DOTr supports anti-corruption drive in government

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has expressed full support behind the government’s drive to stamp out graft and corruption across various government agencies.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said the Transport Department is in full support of the order of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to probe graft and corruption in government.

To recall, the President ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) in October to lead a “mega” task force that will conduct an investigation into graft across all government agencies. According to the President, the authority to investigate by the DOJ-led task force will be in effect until the end of his term on June 30, 2022

In line with the DOTr’s cooperation in the anti-graft probe, Tugade said he had ordered all the heads of agencies and other DOTr officials to submit their individual Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net worth (SALN) to the DOJ-led task force.

The order includes officials’ chief-of-staff, secretaries, executive assistants, those involved in project management and procurement.

Secretary Tugade said he has already assigned a group and a point person who will gather and review the SALNs of all DOTr officials, past and present, including his.

“Sabi ko ikumpara ‘yun at ipakita at sabihin sa akin kung meron silang nakikitang dapat bigyang pansin (I told them to compare the SALNs and show and tell if they see anything that must be looked into),” Tugade earlier said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay online forum.

The transport chief directed the comparison of submission for 3 periods of the SALN or for 3 years to find out if there is substantial difference between the periods.

“Makikiisa kami d’yan sa mega task force. Nag-meeting na kami (at susundin namin ang) requirement ng PACC (Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission) para sa ganon, maipakita na kaisa kami dun sa pagwalis at pag-address ng corruption sa gobyerno (We will support the mega task force. We already had a meeting and agreed to comply with the requirement asked for by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission so we can show that we are cooperating with the government in addressing and eradicating corruption),” he added.

Meanwhile, Secretary Tugade said he is glad that the DOTr is not included in the five agencies that the President had identified as among the most problematic agencies in the country.

Since 2016, the transport chief has been implementing strict anti-corruption policies and measures. He has directed the Central Office and all agencies under it to live stream the bidding process for transparency. Also, meetings with contractors have been forbidden during the conduct of the bidding process to prevent bribery and undue influence. He has further ordered the publication of bidding processes conducted.

Further, he has ordered the strict adherence to the "No Gift Policy" he instituted since Day 1 of his administration, only allowing electronic greetings for occasions since physical greeting cards may be used to insert money for bribes.

More importantly, Secretary Tugade has been uncompromising in implementing the "One-Strike" Policy on corruption. In fact, since his tenure started until 2019, 20 personnel have been relieved, 17 have been suspended, and 128 have been dismissed from the service for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

True to his maxim that no one is untouchable when it comes to weeding out corrupt practices in the agencies under the DOTr, those dismissed and suspended include not only rank-and-file employees but even middle managers or chiefs, and top brass in the Central Office and agencies, with cases ranging from fixing activities, involvement in payola, to receiving fees, gifts or other valuable items in the course of official duties.

This year, 5 dismissed employees belong to the division chief and director levels. Further, in November alone, 4 employees have been preventively suspended due to an ongoing case on grave misconduct, and a job order was immediately terminated. These cases have been reported to the President.

New Logo of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

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What can you say about the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ new logo?

“The use of the Philippine eagle in the new logo is intended to represent the BSP as well as the Filipino people which it serves,” the central bank said. 

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has introduced a new logo, which features a full-bodied Philippine eagle rendered in gold. According to the central.bank, the new logo took inspiration from various wildlife photographs of the actual eagle.

I like the old logo better. Minimalist and more modern. This looks like a copy from somewhere. Just my opinion. 

"Full-bodied Philippine eagle"? No offense to the one who made this, but the eagle in this logo is "bansot." And it looks surprised. Surprised also that the logo looks that way. Couldn't find a better graphics designer?

The Philippine Eagle is one of the world's largest eagle. The length of the legs, and the size of the head, also the wingspan are terribly out of scale. Even an amateur designer will notice what is wrong with the design.

It reminds me more of US government offices. Most of them have an eagle. Tacky, sort of traditional. But it is also worth noticing that it looks like the Gold Eagle beer logo.

Looks like a communist-leaning design.... it looks regal but something is off design and aesthetic-wise. The current logo seemed more balanced. No clutter, clean design and gives a feeling of being professional. 

This one seems to be projecting or trying to be regal in its image, but still seem to be struggling for balance.

Parang US emblem with that eagle, and China's emblem with that stars. I prefer the existing version.

Mas better yung current one. Magkano kaya budget sa project na yan plus the cost of changing all current logos to the new one on paperworks like stationeries and at the facade of their offices. Also, not timely since we still have the pandemic. A logo change can wait. Taxpayers prefer their money is used on them than spent on something not really beneficial.

It looks like they just tried to paste a picture of the head of the eagle to some other eagle body that they probably copied from somewhere else.

Is there's anything wrong with the previous logo? Why is there a need to change it?

In the perspective of a digital artist, a logo should be simple but memorable. If scaled, there will be a problem in terms of printing (especially in small scales), same thing applies when it is printed in black and white. The colors are vibrant than the previous one.

In the perspective of a numismatist (money collector and studying Philippine money and economy), seeing the new logo doesn't fit to the identity of BSP as main monetary authority in the country because in the first glance, it looks more like a logo of US defense or military force than a central bank itself.

In short, the old logo is still much better to use than the newly proposed logo. The old logo is simple, memorable, corporate, trustworthy and more appropriate for the central monetary authority of the Philippines.

Things that makes the new logo slightly unappealing to the eye:

First, Color Pallete was slightly off.

Royal Blue and Gold that was used in the logo makes it more left behind in modern graphics design. The pallete used was more of "Golden Years" theme and based on my personal preference it wasn't a match for this kind of logo.

Second, Too Much Details. 

The less details, less crowded the logo is, the more it catches the public eye. The details in birds makes it more complex to see.

Third, Too Common.

The bird position was commonly used in logo that makes it less eye-catchy. 

No offense to graphic artist, he/she did a great job. This was only based on my personal preference that the design theme wasn't a match to this kind of logo.

Overall, most designs come about for improvement.  This new one looks like a plagiarized downgrade.

Shit Happens: Sarap Buhay Senator Bato Dela Rosa Tests Positive of Covid-19

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Senator Bato Dela Rosa on Saturday confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19.

“I am sorry to inform you that I tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday. To all who made contact with me, please do the appropriate protocols,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

That's okay "Shit Happens"

2019: A three-year-old girl was fatally shot in a police drug bust in Rizal.

Bato: "Shit happens."

I clearly remember that statement of him. Maybe im so good not to wish him not ill? My mood changes. Reversing.

He was too insensitive about a young kid who was killed in broad daylight. He said, "Shit happens." Now karma is a bitch.

I guess Bato now knows how it feels.

Not yet, because he's still breathing.

Matagal buhay niyan, masamamg damo.

Yes. Let's watch things unfold...

Sauce! Baka pasikat lang yan. saka na ko maniniwala pag nasa Loyola na. Sagana sa fake news ang grupo ni piduts. Pwede rin naman sa Arlington. Mamili na sya habang may natitira pang katiting na oras. 

"Sarap ng buhay. Sana ganito na lang palagi." ngayon nya sabihin yun.

But most probably he won't know how it really feels because he has made enough cash to afford really good healthcare.  But we can imagine he has at least a few comorbidities to at least give him a bit of a scare.

His “ordeal” doesn’t even come close.

Im not a fan of Sen. Bato but i guess it is not good to wish him ill or anybody we dont like. I still wish him well. I also wish that he'll become wiser and pure with his intentions on serving our country.

Pazoomzoom na nga lang at di rin naman naramdamang tumulong nung may kalamidad pero nagpositive pa rin. So ano pinaggagagawa ng punyemas na ito?

Wishing him ill is less evil than what he has done and has been doing.

Hindi na nakakatulong nagpositibo pa? Lintek din. Pasanin pa ng Philippine Health Care system si kalbo. Pahirap talaga itong Davao Group sa Pilipinas eh.

I'm sure you will overcome this, Bato. Stay positive.

Now, go and hug your buddies Duterte and Bong Go for some moral support. 

Meron o wala ganun din naman ugali and hindi ka naman namin ramdam as a senator so... Wala kaming pake!