Public toilets, public shame

By Gerry Garcia

GUV sues jueteng boss.

Eddie Panlilio, the first ever priest-turned-governor of Pampanga, resumed realm of jueteng lord  Bong Pineda’s kingdom, is up against what the experts say are  “the odds”. In the first place, aside from Bong being a gambling boss in a province whose No. One daughter is the country’s current president, the undisputed fact still remains: No anti-jueteng drive launched now or in the past has ever succeeded, given the vast financial clout with which the illegal numbers game has    been   known to be repelling each drive, locally or nationally.

Besides, demand for jueteng is as ample as its supply. Jueteng, you remember, is a poor man’s game. And proportionally more juetengueros will be up while the economy is down. Even the gambler, the poor Pinoy is always willing to bet five or 20 pesos for the jackpot plum. The multi-B syndicate has also been milking cow to hundreds of thousands of collectors and kubradores and branch operators.

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The driver who brings his passenger-filled jeepney to a stop, alights and urinates behind a tree conveniently located nearby is like his kids studying in a public school. They pee (or, in kinder word, urinate) anywhere else except the school toilet which is unclean and ugly.

 Students   in public schools lack everything, from teachers and classrooms to the most basic learning tools . . . so it’s no news that the students also suffer from an acute lack of toilets and other sanitation facilities.

This lack of teachers and tools is also a dire comment on how the Department of Education, which hogs a hefty cash share from the national re-venue, is seen to be using the money. As one Star editorial said: A nation that takes pride in its hospitality should ensure that there are sufficient “comfort rooms” for everyone, everywhere. But even the nation’s premier airport lacks toilet facilities. The few public toilets in top tourist destinations are mostly filthy and have no running water or toilet paper.

The government probably saves millions in water bills for flushing and cleaning, but the absence of hygienic surroundings can be costly for the health of millions of students.

(Readers may reach columnist at sundaypunch2@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/here-and-there/  For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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