On a half-day city tour of Taipei, our guide was boasting of the city?s quick response to anybody asking for help or assistance by simply dialing ?999,? similar to the American ?911?. Like the quick responses observed in Japan, Hong Kong or Singapore, Taipei police will be where you want it to be in five minutes.

I was tempted to say that nothing beats Metro Manila since the police are there in the crime scene when it?s committed because the police are part of the crime. I held my tongue. I?m joking, of course. Am I?

As I have written, Taipei 20 years ago was Cebu 20 years back. But now, you have to see Taipei and other parts of Taiwan to believe that we are some 50 years behind.

The avenues are so wide. There are bicycle and motorcycle lanes, something that Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando should think about to prevent the spate of motorcycle accidents and loss of lives. In Taiwan, too, don?t ever dare violate traffic rules because there are spy cameras everywhere. Soon enough, you?ll get a traffic citation.

If I can?t stop writing about Taipei where my wife and I spent last weekend, it?s because Santa Banana, every time I travel around Southeast Asia, my heart bleeds a little to realize how backward we have become.

***

The announcement of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro that he?s running as the administration candidate for the 2010 presidency has brought to fore a lot of questions and speculations about the forthcoming polls.

Among the questions being asked are: Will San Miguel ?bossman? Danding Cojuangco, his uncle, fund Teodoro?s candidacy? As another presidential aspirant, former Senate President Manuel Villar, said, if you don?t have P1 billion, don?t dream of running for President.

With the Nationalist People?s Coalition of Cojuangco having Gilbert as its standard-bearer, what becomes now of Senator Chiz Escudero, who was rumored to be the NPC candidate? Or, will Chiz become Teodoro?s vice presidential candidate?

The most important question being asked is: As an administration candidate and with Teodoro seeking the endorsement of President Arroyo, wouldn?t that amount to a ?kiss of death,? as the opposition would say? The administration would counter, saying that with the economy surviving the global financial meltdown, President Arroyo has a lot to be proud of and even boast of.

It must be noted that if Teodoro gets the support of Lakas and Kampi with their grassroots dominance in local and national politics, an administration candidate has the edge that makes the difference. With grassroots following and the necessary funding?translated into the Golden Rule: He who has the gold rules?I?m not discounting the chances of an administration candidate.

Santa Banana, with Teodoro as the administration candidate, opposition presidential wannabes like Villar, Mar Roxas, Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, Ping Lacson, Dick Gordon, and even Erap and others coming out of the woodwork will have to go back to the drawing board. The political horizon for 2010 has changed a lot.

***

The plus side of Teodoro?s candidacy is his youth and his fresh image in contrast to all the trapos running. His competence and qualification for the highest position in the land, plus his integrity as a public official both legislative and executive cannot be questioned. His trck record in government is untainted.

On the minus side, people in other parts of the country may not even know who Teodoro is. But that should be no problem with radio and television exposure. It may cost him a leg, but would be no problem if he has the Cojuangco support. But, does Gilbert have the time for it?

With the grassroots dominance of Lakas and Kampi, since administration candidates have to depend a lot on administration funds for survival, Teodoro has the makings of a winnable candidate.

That?s why, my gulay, in the final analysis, Teodoro?s winnability depends a lot on grassroots following, awareness and exposure nationwide and funding. And one thing more, like in marketing, Teodoro?s publicists and handlers should give him a brand, and an image of winnability.

This means an image which can galvanize popular support and capture the imagination of the people of a leader that can bring them to the promised land. Can Teodoro be that leader?

***

I share the sentiments of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Mar Roxas that in the wake of the expos? of Legacy scams and anomalies with the average Filipino, not the rich, on the losing end in pre-need and rural bank deposits and investments, that Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Fe Barin, Commissioner Jesus Martinez and other commissioners and officials of the regulatory body should be sacked and charged for utter incompetence and even collusion.

For one thing, the Legacy scam isn?t the first of its kind, bringing down the pre-need industry into utter disrepute and victimizing the public. There were CAP or the College Assurance Plan and Pacific Plans. In fact, there are still four other pre-need companies about to go belly-up with the SEC remaining clueless. Now, the Legacy scam has shocked the nation with its enormity and with the brazenness of the criminal minds behind it.

More importantly, the SEC is a collegial body. Martinez himself said so. The act of one is the act of all; the results entail communal responsibility. Santa Banana, Martinez, who has the oversight function of the pre-need industry, could not have acted the way he did without the approval of the SEC en banc.

The more important reason for totally overhauling the SEC is that people have already lost faith and confidence on the regulatory body. And, my gulay, with the President stepping down from the presidency next year, she must deliver a strong message of her political will and resolve against corruption and government incompetence. The SEC?s utter incompetence, inefficiency and corruption affords her that chance.

***

There are reports of the prosecution arms of government and even members of the judiciary in all levels involved in graft and corruption.

What these reports are missing is corruption in the Sheriff?s Office of courts in all levels. Just take a look at the daily newspapers, and see for yourself notices and photos of people issued warrants of arrest, but nowhere to be found.

I give you one guess either because of utter incompetence and inefficiency, or because of graft.

Even writs of garnishments and attachments are not served. Do you know why? Simply because it?s so easy to corrupt sheriffs nationwide considering how lowly they are paid. In fact, records show that there are some 480 warrants unserved nationwide! That?s shocking!

***

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza has endorsed to Malaca?ang the application of FCF Minerals Corp. to convert the mining company?s permit into a Financial Assistance Agreement to explore and develop some 3,093.5 hectares of mineral-rich area in Runruno, Nueva Vizcaya.

Entering into such an agreement with FCF will give more momentum to the revitalization of the country?s mineral industry. Once approved by the President, this will be the fourth FTAA to be signed under the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Needless to say, the approval of the grant is much needed to entice more foreign investors in parking their funds into the country despite the global economic crunch. It will also reiterate government-sustained efforts to rise above difficulties.

The entry of FCF in the country?s mining industry will accelerate the development of gold and molybdenum into commercial use. The presence of high-yielding minerals have been confirmed by FCF in its recent exploration activities which saw them boring of more or less 1,000 meters in length, 500 meters in depth and 17 meters in thickness of the surface area.

Atienza has high hopes for FCF, saying that it is qualified to apply for FTAA considering the company?s required minimum paid-up capital of P10 million?all conforming to the provisions of existing mining law.

***

I must commend the initiative of non-government organizations like the ABS-CBN Foundation in association with mayors of Metro Manila where Pasig River passes through in launching the ?Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig,? a movement aimed at cleaning up the highly polluted river and making it navigable for commercial purposes.