.m. What I would also like educators to address is the problem of kids lugging 30 lbs of books and notebooks and climbing/descending stairs with them every day, Monday to Friday. Surely, it’s possible to teach our young without breaking their backs. Just Du it, Ma’am?
On the government channel with its cloudy TV signal Thursday night, President Duterte warned incarcerated drug lords that if they persist in their business, “You will die.” Again and again, “You will die.” Only a short while ago, the warning was differently worded: “I will kill you.” Just Du it, sir. (Jullie Y. Daza)