Monitors

Gloria’s pie in the sky
Media were quick to spot the problem of funding of the infrastructure projects ticked off by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her State of the Nation Address (Sona) last July 24.

On the day of the Sona itself, Bandila asked the President’s economic managers where and how the government would source funds for the ambitious projects. The following day, TV Patrol World named the possible funders and got the reaction of economic analyst Peter Wallace who expressed doubts about the government’s ability to lure investors to finance the projects.

In its banner story, BusinessWorld also tackled the funding issue (“Wish-list cost uncertain,” July 26). It presented a list of the costs of some projects identified in the Sona and noted that the actual costs already exceeded the estimates of Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr.

Understanding a war
As Philippine media reported on the evacuation of Filipino workers from Lebanon, only a few bothered to take up the reasons behind the conflict in that country.

In its “Talk of the Town” section, the Philippine Daily Inquirer gave a background on the Hezbollah, the extent of its power, and its involvement in the political system of Lebanon (“At war with Israel: Hezbollah and Hamas guerrillas,” July 23).

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