PostHeaderIcon 50 Congressmen and the harm they do for watching Pacquiao in Nevada when the swine epidemic rages



It’s as if House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles and the 50 representatives of the Philippine Congress are kids. As excited as immature people, they couldn’t be dissuaded from missing the Pacquaio-Hatton fight in Las Vegas, Nevada in spite of the seriousness of the swine flu epidemic.

Perhaps they want to show they have “personal money” to spend abroad unlike the cash-strapped regular Filipinos. The congressmen are determined to risk their health and that of the nation just to satisfy a fancy to be where the action is. Surprisingly, only few Filipinos air their disappointment versus the wasteful travel to Las Vegas.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales was right in expressing his frustration of having leaders in congress spend big money to travel with no apparent benefit to the Filipinos. As the cardinal said, the presence of congressmen close to the boxing ring will not change the outcome of the match.

The Department of Health (DOH) is trying to safeguard the country of the deadly influenza infection and the congressmen are uncooperative. They show again the lack of responsibility that many people associate with politicians. Seeing the congressmen huddled in the sports crowd that potentially harbors the pig virus is despicable. The P90 miliion the DOH has prepared to spend in case influenza reaches the Philippines is hardly enough for the country’s preparedness.

“Rosales believes that during this time of global economic crisis, it was a “waste of money” to spend on a boxing match, even if it is one of the most anticipated sport events of the year.”----Philstar (05//02/09, Edheminada, P)

Little can be said about these short-sighted congressmen who are insensitive to the needs of their constituents. At the very least, they don’t even know how to set a good example. For insisting on their travel, they need to be quarantined for at least 10 days ----to watch for signs of the H1N1 flu infection---an unnecessary move if they heed to forgo with non-essential trips abroad. (Photo Credit: Sheltercrow)=0=

RELATED BLOG: "Philippine Congress attendance drops to 100 out of 263 as Pacquiao-Hatton match draws near" Posted by mesiamd at 5/01/2009

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