Deaf E-News

SDEAS hosts symposium on NBN-ZTE Controversy

11 February 2008 – De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (DLS-CSB SDEAS) organized a symposium on the NBN-ZTE Controversy with Rep. Teddy Casiño as the resource speaker and presenter. With a full-house crowd at the Augusto Rosario Gonzalez Theater, Rep. Casiño gave an overview of how the NBN-ZTE contract started as a good idea and ended as one of the most talked about corruption issues in the Philippines under the Arroyo administration.

The audience of 120 students, faculty and staff eagerly asked questions during the open forum, proof that Benildeans are very much interested in understanding vital issues in public governance and what can be done to address these issues.

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Q&A With SDEAS Student Ana Kristina Arce on the NBN-ZTE Controversy

Deaf E-News (DEN): What can you say about the talk of Rep. Teddy Casiño?

Ana: I was totally not aware about the ZTE-NBN issue. Today I learned about what is happening in our country when I read the newspapers and listened to Congressman Teddy Casino during the forum.

I felt frustrated that some politicians lose their moral values in their quest to become millionaires while most people work hard to pay their tax to the government. Many of us got angry because of these corrupt government officials.

We are shocked because we don't really know what the government is doing.


DEN: What do you think about our government and what should we do?

Ana: Government system and policy are not strong. It's a mess.

We should study the background of people who would be candidates for mayor, governor, congressman and senator in the
Philippines. If they have good ethics and morals and can serve our country without being corrupt, we should vote for them during elections.

DEN: What is our role as students to the country?

Ana: As students, we should learn how to strengthen our morality, ethics and values so we can become good examples to our country.


DEN: Any suggestions for next topic of discussion?

Ana: I want to know about Charter-Change (CHA-CHA) and the problem in our government system. Thank you for your encouraging us to get to know about issues.

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