[THREAD] Malaking problema talaga sa LGU ang staffing, lalo na para sa mga kagaya ng Dinagat Islands na mahirap na probinsya. Base sa qualification standards, karamihan sa regular positions ay nangangailangan ng college degree. Ang problema namin dito... ...dahil isa lang ang tertiary level educ institution dito, at ang mga SUC ay nasa mainland, maraming hindi nakakatapos ng pag-aaral.

Para mapunan ang kakulangan sa staff, nandiyan ang job order system, na napaka-unjust (walang benefits, may limitasyon sa sahod, etc).

[THREAD + LIST] Sa 70 na bumoto laban sa ABS-CBN franchise renewal, 37 ang committee members. 33, o halos kalahati ng bilang, ay mga ex officio members, meaning House leaders na may automatic membership sa lahat ng mga komite ng Kamara. Matagal nang modus ito sa comm hearings para mapataas ang boto ng gusto nilang ipanalong panig. Ginawa rin nila ito sa death penalty noong nakaraang Kongreso.

[THREAD] Kahit nasa malayo ako, I hired someone in Quezon City to be a part-time errand/delivery guy for my family para hindi na kailangan lumabas ng dad ko na senior citizen. The guy I hired was the bartender at 77, my favorite inuman place that closed down last year. He moved to a cafe, but because of COVID-19, he had no work and pay during the ECQ. Kahit nagbukas na sila ulit, less work days sila, meaning less ang sweldo.

[THREAD - Tinagalog ko na para mas ma-gets]

Mahalaga sa isang demokrasya ang kalayaang magpahayag. Magkaugnay ang FREEDOM OF THE PRESS at ang ating FREEDOM OF SPEECH bilang bahagi ng demokratikong lipunan. Pagtapak sa mga kalayaang ito ang ginawa nila kay Maria Ressa. Dahil sa desisyon ng korte, nabaluktot na ang pagpapatupad ng batas.

Sinulat ang sinasabi nilang libelous na artikulo sa Rappler bago pa man maging krimen ang cyber libel sa ilalim ng Cybercrime Law. Kung nagawa nila ito sa isang batas, maaari na rin nilang gawin ito sa iba.

[THREAD] The majority of Filipinos in poverty often determine the results of elections. Those with privilege often blame them for electing the wrong leaders because they "lack education." Let's make things clear: They don't lack education. They are DENIED quality and accessible education by those who benefit from our morally bankrupt system. They want to keep the poor dependent.

[THREAD/RANT] Congresspersons are sometimes afraid to lose funding for their districts if they go against the Administration.

No money = no projects = less happy constituents = less votes. Partly, nasa tao rin talaga ang problema. Many elect Reps because they have their names displayed in infra projects, coupons, etc. It's not just name recall. We often fall victim to patronage politics which conditions us to be 'grateful' to politicians who 'give' to the people...

[THREAD — ACCOUNTABILITY 101]
1. What is your district?
2. Who is your Representative?
3. What are the bills that your Rep authored / co-authored?
4. What are his/her committee memberships?

Ang pagsagot sa mga katanungang ito ang unang bahagi ng pagkakaroon ng kapangyarihan... ...para mabantayan at mahingan ng pananagutan ang iyong kinatawan sa Kongreso. Marami akong kakilala na hindi man lang alam kung saang distrito sila botante. Madalas din kasi na mas nakatuon ang pansin natin sa labanan sa mas matataas na posisyon (Senador hanggang Pangulo).

[THREAD] When I was working in the House of Representatives, I made it a point to browse through the directory of House Members para makibasado ko ang names and faces. Maliban sa contact info, nakalagay rin 'yung professions nila. Karamihan ng nakita ko ay dalawang "trabaho": Businessman at former local government official (i.e. Mayor), meaning kinarir na nila ang pagiging pulitiko. Karamihan sa kanila, galing din sa dynasties. Some of those who worked as "businessmen," upon further research were engaged in *drum roll* construction.

[THREAD] In Dinagat Islands, COVID-19 is seen as a multi-dimensional issue.

It is primarily a public health issue, which is why our Provincial Health Office, together with the Provincial DOH and Municipal Health Officers are at the frontline. It is a calamity, which is why the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office acts as the secretariat of our task force.

[THREAD] CONGRESS CHIKA

Bakit nga ba pinag-aagawan ang mga COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP sa Senado at Kamara? Pero ang unang kailangang sagutin: Ano ba ang function ng committees sa two Houses ng legislative branch?

Sabi sa House Rules ng Kamara:

"Committees shall study, deliberate on and act upon all measures referred to them inclusive of bills, resolutions and petitions...