Why are RFID tags useful in the streets? According to LTO, using these chips can:

• Reduce traffic,
• Reduce pollution,
• Reduce “colorum” public utility vehicles, and
• Prevent vehicle theft, among others.

Most of these benefits arise from more effective law enforcement as violators can easily be identified and apprehended. The catch? Many have been hesitant with the implementation, as it is prone to misuse.

If the system is compromised, given only the vehicle ID, one could already access a bunch of private information, and this is a serious security risk. LTO should be able to ensure high security and protection of these information. Also, a party-list representative, Lisa Masa said that this can actually be used for “spying” on private citizens. Considering that these tags contain valuable information, when compromised, these information may be used in a negative way.

This forum might also be a good read, for a public view on the RFID implementation. The link to the forum also contains links to why Stradcom Corp. sounds familiar to some and “infamous” to yet some. Apparently, Stradcom Corp. has been linked with a number of LTO projects and transactions, including RFID. Some believe that the company might have activities that seem anomalous. A column dated February 2009 details some interesting notes at that time on Stradcom.

When used properly, this system can indeed improve many aspects in the everyday driving lives and safety of everyone. Let’s just hope that this won’t have adverse effects on society, especially as a result of mismanagement and/or abuse.

Related posts:

1. Automated Election Source Code Review Yes, before, we were supposed to be able to review...
2. The Philippines, Lately Lately, the Philippines is feeling the toll of the upcoming...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Lately, the Philippines is feeling the toll of the upcoming elections on dirty politics, stock market, and possibly other areas.

With the elections in 2010 coming closer and closer everyday, more and more politicians start to bash each other, airing out each others’ dirty laundry in public. Political ads started to air at least 1 year before the actual voting day, which was totally unsurprising, considering we’re talking about Philippine politics here. Well, even if elections are still far away, they are already into the habit of trash-talking others. There have already been a lot of controversies, and they are growing each day. I am not amazed at how they just sprout like mushrooms whenever that time is near, and not during the lulls of their term’s duration. If you can remember Villar and his ever-famous C5 project or the more recent Lacson’s expose on Erap, among others. There are a lot more, if you just sift through the news. It’s just saddening.

Up until the past weeks, the Philippine stock market is doing great, following the DOW trend. However, just recently, PHISIX started to trend sideways, against the flow most traders were foreseeing. According to M. Sayo,

Whereas almost every stock market around the world registered new 52-week highs last week, the PSEi dropped lower instead and has even broken below its medium-term support line at around 2815. Could this be a cause for concern, or, could this drop actually be an opportunity to buy? That is the big question that everybody is asking right now? Some say that the market dropped last week because of politics. – The Phisix Weekly Chart (updated every week, latest September 22, 2009)

We can only speculate, but through experience, most will say that good news take time to have a visible effect, but we can immediately see the effects of bad news. So, what happened to the market? Yes, it’s probably caused by politics, with the most recent expose of Lacson. Everyone is on the edge waiting for the market to zoom upwards, as it is due.

There was news that the Philippines will have a critical power/electricity problem come 2010. That’s just amazing. And the first time this news was heard? Was regarding the possible problems that this might entail to hamper the poll automation. Earlier, businessmen reacted by saying that they should have been informed, as they were the most impacted. True enough, when there is lack of power, households can survive, but businesses and industries wont. Many will once again be jobless and paid less. So, everything seems to be tied with politics. Why does the issue on electricity rise now? We had a similar problem back in 1998. There were severe power interruptions during the time of Ramos. Now, it’s Arroyo. There has been (not sure if there is still now) an Arroyo-Ramos connection. So, is this purely coincidence? I don’t know, and I have no proof to back it up.

From the current tandems, it seems that Aquino-Roxas has a better edge compared to Teodoro-Puno. It’s still a long way from now. I’m sure it will be an “interesting” fight, among the candidates, as it always have been. Let’s just see.

Related posts:

1. Philippine Stocks Rebounding, Promising Outlook? Disclaimer: I am not an expert in this field. However,...
2. Political Campaign Overspending is Pure BS I don't know how it is with other countries, but...
3. Wordcamp Philippines 2009 I attended my first Wordcamp event today at the Asian...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Now, we are seeing the two faces of the government – the “truth” and the “lie”. Which is which? Different sectors have different stands on the matter, but one thing is evident. The government is certainly not staying silent on the attacks hurled into it. More and more people begin to march the streets and fight for truth. But what is the truth? Who is telling the truth? The administration? The opposition? For all we know this is just one of those unending wars between the pros and the antis. We cannot say for sure that one party is clean. Both parties are tainted. It is just that one looks less tainted than the other, because one is in position, and the other is fighting for a change in governance.

Many issues and scandals have befallen the current government, since it started after the pseudo-people-power-impeachment-incident of Erap. The climax of which is the NBN-ZTE broadband deal, where the Filipino has found a “hero” in the person of Jun Lozada and has slowly mustered courage to stand up once again. The different sectors including the church and the students, have began making their voices heard – leading to what many say as the rebirth of what happened 22 years ago in EDSA. It may well be. It may well be another people power revolution. Will it succeed? Only time will tell.

Right now, for the majority of the people, it is already evident who is guilty, because of the actions being done in response to the situation. If it would be proven that Lozada and company are telling the truth, then the government will not be able to hide behind “no conclusive evidence”. The cast being accused as guilty are already acting in a very suspicious manner, leaving little room for the people to have the benefit of the doubt. Words may be hurled from one place to the other, whether to accuse or to defend, but in the end, all that matters is for the Filipino to survive, be safe, and have a good future, where leaders lead with their hearts, and not their love of money.

As one radio broadcaster has mentioned, maybe having the guilty government officials accountable for their wrongdoings (by being imprisoned or sentenced to a grave penalty) is the only way for the future leaders to behave and act for the welfare of the Filipino.

Related posts:

1. The Philippines, Lately Lately, the Philippines is feeling the toll of the upcoming...
2. The Filipino is Worth Living and Dying For As Ninoy died saying, 'The Filipino is worth dying for,'...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

1. Undergo a Medical Check-up (hei ght and eyesight)
2. Undergo drug-testing (submit a urine sample)
3. Fill out the necessary forms, along with the results of the exams
4. Submit the forms at window 1
5. Have your signature and picture taken at window 2 or 3
6. Pay at window 11
7. Claim the renewed license at window 12

Sounds easy? Yes, and I expected to finish early, i.e. in an hour max, since I was among the first to be there.

Upon entering the compound, fixers abounded, approaching each visitor and asking if they needed help. I just went through to the main desk and proceeded to have my medical. 50 pesos was needed to have your eyesight and height checked. I overheard the doctor (? – I don’t know if she really is a doctor) talking to one of the suspected fixers about an incident that happened. Apparently, the doctor was already being very careful about her actions, since their head was already wary of what they were doing, and told them to straighten it out. She said, (not verbatim, but the essence is there) “Hoy, Bagalan mo nga, Sabihan mo nga siya na bagalan niya, at huwag siyang magmamadali, kinuha niya yung blankong papel/resibo. Nag-iingat na nga ako eh, kasi nagagalit na yung head.” She really looked worried, by the way.

After the medical exam (if that was indeed a medical exam), I proceeded to one of the drug testing centers, and had my urine tested. 250 pesos was needed. It only took a short time, and I immediately proceeded to window 1 to submit the documents. I was the first to place my paper on the table. There was no one inside yet to see to the papers submitted by the applicants. We had to wait around 10 minutes. The people inside, seemed to have a lot of free time, happily chatting with each other. Some were even eating and texting and unmindful of the time. When the papers were taken in at last, there was a man with an ID who entered the room and engaged the person in charge of the papers into a conversation, and manipulated the arrangement of the papers in a seemingly unnoticeable way, putting the set of papers he had brought in with him on top of the pile. (“Pasimple” in Filipino) After a debate between a concerned applicant, the person returned the initial arrangement, and went on like nothing happened.

The next step was the picture taking and the signature. There were a lot of people who were accommodated already even before I was called. Some of these people, I have not even seen entering the premises. After this, I paid the renewal fee of 248 pesos, and patiently waited for the release of the license. After 30 minutes, they announced that they had problems in connecting with the main server, and will cause delays to the people who just arrived. I told myself I was lucky, since I was already done. While waiting, I observed the people around, and saw the various acts they have staged. Some applicants talked to the employees and inserted at least a hundred pesos into the hands of the employees, and thanked them. I was pissed. I got angrier when a number of people were already called to claim theirs, but mine was still stuck somewhere. I immediately engaged the cashier and asked how long it would take before the license could be released after paying. She told me to wait, and told me that it would only take a few more moments. I once again sat down, after around 10 more minutes, I got called back to window 2 for another picture taking. I told the lady I was already done with it, but she told me I had to take it again. Pissed, but still obedient, I went on. On the way to my seat, I turned back to talk to the lady again, and asked her how long it would take. I told her and almost shouted that I was already waiting for a very very long time, and a lot of applicants who came in later than I did were already done, but I’m still stuck here. She told me that she already passed my papers to the next person, and I will just have to wait. Lo and behold, after 5-10 minutes, I got my license.

All in all, it took me 2 and a half hours.

No matter how the government tries to remove the weeds, if the people themselves are not disciplined enough, the weeds will grow back. If the government employees vehemently stick to the rules and the process, things will be well for everyone.

Related posts:

1. PinoyTwitters Anniversary Contest Filipino Twitters rejoice! PinoyTwitters is having its anniversary on November...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.