Protecting school children

TO this day, nothing is conclusive about the cause of the food poisoning of pupils of Guelew Integrated School in San Carlos City. Except for the suspected presence of molds in sample candies, the parents and school officials are at a loss. Only one thing is certain – the infected candies were bought from one source only.

Under the known circumstances, it is not farfetched that the same incident will happen in some school in one barangay because some irresponsible and unscrupulous storeowners and vendors want bigger profits. However, the situation is not hopeless and can still be controlled. How so? By applying the principle of accountability on LGU health and sanitation officials.

Local officials, in both town and barangay levels, should be appointed and be made responsible specifically for protecting schools against food poisoning. If local vendors and stores around schools are closely monitored regularly, higher level of consciousness and discipline among them to be more careful can be attained in no time.

But not to do anything consciously and visibly in and around schools, is like waiting for more incidents of poisoning to happen.

 

RSA, symbol of Mr. Patience

RAMON S. Ang, famously known simply as RSA, has become the nation’s symbol of Mr. Patience.  He has been suffering that long—both in humiliation and mental anguish.  So, when the patience boiled over, he went to court.

RSA’s plight tugs at the heart.

RSA entrusted his P1 billion to GMA owners Felipe Gozon, Menardo Jimenez and Gilberto Duavit Jr. as deposit in his bid to buy 34% of the trio’s TV network.  When negotiations fell through, RSA expected to have his P1B back pronto.  Just right, right?

Right, chorused Jimenez and Duavit.  But horror of horrors, Gozon, the GMA chair, said, “No, I am not returning it,” citing a term provision in the botched deal but which he refuses to reveal to media.

Perhaps because RSA is 32nd in the list with P16.609B, that P1B reportedly being shamelessly ransomed by Gozon would appear merely as a drop in the bucket to RSA, whose contribution of P500 million to typhoon victims in Cagayan de Oro a while back remains as the biggest donation of all time by an individual in this country.

But, perhaps, RSA has sued Gozon if only for principle and in the name of justice and what is right. There is much lesson to be learned here, indeed—greed of which is foremost.

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

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