Punchline
What’s VM Brian Lim up to?
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
TWO weeks ago, the PUNCH carried the headline: “DAGUPAN FINALLY OKS FISH PEN BAN.” And naturally, I thought the city government finally has the lethal weapon to finally stop what appeared to be another proliferation of fish pens in Dagupan’s river system. I was wrong.
The amendment of Ordinance No. 551 (or Ordinance No. 2048-2015, prohibiting the establishment of fish pens and further amending Sections 36, 37, 38 and 56 of Ordinance No. 1768-2003 or the Dagupan City coastal Fisheries Resource Management Ordinance of Year 2003) has not been signed into law! Why? Vice Mayor Brian Lim has put off signing the ordinance for still unknown reasons to some but not to this corner.
Mr. Lim is obviously protecting the same unscrupulous owners of fish pens operating in the island barangays in the city, the same owners who were given the carte blanche by his father to operate with impunity before the 2013 elections. God knows how much the key officials of the Lim administration (including VM Lim) made then.
Without the amended ordinance legally in place, meaning the vice mayor and the mayor’s signatures, there is no amended ordinance to implement and to enforce.
Knowing that the vice mayor is up for re-election, one cannot help but ask: Has there been a transaction between him and the fish pen owners on the amended ordinance as a fund-raising scheme for 2013 election? For how much? Who are with him behind this treasonous act, refusing to sign the ordinance?
But that is not all. Also pending with Mr. Lim is Ordinance No. 2046- 2015, requiring all contractors, architects and or engineers to submit all building plans for discussion with the Dagupan City School Board for purposes of review prior to the issuance of building permits for all public school buildings to be constructed in the city of Dagupan.
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PANGASINAN’S ‘FALLEN 44’? I am happy for the four gentlemen-police chiefs in Pangasinan whose achievements have been recognized as meritorious in the war vs. illegal drugs.
Take a bow, P/Supt. Christopher Abrahano, chief of police of Dagupan City; P/Supt Jeff E. Fanged, chief of police of Urdaneta City; P/Sr. Inspector Arturo DC Melchor Jr., , chief of police of Aguilar town; and P/Chief Inspector Dominic Poblete, chief of police of Bugallon. (Mr. Abrahano just bagged the city’s No.1 drug personality last week).
I hope the four will take their new police medals as a latest reminder that much remains to be done. For sure, at about the same time that they were receiving their awards, the drug lords have stepped up their illegal operations in their communities. I can only wish they have it in them to sustain if not intensify their campaign further against those who thumb their noses at them.
The drug lords operating in the neighboring towns of the two cities and two towns are reportedly raking it in, and the profit opportunities presented in the areas controlled by the awardees are too big to be ignored.
Meanwhile, as we stated in our editorial this week, what are the 44 chiefs of police in the province doing? Is it possible that they have reached a modus vivendi with their respective mayors to backpedal on the campaign vs illegal drugs, particularly on lists of top 10 untouchables to cross match with the lists of top drug personalities in their communities? I’m sure there’s also a list of 10 untouchable barangay kapitans in the drug trade. Wanna bet?
The fact that four police chiefs can successfully mount “One Time, Big Time” operations tells you that there is no reason why the 44 police chiefs cannot do just as much or more.
But whatever, the 44 police chiefs who failed to perform creditably to this day are a miles away from earning the honor earned by their Fallen 44 brothers in SAF who bravely made a stand vs. the MILF.
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HEADACHE CALLED ECOSPORT. Here’s a heads-up for owners and would-be owners of Ford Ecosport.
I’m having a terrible experience with the unit I bought this year from Makati Ford. First of all, I’ve come to realize that I did not buy a vehicle that’s economical in fuel consumption as the model Ecosport suggests. It’s a gas guzzler! And it doesn’t have a smooth ride.
I only get 5.76 kms per liter on city driving! It can’t even come close to the mileage I get from my 1600 Mazda or Toyota or Honda. Not even close to the 2.5-L engine car of my friend who enjoys heavy city driving with a 7.35 kms/liter. Ugh!
I was right to figure out that the cause of the high fuel consumption for city driving is the transmission system that revs up from 2300 rpm to 2800 rpm to shift gears from 1st to 5th gear! (No other car brand and model I know performs that bad!).
Actually my realization of my problem with the fuel consumption started with my complaint that the car jolts when running on first and second gear. I was hoping to receive a set of remedies to enable me to begin enjoying driving an Ecosport. I didn’t get any. Instead, I got a lecture on how lucky I am.
Here’s an excerpt of the reply I got from Ford Company in Manila:
“We would like to inform you that after the comparo test drive with your vehicle and a demonstration vehicle last October 19, we have not concluded any defects on your vehicle, as the results showed that this was a driving characteristic of a Powershift 6-Speed Automatic Transmission (DPS6). Further, we have explained that the driving characteristic of a DPS6 vehicle may have a slight vibration during acceleration at low speeds as the transmission continuously makes adjustments to optimize shift quality. A DPS6 vehicle is equipped with a dual clutch technology that combines the aspect of manual and an automatic transmission.” Of course, these “high-tech” features and their corresponding “benefits” (major headaches) were not told me at the point of sale.
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LUCKY ME? In brief, what Ford is telling me today is that everything I found wrong is not actually a defect but a unique feature of the car! I should be grateful that I am experiencing high fuel consumption because I am lucky to own a “Powershift 6-Speed Automatic Transmission (DPS6) that is “equipped with a dual clutch technology that combines the aspect of manual and an automatic transmission, the cause of the high fuel consumption.”
Ford doesn’t even see the “slight” vibration a defect, and is, in fact suggesting I should be happy that it vibrates because it only proves I have a genuine DPS6 transmission!
And I believe Ford made sure all these features (my problems) are standard in all Ecosport units because 3 owners already told me they are experiencing the same problems (a.k.a. Ecosports unique features) with their units.
So, if you are the kind who loves to spend a lot on gas in its class, here’s the car for you – 6 kms per liter max (city driving)! If you like a jolting a sensation, grab this car – vibration is guaranteed. And if you enjoy having long discussions with a car dealer who can’t offer remedies, seek out a Ford dealer that will sell you an Ecosport!
Me? I am not about to be taken for a gullible fool not to know what’s right and wrong about a car. I will seek the intervention of the Department of Trade to determine if, in fact, Ford is selling defective cars to Filipino families. If Ecosport is validated to have defective features, the government must demand a recall of all Ecosports sold in the country, refunding all payments!
Those who want to know more about this (including Ford salesmen and mechanics who may not be aware about these “features,”) feel free to contact me at punch.sunday@gmail.com.
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
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