(The following article by Dr. Alberto G. Romualdez, former health secretary, which came out in the Oct. 3 issue of Malaya, gives an-indepth analysis of the hypocrisy and incompetence of the Arroyo administration in handling the nursing exam leakage problem.
(As Dr. Romualdez said, the leakage was just a symptom of the bigger problem which was the commercialization of the nursing schools. The atras-abante order of Malacañang for a retake was designed for the Arroyo administration’s image-curing, not to solve the real problem.)
Every week for the last two months, this column has referred to the on-going tragi-comedy drama of the nursing board scandal that began last June and continues to unfold like a long playing soap opera.
Last week, in the middle of a disastrous typhoon, Malacañang decided on a “bold move” to restore international confidence in the name of Filipino nurses. With great determination, the Palace ordered that “new licensure exams be given to repair the damage caused by the scandal-tainted exams on the integrity of the country’s nurses.”
But wait. Malacañang has cautioned this step must be followed by two steps back. So in the same announcement, the ever-smiling executive secretary said that it was still up to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to decide whether only those who benefited from the cheating or all 17,800 who passed or perhaps all 42,000 who took the tainted exam would be required to re-take a special examination. The Palace had decided to place the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC), the agency responsible for all professional licensure tests (except the bar examinations for lawyers administered by the Supreme Court), under the supervision of the labor secretary.
Within a day, the PRC and DOLE took yet another backward step. It was not possible to prepare for a new examination because there was still a court proceeding going on concerning the cheating case. Early during the controversy, the University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing, the League of Concerned Nurses, and the Binuklod na Samahan ng mga Student Nurses had filed a petition with the Court of Appeals to nullify the PRC’s earlier decision to recognize the amended result of the questioned examination. In explanation, the Palace said, “By the rule of law we have to consider that there is such a case in court. But there is already a decision in principle by the President.”
It was further explained that “Mrs. Arroyo’s directive still stands, as the government needs to protect the integrity of the country’s nursing profession in the eyes of the international community and the local medical care industry.”
This last statement at least sheds some light on the motives behind all the government moves that seems to make the problem even more complicated each time. There is no concern for the plight of the would-be nurses or their families, no one cares about the millions of poor Filipinos whose health care is threatened by the mass exodus of health workers, truth and honesty and integrity have no bearing on this issue. It appears that only if our “image” is threatened should we take action. In fact, therein lies the problem of this government: treating the issue as if it were merely a “PR” one means that solutions are simply for the sake of appearance.
It is for this reason that there is only a very dim hope that the root cause of the mess will ever be addressed. This is despite the fact that almost the entire health community knows that the problem is not in the examination system alone (although there are major issues on this point). Placing the PRC under DOLE is merely a cosmetic act that will neither ensure that cheating never occurs again nor repair the continuing decline in international respect for Filipino health professionals.
The numbers say it all – 25,000 out of 42,000 mostly poor, mostly female, young people failed the June examination. It is obvious that the majority of the Philippines’ nursing schools and colleges produce low quality graduates. How else can such a horrendous failure rate be explained? All the signs point to the system of health professional education as the main culprit – the system supervised by the Commission for Higher Education (CHED).
The real solution is a thorough review of the qualifications, standards and records of all existing schools of nursing. This should be followed by drastic (even ruthless) action to close down schools that have in fact been cheating millions of poor families by offering them false hopes. Special attention must be focused on schools in which politicians or their families are involved. While this appears to be a difficult undertaking, the data for a thorough review is already at hand. A hardy band of nursing academics actually have figures on which to base drastic actions like school closures – these are the former CHED and PRC members who resigned when its past chairman, a honest and tough educator, was replaced by the present chairman who is much more receptive to “orders from above”.
But one despairs that this will ever happen. The crisis of confidence faced not just by this government but by the entire country looms bigger in the wake of a statement by the Press Secretary whose behavior during the Garci tapes episode is a classic case study in obfuscation. He said: “We appeal for the cooperation of all concerned, as this is a matter of national interest. There could be no better way, at least for the meantime, for us to ensure the integrity and reputation of our health professionals in the eyes of the people and the world”.
Ellen,
Re: “Last week, in the middle of a disastrous typhoon, Malacañang decided on a “bold move” to restore international confidence in the name of Filipino nurses. ”
It will be difficult for Gloria and her government to restore international confidence on the issue of Filipino nurses.
The cheating or the exam leakage reached would be foreign employers. A UK doctor friend said that nursing applicants from the Philippines will have to be re-tested, etc.
Now, Malacañang is rethinking about its order to retake. That’s because the decision is not designed to address the root of the problem but only as Arroyo’s PR ploy. Siyempre, coming from Dante Ang, what do you expect?
It’s another case of disassembling.
Isn’t it about time to put all professional regulations and licensing under the corresponding profession itself? Our government can not even handle or able to run its basic functions and still have anything to do with regulating professions, which I believe should be better left to the people who are in the field. What I am saying here, is like the Nursing Profession here in Ontario or most Places in North America are regulated by Nurses themselves. It is called something like, (I can only give an Ontario example here), “The Ontario College of Nurses”, which elect among themselves, their own officers to regulate their own profession. Formulate the requirements needed to qualify for entry and pass the required exams to get their R.N. licenses. Usually it requires a candidate to successfully complete a Nursing Course, just like we have in the Philippines, and upon graduation write the exams, and upon passing, granted a license and subject to the College Rules and Code of Ethics. No Gloria intervention at all, not even by any kind of politician who by law can become one without having to step to school. Well, not really because under the truancy act, any school age children should be in school anyways, but for any new citizen who wants to become politician that is possible.
The gall of this so-called, “President” to EVEN suggest a retake on the nursing exam! Would you even listen to a CHEATER, LIAR and THIEF? Some nerve!
As long as GLORIA continues to squat in Malacanan, there will be NO CREDIBILITY to speak of in the Philippines. For as long as its people remains to be apathetic and disinterested in cleaning up the mess in the Philippines, the country will be remain to be the “Bastusan Republic.”
The crisis will go on, multiply and even mutate in other spheres of Philippine life. The nursing debacle is just the tip of an iceberg. This is the “chain reaction” of high-level cheating that originates from Hello Garci. It won’t go away.
d’glue is pussyfooting on the nurse exam decision because it is actually shooting herself in the foot either way it turns. If the exams have to be nullified, must not the election results be nullified too? The long shadow of her evil ways is catching up with her.
alitaptap, precisely. if most of the nursing examinees band together and also demand a re-take of the election, d’glue may realize it. But I doubt if she will admit that the mess is just a mirror of her fakery and do something that will boomerang later. However, knowing how she mishandles things, she may aggravate the situation and unconsciously dig her own grave. Punishing the culprits (leakers and profiteers) may be one route, because it expands the base of the disgruntled. Letting them go off the hook also points to her as a weak leader, who can’t discipline others. And now, the re-take issue, which is exploding like the “Hello Garci” scandal. Funny. As I see it, it’s a classic case of “damn if you do, and damn if you don’t.” That’s what one gets if things start out by deceitful means. The crisis never ends.
It might not be the crisis as the talking point would suggest, nevertheless it’s a crisis, a nation crisis. It’s about life safety issue of everyone that spoke against the regime of illegitimate Gloria. It must be put to stop, the killings that is. As all of you has probably heard or read, another disturbing extra-judicial killings. This time it was the messenger of god, Bishop Alberto Ramento and like others no one knows who the killer(s). The usual, finger pointing between Malacananng and NPA or the communist party. And somehow si Mang Melo is among the missing, or having senile attack. A most convenience appointee, just in time for Europe trip. Now, all is forgotten to the intent of appointment.
Ellen – I’ve this wild idea, only a vision for your consideration, of course. How possible and if it’s not too much administrative work for you and your staffs (if you’ve them) to every day post in this blog a special corner for public service a notice in bold letters and numbers highlighting the number to date of extra-judicial killings since day one when illegitimate Gloria waltz into Malacanang? e.g. “EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS UPDATE – 750”. I Lost count what is the total killings to date?
What is now happening in the Philippines is beyond imaginable!
Nakakapanlumong isipin na tila walang bisa kahit na anong legal o constitutional means ang gamitin ng mga kontra-GMA para patalsikin siya. Impeachment, protesta, surveys/polls, commentaries sa mga diario at blogs, senate hearings, atbp–puro paltos. Sa aking pananaw, walang pakundangan ang administration sa mga batas, kabilang na ang mismong constitution. Wala na rin yatang konsyensya at kahihiyan sa paggamit ng kabang-bayan para sa sariling kapakanan nila. Walang takot na salungatin kahit na ang co-equal na congreso o supreme court para lang makuha ang kanilang gusto. Kung ganyan ang kalaban mo tapos magpupumilit kang legal at constitutional ang paraang gagamitin mo, tapos na ang boksing. Kailan kaya magkatotoo sa bansang Pilipinas yung isang eksena ni William Holden sa pelikulang “Network”?
Anna, I have heard of the same things from friends in the States, healthworkers, themselves. As many of their hospitals are planning to hire several Pinoys for their staffing needs, I’ve been told the interviewers have been given specific instructions to ensure that the hirees are competent ones and not beneficiaries of some test cheating to fasttrack their employment abroad.
If you hear something like that, you feel outraged, shamed, and probably hoped you were not Pinoy.
Ginawa tayong kawawa nitong mga hayup na ito sa mata ng buong mundo.Tama ang title ng thread.
Cry, sis.
Inquirer on the latest from Malacañang on the nursing exam leak scandal:
Illegitimate Gloria doesn’t know the truth if staring her face. And every single thing that comes out on that woman’s mouth are nothing but lies. Only, if lies can’t be used to pay the Philippines national debt, I would imagine the debt has long been paid and some surplus to spare for rainy days. I guess Gloria and Miguel deserve each other, they both pathological. How sickening the thought of them running the country. Horrible, to say the least.
Can you imagine, a quite simple exam problem still nothing concrete have been decided. Ok, will not retake the exam. Ooops, by the way you’ve to retake the test again. Wait a minute here, they already took the test and passed, that’s right. Maybe they shouldn’t take the test anymore. Anybody found guilty and went to jail? Monies has been missing quite often, witnesses has been lying in court and congress, graft and corruption has been going on. Jueteng is alive and striving. Yet no one has been prosecuted nor found guilty of any wrong doing. Ain’t incredible!
This what happen when you start lying and covering up the lies, just don’t know when to stop. Just can’t differentiate the lies from the truths, and it doesn’t matter anymore, it’s an acceptable standard. That’s about the way fake Gloria has been governing the Philippines, trial and error, lie and cheat, or steal. Then, move on hoping it will pass.
Malacanang is nothing but an asylum of sick people! It’s there heaven where they plot and scheme their crimes, matter not the people’s welfare.
Cory by the Sea:
Last note: I saw the footage taken of me while talking to the people of the Kidney Center. I am not sure though if it is going to be shown on “Sukkiri” (News Flash on Channel 4). It’s the talk of the town now—this selling of human organs from donors (paid) in the Philippines.
teka, ano na ba ang laman ng timbangang hawak ng nakapiring na babaeng simbolo daw ng hustisya? parang hindi na pantay, eh?
ystakei-san,
Inaabangan ko….Anong oras kaya?
Youth dare Ebdane to tear down Arroyo billboards first
By Jun P. Yap and Marie Surbano
10/05/2006
The militant youth group Anakbayan yesterday challenged Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to tear down first President Arroyo’s gigantic billboards.
Anakbayan issued the statement after Malacañang’s announcement there would be no “sacred cows” in the implementation of the latest administrative order directing the dismantling of hazardous billboards in the wake of Typhoon “Milenyo.”
“Malacañang has claimed full responsibility for the mismanagement of huge advertising billboards in Metro Manila but it has yet to own up to its own folly. We challenge Ebdane to tear down Mrs. Arroyo’s monstrous billboards first. They do that and we just might believe that they truly are on top of the billboard situation,” Anakbayan national chairman Eleanor de Guzman said in a statement sent to the Tribune.
De Guzman cited Mrs. Arroyo’s huge billboard depicting her with, ironically, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, another anti-billboard advocate, along Quezon Avenue as “the most fitting test case.”
“It is not only an accident-prone structure, but also an eye-sore if not outright self-serving ad. At least commercial billboards are pleasing to the eye,” De Guzman said.
She added GMA (Mrs. Arroyo’s initials) billboards are scattered all over Metro Manila.
“Tear those down and maybe half of the billboard problem will be cleared immediately,” she stressed.
De Guzman said if Ebdane fails to dismantle Mrs. Arroyo’s billboards, more are sure to be put up come election campaign time.
“After all, we have proven in the past that Mrs. Arroyo is ‘validosa’ when it comes to flaunting her huge sneering face during periods of electioneering,’’ she said.
Meanwhile, illegal, dangerous and obstructive billboards and signages would be dismantled immediately, the DPWH yesterday disclosed.
Director Emmanuel Cuntapay, head of the DPWH national building code development office, made the disclosure after President Arroyo finally signed Administrative Order 160 directing the agency to remove all billboards that pose threat and imminent danger to the safety of the public.
“The government is now using its police power in regulating destructive billboards,” Cuntapay told reporters.
Since 97 percent of the 3,000 billboards and signages in Metro Manila, particularly along the stretch of Edsa, are believed to be illegal, there is nothing that would prevent the DPWH from dismantling them, Cuntapay said.
He added if the owners and advertisers of the billboards are found violating the National Building Code and Structural Code during the inspection and assessment and did not make the necessary compliance, Cuntapay said “we would be forced to dismantle them and implement the law.”
Under the law, the allowable size of billboards should be 3.6 meters tall with a surface area of not more than 30 square meters.
Aside from the size, they must not be situated or placed on the roofs, especially if the billboards used were made of wood, steel and iron while billboards that may block traffic signs and electricity cables must likewise be removed.
Only those allowed to be placed on concrete roofs are billboards made of neon signs and electronic signages because they are lighter.
Cuntapay said political signages would only be permitted to be put up for five days and would only be allowed to stay for a long period of time if the message it carries is an important one.
Cuntapay appealed to local government officials to police their own ranks and obey the law to set a good example to billboard owners and advertisers.
DPWH will submit a report to the Department of Justice for the possible filing of charges against the erring billboard owners and advertisers.
Mrivera, thanks for posting this piece. I seldom visit Manila, and was oblivious to those giant posters which inundate the metropolis. Didn’t know that Gloria’s images are part of the billboard mania, maybe because I have become immune to seeing those stuff.
Ebdane to tear down GMA’s billboards? I doubt it. Their definitions of “sacred cow,” “rule of law” will surely exempt her, linguistically speaking, because Gloria is not a cow and that she is the law.
Am reminded of Thomas Jefferson’s famous and now classic quote: “All persons are created equal.” But he had in his Virginia farms warm-bloodied possessions – over a hundred black slaves he didn’t want to liberate! They were considered non-persons.
Just a small note, lest I may be criticized. Jefferson actually said “men” – “persons” are my rendering because of current concern with gender sensitivity. My apology for this tampering, esp. for purists.
somebody else said that not all are created equal but society must strive to lessen the inequalities.
more so, let us strive hard to lessen if not eradicate the evils in the society.
Ellen:
It is more “Crisis of Incompetence” as in the case of this news from Tribune:
6 kids die in fire after parents arrested for drugs
10/07/2006
Six children were killed in a fire in Rizal province yesterday as they slept in a house after their parents were arrested by the police for dealing drugs.
“The blaze was started by a candle that the children had lit because power in the housing development in Taytay town, east of Manila, had been knocked out by Typhoon Milenyo last week, police said.
“Faudsia Daud, 31, and wife Pojia Butuan-Daud, 30, both Muslims, had earlier been arrested for drug-dealing, leaving their five children aged between two and eight and a nine-year-old playmate alone in the house. ”
Over here, when criminals are arrested by the police and they have children below 15 years of age, the children are taken by the police to a children’s center until their parents are released or some relatives take them into custody, and the people in charge make sure that their education, etc. are not disrupted so as lessen the trauma and not leave lasting adverse effects on the children.
In short, talagang kawawa ang mga pilipino. Iyong pera for services such as the above kinukurakot kasi!!! No wonder ang feeling ng mga pilipino wala silang pag-asa sa sarili nilang bansa!
Another questionable arrest no doubt:
From Tribune
“PNP says has solved Aglipayan bishop’s murder case
“10/07/2006
“The police yesterday considered the case of Aglipayan Church Bishop Alberto Ramento, who was found dead last Tuesday, closed after the arrest of four suspects who are said to be members of a robbery group.
In a press conference where the four arrested suspects were presented, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the bishop’s killing was triggered by a robbery and was therefore not politically-motivated as militant and human rights groups alleged earlier.
“The arrested suspects, whom the police identified as Michael Viado, Michael Quitalig, Raymon Perez and Joel Villanueva, were alleged members of a robbery gang called the “Magic Group,” which allegedly were engaged in shoplifting and cellular phone snatching around the Magic Star mall in Tarlac City in Tarlac province.
“The PNP said the gang has about 30 members, and several of them were former members of the defunct “Dagis Palengke” gang, the police said.
“The four were rounded up by members of the Tarlac provincial police office Thursday night in a series of operations.”
I don’t believe this, do you? Even when it is true, the PNP has difficulty no doubt of recovering any credibility it could have if the policemen there have not as corrupt as the policemen in the Philippines are noted for.
A friend of mine used to call them “Tulisman” with the p changed to t for “tulisan”! May matino din siguro but on the whole, the majority is corrupt. Dapat ibawal ang mga babaero at lalakero sa police force diyan at saka iyong mga tong!
Kawawang bansa. Ang daming dapat na linisin pero hindi malinis dahil ang mga nakaupo majority mandurugas!!!
Here’s another crisis of incompetency:
“”We are at the mercy of state prosecutors … They never gave us the opportunity to prosecute this case. It could have been done. What’s the harm in presenting rebuttal evidence?” Ursua said in an interview in Quezon City.
Ursua is the private lawyer of Nicole, the rape victim of the 4 horny US soldiers.
As a court and police interpreter in Japan, I have difficulty understanding really why the prosecutor’s office in the Philippines should be protecting the criminals (accused) and not their victim, and why should the victim be the one being grilled, embarrassed and harrassed instead of the brutes who stole her innocence.
If Nicole had been Japanese, no doubt she will not have to suffer the way she is being made to suffer by the very people tasked to protect and cuddle her!!!
Tangna, niyuyurakan na ang dangal ng mga pilipino, nakasipsip pa rin ang gunggonzales na dapat inaalisan ng titulo at sinisipa na! Has this idiot been confirmed by the CA? As what? Secretary of In-Justice?
Suggestion doon sa lawyer ni Nicole. Better check on the background of the horny soldiers. Siguro naman may mga concerned Filipinos in the US who may be able to pay for private detectives to check on those soldiers as evidence against them kung ayaw kumilos ng mga pulis diyan.
Don’t believe the lie that the US government is willing to cover up for erring members of their military, or that there is restriction because of the VFA.
The legal advisers for instance in the US bases here are very cooperative in solving crimes committed by US soldiers in Japan. So, why should the US legal advisers in Manila be different?
The VFA should not be used as reason for the inability of the Philippine court to try this case that has been committed in fact during the soldier’s furlough and not within the scope of the VFA, meaning not within the jurisdiction of this treaty that should apply only when the soldiers are in uniform and in line of duty. Ang bobo naman!
If the US Embassy is not cooperating as the law provides, it must be because the Americans there do not respect and do not have faith in the justice system in the Philippines. For that SiRaulo Gunggonzales, and his prosecutors should be ashamed of themselves.
I suggest that the lawyer of Nicole contact the Japanese bar association for copies of similar cases in Japan where the soldiers are duly prosecuted and convicted and cite them as precedents in the presentation of Nicole’s case in the Philippine court.
Tangna saan ka nakakita na ang victim ang parang naging accused, at iyong mga criminal na malibog na mga kano ang mga bayani!!!
Ang alam kong may confidence sa crisis itong si Krisis Aquino na buntis ngayon. Sa pagka-confident niya naka-shoot ng husto si James.
artsee, ngeheheheeh! basketball. basketball. ang sarap sarap mag-basketball!!!!
Email from Roger Santos:
Mr. Dante Ang, a self-righteous man is undermining the people’s trust and respect of PGMA. The president must immediately end all these squabbles and controversies by a decisive straightforward decision of no retake of nursing board exam. For those who failed, try your luck next time. Be a good Christian.
On Tom‘s posting October 5th, 2006 at 3:36 am re Network
Alam nyo ang napanood ko kahapon(Oct 07) ay itong The Other Final (thanks to the German Film Festival)
Ang pelikulang The Other Final ay documentary film tungkol sa istorya ng dalawang kulelat na koponan ng FIFA, ang Bhutan(202) at ang Montserrat(203).
Ang nasabing laro ay ginanap mismo sa Thimpu, kabisera ng Bhutan na matatagpuan sa Himalayas.
Samantalang ang Final match mismo ng dalawang nangunang koponan ng FIFA(Germany v. Brazil) ay sa Yokohama ginanap.
Mapapansin sa pelikula ang sinabi ng Team Captain ng Bhutan, ang kawalan ng interes na mag sponsor ng NIKE at ADIDAS – na siyang madalas na namamayani at hindi na laro ang nagiging sentro kundi komersyalisasyon na!
Nakakalungkot isipin na mismong si Zinedine Zidane ang nagsabi na ang pelikulang ito ay napanood nya at talagang nagustuhan nya.
Ibig sabihin ba nito, na ang mundong ginagalawan ni Zidane sa FIFA ay hindi na kaayaayang kompetisyon?Hindi na kompetisyon sa laro kungdi kompetisyon sa komersyalisasyon?
Sa pamamagitan ng football competition ay nagkakaroon ng cultural exchanges ang dalawang koponan.
Marami tayong matututunan sa The Other Final
Napag-usapan din lang naman ang komersyalisasyon ng sports dito sa bansa natin, lalo na sa Boksing at kay Manny Pacquiao?
Sana kung ‘gagayahin ni Manny Pac ang mga yapak ni Flash Elorde’ , …imbes na Manny Pac Sports Gym , bakit hindi na lang “ANDY BALABA SPORTS COMPLEX” bilang paggunita sa kabayanihan ng nasabing boksingero.
Balaba Cup o Andy Balaba Trophy.
* * * * * * * * * *
Dahil sa nasabing pelikula ay napabili tuloy ako ng ADIDAS product kahapon, bilang tugon sa cultural exchange at hindi sa komersyalismo!