ScienceDaily (Apr. 9, 2008) — Scientists in Texas are reporting development of an highly dependable, rapid, and inexpensive new method for identifying the presence of gunshot residue (GSR). The test fills a GSR-detection gap that results from wider use of "green" -- lead free -- ammunition.
It requires only a single speck of GSR smaller than the period at the end of this sentence and could boost the accuracy of one of the most widely used tests employed at crime scenes involving gunplay.
In a poster presented at the 235th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, graduate student Garrett Lee Burleson and his advisor, chemist Jorn Chi Chung Yu, Ph.D., of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, described their new method. It extracts almost all components of gunpowder residue from particles about 15 times smaller than the width of a human hair, without the use of chemical reagents. After extraction, gas chromatography coupled with a nitrogen phosphorus detector is used to separate and identify the analytes.
"Gunshot residue tests are done in almost every case where a shooting has taken place," Burleson said. "The main focus of our research is to develop a method that will help credibility of gunshot residue evidence in court. You can get results with this test in 30 to 40 minutes with the new test. In addition you only need small amounts of evidence to run the test."
Many of the current methods are susceptible to outside interferences that can produce false positive or false negative results. For example, most tests require the presence of lead for a valid reading, including two of the three mainstays of residue analysis -- the sodium rhodizonate test and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray detection.
But Burleson points out that lead is disappearing from ammunition. That potentially toxic metal poses environmental hazards at outdoor firing ranges, where it can leach into groundwater. In response, manufacturers have begun to create safer, environmentally friendly ammunition out of other metals, such as zinc and aluminum alloys.
This recent trend toward lead-free ammunition, Burleson said, has decreased reliability of gun shot residue analysis and created the need for smarter tests to identify more diverse components of residue in gunpowder, including elements like stabilizers and plasticizers, which are added in the powder during the manufacturing process for safety reasons.
"When a gun fires, the gunpowder explodes, producing gases at enormous pressure that propels the bullet out of the barrel of the firearm," explained Burleson, a graduate student in the Master of Science in Forensic Science Program at Sam Houston State University. "Some of the residue from that explosion is deposited on the hands of the shooter and the clothing of the victim." Burleson's new test, which uses a technology called solid phase micro-extraction combined with gas chromatography, focuses on chemical compounds present in that ejected material. "When you have a residue particle, no matter how small, it's going to contain signatures of every element in that powder."
These signatures offer a wider range of detection possibilities compared to traditional methods, he said. Using an alternative method with a scanning electron microscope, for example, a forensic examiner would perform a search for lead, passing up numerous powder constituents in the analysis. "You would just look for the one little piece of metal that might be there, so the analysis could take hours," Burleson said.
"If you're looking for powder, however, there's a lot more of it. You're getting more of the residue to analyze. It makes it a much more efficient method of detection." For example, a distinctive combination of certain chemicals, such as diphenylamine, ethyl centralite and nitrodiphenylamine, is typically found only in explosive mixtures and therefore allows for a simple analysis of gunplay at a crime scene.
In contrast, another traditional test for finding gunshot residue, the modified Griess test, often fails because it lacks such specificity. Its analysis is based on the detection of Nitrogen-based compounds called nitrites, which are gunpowder byproducts. But these compounds are also found elsewhere, leading to possible ambiguity in testing.
"Many chemical cleaners -- anything that can be used to take off motor oil or freight dust -- will test positive for gunshot residue using the Griess test," Burleson said.
That would make the reading a false positive, which opens the door in court cases for reasonable doubt and possibly incarcerating an innocent person. "The worst thing you can possibly say is, 'There's a chance I'm wrong.' Our preliminary results indicate you can determine the presence of gunshot residue with a high level of confidence."
More efficient testing also would reduce the need for extraneous tests that require time and money while draining resources from a criminal justice system that cannot afford it, Burleson said.
The research was funded by the College of Criminal Justice and Department of Chemistry at Sam Houston State University.
Burleson's test could be used as a preliminary or confirmatory one. "As far as a stand-alone test, it's an excellent, reliable and cheap test to do," he said. "But for the sake of clarity and thoroughness, examiners will usually run multiple tests, such as the sodium rhodizonate test at the crime scene, and they could then confirm the findings with my method."
Sunday, December 27, 2009
MORRELLISMS BLOG ON PRIMITIVE CRIME DETECTION PROCEDURE
It is time for our Crime Scene Investigator to drop the Jurassic practice of pouring hot parafin wax on the hands of unfortunate suspects the police authorities suspect to have fired a gun in a crime scene. Just look at Cable TV's CSI series. You will see how the CSI agents merely dab the hand of the suspect with a chemically-treated material to reveal any trace of gun powder residue. In our case we treat the the suspects cruelly.
It is also time for our Cebuano Congressmen to emerge from the twilight zone of Cebuano politics and enact a law that will modernize our crime detection system. Are our Congressmen listening? HELLO! Why wait until your own kin will be subjected to the hot, melted parafin test?
It is also time for our Cebuano Congressmen to emerge from the twilight zone of Cebuano politics and enact a law that will modernize our crime detection system. Are our Congressmen listening? HELLO! Why wait until your own kin will be subjected to the hot, melted parafin test?
Saturday, October 3, 2009
DISASTER MISMANAGEMENT
The Disaster Management System in the Philippines is a disaster by itself. There is no conept papert to identify, classify, categorise, the degree of destruction and man-killing areas of concern. Everybody has its own idea of how it should be crafted, executed by somebody not identified by proper academic and technical study, both on the national and local government levels. Why is the Academe not involved in crafting situational papers involving various areas of dangerous areas and concerns. The magnitude of each danger zone should be spelled out and the appropriate funding institutionalized in each proposal.
Here everybody thinks he knows what a disaster is according to his myopic vision. Everbody wants to control the planning, the management, the manning, the equipment requirements. They are so control-oriented that cannot control themselves.
The concept paper should be instructional to the presidency and Congress itself.
Unless a new orientation is adopted we will have more of the same disaster.
lindymorrell
Oct. 3, 2009
Here everybody thinks he knows what a disaster is according to his myopic vision. Everbody wants to control the planning, the management, the manning, the equipment requirements. They are so control-oriented that cannot control themselves.
The concept paper should be instructional to the presidency and Congress itself.
Unless a new orientation is adopted we will have more of the same disaster.
lindymorrell
Oct. 3, 2009
Thursday, September 25, 2008
A Critique On The Consultative Commission's Faulty Protocol *
Click on the image to view it in full size.
Click on the image to view it in full size.Wednesday, September 17, 2008
How the Patria de Cebu was Built
Circa 1954
“What man can imagine, man can do.” – John F. Mee
The site of the Patria used to be a squatter settlement not even the Archbishop of Cebu, the Knights of Columbus, and the Daughters of Isabela were able to persuade the squatters to move out of the Church ground. The squatters were backed up by the local political officials which made them a formidable force to contend with. The squatter site became a crime den.
Prohibition Against YMCA Patronage by Archbishop Rosales
Around this time the Cebu Catholic Hierarchy was strict in its mandate that no Catholic youth should patronize the YMCA Recreation Center in Jones Avenue. The Catholic youth were at a lost on where to play bowling, play billiards and learn swimming. This representation had already graduated from U.P. Diliman with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and was strengthened in his faith by the U.P. Chaplain, the late Father John Delaney, SJ. and was pursuing a Master’s Degree in English at the University of San Carlos. With the help of Reverend Father Bernard Wrocklege, SVD (Society of Divine Word). of the University of San Carlos they motivated the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu to undertake the construction of a Catholic Recreation Center in Cebu City.
The Offered Site
When Archbishop Julio R. Rosales learned of their plan he offered to provide a lot where the Catholic Recreation Center would be built. But the site the Archbishop had in mind was the squatter settlement in front of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. He challenged the Student Catholic Action to moved out the squatters from the church grounds. Catholic Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell informed the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu about the Archbishop’s offer and the challenge. Archbishop Julio Rosales wrote to the Vatican for permission to allow the Student Catholic Action to use the area as the site of the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action recreation and service center to be called the Patria de Cebu. The Vatican gave its permission.
The Quest for Relocation Venue for Patria Squatters
With Cebu Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action President Bartolome de Castro, SCA’s leaders Francis Zosa, Anastacio Fabiania, Jr., Felix Matugina, Fe Mendoza, Azucena Derecho, Hermenia Florido, Jess Solon, Jess Hernandez, Leon Gonzaga, Jr., Augusto Go and Lindy C. Morrell, and Rev. Fr. Wrocklege, the team scoured Cebu City to look for a relocation site for the squatters. They spotted the empty sprawling grounds of the Cebu City Hippodrome or racetrack where racehorses used to engage in Sunday racing. At once they lost no time in trying to persuade some of the squatters to relocate to the new site. Unfortunately one of the leaders of the squatters refused to move. USC Law student Augusto Go offered his flatbed truck to haul the squatters’ houses to the relocation site providing that the SCA would furnish the driver.
The Death Threat by Squatters
This representation being a professional driver offered to do the driving chore. Just as the SCA students were about to move the first house for relocation, the hostile leader of the squatters named Tasio from Leyte drew his bolo to hack this representation. Reverend Father Wrocklege stepped into the picture and told Tasio “If you are going to kill this young man, kill me first!” Tasio’s hand shook in anger but he could not strike the priest. Lindy C. Morrell and Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. bargained with Tasio to go with the team to inspect the site so that he would have the first pick of the relocation site. Tasio cooled down and agreed to go with the team to the site to see for himself where he could relocate his house. Upon seeing a spot that he liked he agreed to have his house to be moved to the site ahead of the others. Thus the intended site for the Patria was cleared of squatters.
Drawing the Patria Blueprint
Two young architects of Cebu City, Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado (the younger brother of journalist Johnny Mercado) drew the blueprint for the Patria de Cebu making it one of the strongest structure in Cebu City at that point in time because of the special features that they have incorporated into the building plan – installing tie beams in the foundations of the building. This design is capable of taking the seismic shocks of earthquakes giving the Patria the distinction of being the first structure in Cebu City to enjoy this feature. Teddy Trinidad and Pepe Mercado crafted the blueprints for free. Patria construction boss was Dionisio Licaron.
Hand-Made Ave Maria Hollow Blocks
Each Student Catholic Action volunteer would make a hollow block with his own hands using the iron mold provided by Rev. Fr. Ernest Hoerdeman, SVD of the University of San Carlos. When the hollow block took shape and was removed from its mold the SCA volunteer would pray one Hail Mary over the hollow block. Lindy C. Morrell named the hollow blocks made by the SCA volunteers as the “Ave Maria Hollow Blocks”. The entire Patria Building is made up of Ave Maria hollow blocks. This is possibly the only structure in the Philippines made by students and prayed for with ‘Hail Mary’s. The SCA volunteers who made the hollow blocks were fed by meals cooked by female USC SCA volunteers in the field headed by USC student Luz Adolfo who later became Mrs. Luz Morrell. Rev. Fr. Veronico Salvador, brother of Archbishop Manuel Salvador, was one Diocesan priest who helped support the SCA project by regularly donating bags of cement for the hollow block-making project of the SCA volunteers.
Operation Red Hat
To help generate funds for the Patria project the SCA leaders wrote an appeal to cardinals and bishops all over the world appealing to them to donate funds to finance the Patria construction. Each time a solicitation letter was mailed to a cardinal or bishop one “Hail Mary” was prayed over each letter before dropping it to the mailbox. Contributions from local, national, and international sources were being received by Archbishop Julio Rosales as a result of SCA’s Operation Red Hat.
A Special Appeal
This representation humbly appeals to His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the Archbishop of Cebu to name a room in the Patria de Cebu Building after the late Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD who was the spiritual leader of the SCA Patria builders. Also this Lay Leader recommends that another room be named after the two young architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado for crafting the blueprints and supervising the construction of the Patria de Cebu Building for free.
Unforeseen Problem
When the Patria de Cebu Building was finished the builders awaited the shipment of the bowling alleys, billiard tables and other equipment by a supplier from Manila. Unfortunately the Puyat Manufacturing Facility caught fire. The suppliers refused to honor their contract to ship the entire sports equipment to the Patria (which was supposed to be paid in several installments over a three-year period) but insisted that the entire shipment be paid in cash. The Student Catholic Action of the Archdiocese of Cebu were preparing to file a legal suit against the Puyat Company to compel the firm to honor their contract with SCA. The advisers of Archbishop Rosales counseled the prelate to incorporate the Patria de Cebu and secure a bank loan to pay for the sports equipment.
Planned Student Protest
The SCA students objected to the plan to incorporate the Patria and to secure a loan to pay for the sports equipment because they felt that once the equipment were installed the patrons of the Patria de Cebu movement who were very generous in giving contributions to finance the Patria project would no longer feel obliged to continue giving their contributions. The students were overruled. The Patria was incorporated. Archbishop Rosales told Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell that he follow the counsel of his advisers because they were older and more knowledgeable in life. But Lindy Morrell replied: “Your advisers say I am young and know no better. Your Excellency I am glad that I am young for But Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD and Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell were not included among the list of incorporators. The students were aggrieved and were planning to demonstrate before the Archbishop’s Palace. Rev. Fr. Wrocklege and Lay Leader Lindy Morrell were able to pacify the disgruntled students telling them that in building the Patria they were also building themselves as responsible citizens and that although they were not named among the list of incorporators their named were listed in each hollow block that they made which would be honored by Jesus Christ Himself. After all the two leaders reminded the SCA volunteers that their noble work was aimed to restore all things to Christ. These words calmed the students.
Rev. Fr. Wrocklege Assigned Back to the U.S.
But Archbishop Rosales did not know of this act of pacifying the students and had Rev. Fr. Wrocklege transferred back to the United States in Techny, Illinois without the knowledge of the students who were not able to say goodbye to their beloved spiritual adviser. This is why naming a room in the Patria of Cebu in honor of Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD would help sooth the hurt that the SCA volunteers felt.
The After-Years
The career paths of the SCA leaders who built the Patria de Cebu proved to be colorful and impressive. Bartolome de Castro, Archdiocesan SCA President became an executive with the United Nations in New York. Law student Augusto Go is now the President of the University of Cebu. Francis Zosa became a congressman and is now a successful practicing lawyer in Cebu City. Felix Matugina is a successful businessman in Mandaue City. Leon Gonzaga, Jr. became a labor judge in Cagayan de Oro City. Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. became a marketing supervisor. Jess Hernandez became a marketing executive for a pharmaceutical company. Azucena Derecho joined the Pink Sisters and later became the head of a Mother House of the Pink Sisters in India. Fe Mendoza became a high-ranking nun of the Good Shepherd Order. The last news heard is that she was in Rome studying Islam and Arabic for possible assignment to the Middle East. Jess Solon became a Provincial Development Officer of PACD now known as DILG. Lindy C. Morrell went on to become a Regional Executive Director of the National Economic and Development Authority and later earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Management from Stratford International University in Wyoming State, U.S.A., and a Doctor of Letters Degree in Journalism from St. Clements University of the British West Indies Islands of Turks and Caicos near the Bahammas; and the former Ms. Luz Adolfo earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from USC and married her childhood sweetheart Lindy C. Morrell.
It is suggested that if ever Cardinal Vidal will follow the recommendation that Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege , SVD and architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado be honored by having rooms in the Patria de Cebu Building named after them that appropriate ceremonies be held in such an undertaking.
Inter-Generational Heritage
This story of the Patria should be told and retold to inspire other young people of future generations that the youth have their own building prowess.
-LCM
“What man can imagine, man can do.” – John F. Mee
The site of the Patria used to be a squatter settlement not even the Archbishop of Cebu, the Knights of Columbus, and the Daughters of Isabela were able to persuade the squatters to move out of the Church ground. The squatters were backed up by the local political officials which made them a formidable force to contend with. The squatter site became a crime den.
Prohibition Against YMCA Patronage by Archbishop Rosales
Around this time the Cebu Catholic Hierarchy was strict in its mandate that no Catholic youth should patronize the YMCA Recreation Center in Jones Avenue. The Catholic youth were at a lost on where to play bowling, play billiards and learn swimming. This representation had already graduated from U.P. Diliman with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and was strengthened in his faith by the U.P. Chaplain, the late Father John Delaney, SJ. and was pursuing a Master’s Degree in English at the University of San Carlos. With the help of Reverend Father Bernard Wrocklege, SVD (Society of Divine Word). of the University of San Carlos they motivated the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu to undertake the construction of a Catholic Recreation Center in Cebu City.
The Offered Site
When Archbishop Julio R. Rosales learned of their plan he offered to provide a lot where the Catholic Recreation Center would be built. But the site the Archbishop had in mind was the squatter settlement in front of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. He challenged the Student Catholic Action to moved out the squatters from the church grounds. Catholic Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell informed the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu about the Archbishop’s offer and the challenge. Archbishop Julio Rosales wrote to the Vatican for permission to allow the Student Catholic Action to use the area as the site of the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action recreation and service center to be called the Patria de Cebu. The Vatican gave its permission.
The Quest for Relocation Venue for Patria Squatters
With Cebu Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action President Bartolome de Castro, SCA’s leaders Francis Zosa, Anastacio Fabiania, Jr., Felix Matugina, Fe Mendoza, Azucena Derecho, Hermenia Florido, Jess Solon, Jess Hernandez, Leon Gonzaga, Jr., Augusto Go and Lindy C. Morrell, and Rev. Fr. Wrocklege, the team scoured Cebu City to look for a relocation site for the squatters. They spotted the empty sprawling grounds of the Cebu City Hippodrome or racetrack where racehorses used to engage in Sunday racing. At once they lost no time in trying to persuade some of the squatters to relocate to the new site. Unfortunately one of the leaders of the squatters refused to move. USC Law student Augusto Go offered his flatbed truck to haul the squatters’ houses to the relocation site providing that the SCA would furnish the driver.
The Death Threat by Squatters
This representation being a professional driver offered to do the driving chore. Just as the SCA students were about to move the first house for relocation, the hostile leader of the squatters named Tasio from Leyte drew his bolo to hack this representation. Reverend Father Wrocklege stepped into the picture and told Tasio “If you are going to kill this young man, kill me first!” Tasio’s hand shook in anger but he could not strike the priest. Lindy C. Morrell and Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. bargained with Tasio to go with the team to inspect the site so that he would have the first pick of the relocation site. Tasio cooled down and agreed to go with the team to the site to see for himself where he could relocate his house. Upon seeing a spot that he liked he agreed to have his house to be moved to the site ahead of the others. Thus the intended site for the Patria was cleared of squatters.
Drawing the Patria Blueprint
Two young architects of Cebu City, Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado (the younger brother of journalist Johnny Mercado) drew the blueprint for the Patria de Cebu making it one of the strongest structure in Cebu City at that point in time because of the special features that they have incorporated into the building plan – installing tie beams in the foundations of the building. This design is capable of taking the seismic shocks of earthquakes giving the Patria the distinction of being the first structure in Cebu City to enjoy this feature. Teddy Trinidad and Pepe Mercado crafted the blueprints for free. Patria construction boss was Dionisio Licaron.
Hand-Made Ave Maria Hollow Blocks
Each Student Catholic Action volunteer would make a hollow block with his own hands using the iron mold provided by Rev. Fr. Ernest Hoerdeman, SVD of the University of San Carlos. When the hollow block took shape and was removed from its mold the SCA volunteer would pray one Hail Mary over the hollow block. Lindy C. Morrell named the hollow blocks made by the SCA volunteers as the “Ave Maria Hollow Blocks”. The entire Patria Building is made up of Ave Maria hollow blocks. This is possibly the only structure in the Philippines made by students and prayed for with ‘Hail Mary’s. The SCA volunteers who made the hollow blocks were fed by meals cooked by female USC SCA volunteers in the field headed by USC student Luz Adolfo who later became Mrs. Luz Morrell. Rev. Fr. Veronico Salvador, brother of Archbishop Manuel Salvador, was one Diocesan priest who helped support the SCA project by regularly donating bags of cement for the hollow block-making project of the SCA volunteers.
Operation Red Hat
To help generate funds for the Patria project the SCA leaders wrote an appeal to cardinals and bishops all over the world appealing to them to donate funds to finance the Patria construction. Each time a solicitation letter was mailed to a cardinal or bishop one “Hail Mary” was prayed over each letter before dropping it to the mailbox. Contributions from local, national, and international sources were being received by Archbishop Julio Rosales as a result of SCA’s Operation Red Hat.
A Special Appeal
This representation humbly appeals to His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the Archbishop of Cebu to name a room in the Patria de Cebu Building after the late Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD who was the spiritual leader of the SCA Patria builders. Also this Lay Leader recommends that another room be named after the two young architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado for crafting the blueprints and supervising the construction of the Patria de Cebu Building for free.
Unforeseen Problem
When the Patria de Cebu Building was finished the builders awaited the shipment of the bowling alleys, billiard tables and other equipment by a supplier from Manila. Unfortunately the Puyat Manufacturing Facility caught fire. The suppliers refused to honor their contract to ship the entire sports equipment to the Patria (which was supposed to be paid in several installments over a three-year period) but insisted that the entire shipment be paid in cash. The Student Catholic Action of the Archdiocese of Cebu were preparing to file a legal suit against the Puyat Company to compel the firm to honor their contract with SCA. The advisers of Archbishop Rosales counseled the prelate to incorporate the Patria de Cebu and secure a bank loan to pay for the sports equipment.
Planned Student Protest
The SCA students objected to the plan to incorporate the Patria and to secure a loan to pay for the sports equipment because they felt that once the equipment were installed the patrons of the Patria de Cebu movement who were very generous in giving contributions to finance the Patria project would no longer feel obliged to continue giving their contributions. The students were overruled. The Patria was incorporated. Archbishop Rosales told Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell that he follow the counsel of his advisers because they were older and more knowledgeable in life. But Lindy Morrell replied: “Your advisers say I am young and know no better. Your Excellency I am glad that I am young for But Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD and Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell were not included among the list of incorporators. The students were aggrieved and were planning to demonstrate before the Archbishop’s Palace. Rev. Fr. Wrocklege and Lay Leader Lindy Morrell were able to pacify the disgruntled students telling them that in building the Patria they were also building themselves as responsible citizens and that although they were not named among the list of incorporators their named were listed in each hollow block that they made which would be honored by Jesus Christ Himself. After all the two leaders reminded the SCA volunteers that their noble work was aimed to restore all things to Christ. These words calmed the students.
Rev. Fr. Wrocklege Assigned Back to the U.S.
But Archbishop Rosales did not know of this act of pacifying the students and had Rev. Fr. Wrocklege transferred back to the United States in Techny, Illinois without the knowledge of the students who were not able to say goodbye to their beloved spiritual adviser. This is why naming a room in the Patria of Cebu in honor of Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD would help sooth the hurt that the SCA volunteers felt.
The After-Years
The career paths of the SCA leaders who built the Patria de Cebu proved to be colorful and impressive. Bartolome de Castro, Archdiocesan SCA President became an executive with the United Nations in New York. Law student Augusto Go is now the President of the University of Cebu. Francis Zosa became a congressman and is now a successful practicing lawyer in Cebu City. Felix Matugina is a successful businessman in Mandaue City. Leon Gonzaga, Jr. became a labor judge in Cagayan de Oro City. Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. became a marketing supervisor. Jess Hernandez became a marketing executive for a pharmaceutical company. Azucena Derecho joined the Pink Sisters and later became the head of a Mother House of the Pink Sisters in India. Fe Mendoza became a high-ranking nun of the Good Shepherd Order. The last news heard is that she was in Rome studying Islam and Arabic for possible assignment to the Middle East. Jess Solon became a Provincial Development Officer of PACD now known as DILG. Lindy C. Morrell went on to become a Regional Executive Director of the National Economic and Development Authority and later earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Management from Stratford International University in Wyoming State, U.S.A., and a Doctor of Letters Degree in Journalism from St. Clements University of the British West Indies Islands of Turks and Caicos near the Bahammas; and the former Ms. Luz Adolfo earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from USC and married her childhood sweetheart Lindy C. Morrell.
It is suggested that if ever Cardinal Vidal will follow the recommendation that Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege , SVD and architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado be honored by having rooms in the Patria de Cebu Building named after them that appropriate ceremonies be held in such an undertaking.
Inter-Generational Heritage
This story of the Patria should be told and retold to inspire other young people of future generations that the youth have their own building prowess.
“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.” - Benjamin Disraeli
-LCM
T.I.C. - Cebu City's Unique Answer to Unmitigated Street Diggings
The official seal of the Technical Infrastructure Committeeof the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cebu City
Solving an Age-old Urban Problem
Rationalizing street diggings have always been a headache for local government units. Well-paved city streets are dug open to accommodate the laying of main service lines of private utility companies and to provide space for utility posts upon which electrical connections and service utility lines of telecommunication companies are strung in long lines of overhead cables which mar the City’s skyline. More often than not, these overhead wires tend to dangle loosely to pose traffic hazards to both motorists and pedestrians. Fire trucks of the City’s fire department cannot enter streets of fire-stricken areas because of these dangling service wires which impede their entry into the scene of fire.
To solve such hazardous dangling overhead wires and to prevent untimely and repeated destruction of well-paved city thoroughfares the City of Cebu ventured to put up a service committee to regulate street diggings and the laying down of utility posts. This gave birth to the foundation of the Technical Infrastructure Committee (TIC) of the City of Cebu.
Unique Development Partnership
Of the more than 117 cities in the Philippines, only the City of Cebu has the capability to view infrastructure and social development problems holistically, with a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach in urban issues solutions where the local government unit of Cebu City act as a catalyst and integrator of community development efforts interfaced with social and economic dimensions, having the development components of – Industry, Business, National Government Line Agencies and Civil Society – acting as partners in nation-building on the local level.
TIC Has Presidential Mandate
Once upon a time in the past the other component cities and some municipalities in Metro Cebu, were part of a cohesive urban problem-solving group known as Metro Cebu Coordinating Council funded by an RDC-driven scheme – the Metro Cebu Development Project with foreign funding assistance and made possible with the Administrative Order of then President Aquino issued by Executive Secretary Franklin M. Drilon on April 2, 1990.
What is TIC?
The Technical Infrastructure Committee (TIC) is a task force organized by the MCCC (Metro Cebu Coordinating Council) as an implementing arm to pursue its program of action in Metro Cebu.
TIC is a unique management mechanism of rationalizing and coordinating steps in the solution of infrastructure concerns affecting Metro Cebu.
TIC is covered by the Cebu City Ordinance No. 2135 and has its own implementing rules and regulations for its enforcement. Thus a highly-urbanized city – City of Cebu – has finally grabbed the horns of a pesky dilemma and came up with a sustaining relevant solution.
TIC Rationale
The rules and guidelines on projects especially for road diggings and excavation permits are as follows:
a. Application for excavation permits should be submitted to the TIC;
b. Endorsement from TIC must be signed by the TIC Chairman to the agencies concerned;
c. Approval from the City Engineer’s Office;
d. Upon approval of excavation permit or before starting the permit it is required that barricades, warning signs, evening lights and especially billboards should be placed on the site.
Metro Cebu TIC’s Impressive Success
MCCC’s rationalization of infrastructure activities scored impressive successes which was the envy of Metro Manila Development Authority which frequently suffers from divisiveness because many mayors of Metro Manila have the propensity to agree to disagree with the Metro Manila Governor as well as among themselves on prioritization of infrastructure concerns.
TIC’s History
TIC was born on April 20, 1992 when former President Corazon C. Aquino through her Executive Secretary Franklin Drilon issued an Administrative Order No. 172 “pursuant to Section 3 (1) of Administrative Order no. 172, Series of 1990, creating Metro Cebu Coordinating Council for road excavations, restorations and other related infrastructure activities.”
To his credit, the City of Cebu under Mayor Tomas Osmeña responded by motivating the Sangguniang Panlungsod to enact Cebu City’s counterpart ordinances and resolutions. Thus was born the country’s only effective coordinative body that is actively pursuing a rational and logical approach in the management of controversial road construction, street diggings, excavations, road widening and regulation of private utility companies’ primary and secondary service lines, service drops and other line hardwares, and other infrastructure-related concerns thereby promoting general public welfare.
Metro-wide Spread
Before the creation of TIC and during the 2nd term of Mayor Tomas Osmeña there were rampant diggings and excavations made by the utility companies. Hon. Tomas Osmeña decided to organize a committee called MCCC “Metro Cebu Technical Infrastructure Committee” that will regulate road diggings, excavations, aerial cable lines, underground water service lines and other infrastructure problems, including those infrastructure facilities belonging to the respective barangays of Cebu City. Mayor Tomas Osmeña organized MCCC, but when the MCDP reached its terminal phase only Cebu City opted to continue the integrated development problem-solving approach. The other MCDP members were unwilling to shoulder the cost of the holistic scheme of urban development problem-solving concept characterized by a management system style rather than the traditional parochial way of piece-meal, fragmented and not cost-effective development endeavors. Mayor Tomas plays the role of big brother despite the highly individualistic style of public management by the other LGUs who are now inactive members of the Metro Cebu Coordinating Council nevertheless continue to enjoy the generous technical services of the Cebu City TIC inspectorate teams which continue to monitor and evaluate street diggings and excavations of private utility companies in their respective areas’ territorial jurisdictions even without their request. This shows the brotherly concern of Mayor Osmeña towards his fellow mayors underscoring the subnational development leadership of Cebu City.
Whenever international conferences are situated in the Cebu Island, the Cebu City Technical Infrastructure Committee goes into action to support such noble national endeavors, including even the yearly observance of the Sinulog of Cebu and other major sports activities by imposing moto propio the holding of moratoria on street diggings and excavations along the usual ceremonial routes.
Cebu City TIC silently serves the good people of Cebu without fanfare and expectations of recognition and reward. We stand ready to serve.
TIC Activities
1. Providing assistance for bundling truck to the utility group for their bundling activities of dangling spaghetti wires of utility companies;
2. Intervention of the TIC as the coordinating body for the implementation of the color coding of the utility group;
3. The TIC has its own Inspectorate Team which is composed of utility companies and agencies’ technical representatives concerned to closely monitors its street diggings, excavations, aerial communication lines, and other infrastructure projects, schedules every Thursday of the week. They also evaluate the quality of restoration efforts of street diggings by the utility companies. If the TIC Inspectorate Team is not satisfied with the quality of work in the restoration endeavors, they will submit their report to the TIC body which will now direct the erring utility company or government agency to redo the restoration work or else the City of Cebu will undertake the restoration work and charge the concerned company with the cost of restoration.
City Ordinances of the TIC
1. City Ordinance 1647 – Approved October 7, 1996
Amending Sections (3), 4, 5, 11(b), of Ordinance 1918 (known as ordinance “regulating street diggings and providing penalties for violations thereof”).
2. City Ordinance 2410 – Approved March 11, 1996
Approving the City Ordinance 1618 – an ordinance regulating street diggings and providing penalties for violators thereof.
3. City Ordinance 1894 – Approved April 4, 2001
Ordinance creating the Utility Lines Installations Coordinating Committee as sub-committee of the existing Technical Infrastructure Committee provided in City Ordinance 1618.
4. City Ordinance 2092 – Approved September 13, 2006
Ordinance requiring utility companies to make their own service/contractor crews to wear uniforms and IDs while servicing utility posts service lines to prevent undue pilfering or tampering of competitor lines.
TIC Board Resolutions, Series of 2007
1. Resolution No. 1 – Naming PLDT as the team leader for bundling activities by the utility companies.
2. Resolution No. 2 – Interservice cooperation between LGUs and private utility companies.
3. Resolution No. 3 – Information gathering on stolen goods.
4. Resolution No. 4 – Integrated Planning Efforts – Need for consultative and coordinative planning of road projects between DPWH and private utility companies.
Resolutions Sponsored by Councilor Archival for TIC
1. Resolution No. 07-209 – Approved July 25, 2007
Directing all utility companies to continue in bundling of their respective utility wires and to start the color coding of the bundling for a better and cleaner Cebu and name PLDT as the lead composite agency for the bundling of the telecommunications utility wires.
2. Resolution No. 07-457 – Approved August 22, 2007
Requesting DPWH to expedite the concreting of sidewalk along Escario Street to avoid inconvenience to the residents of the City of Cebu through the Technical Infrastructure Committee before commencing any of its infrastructure projects.
3. Resolution No. 07-719 – Approved September 19, 2007
Requesting all utility companies to make an inventory of their respective utility posts by putting tags on the post bearing the company’s name and post serial number and submit the same to the TIC.
-LCM
TIC’s Presiding Officer for Administration is Dr. Lindy Crisolo Morrell who holds a Doctoral Degree in Environmental Management Communication from the School of Engineering of Stratford International University based in the U.S. State of Wyoming; and a Doctor of Letters in Journalism from St. Clements University in the British West Indies Islands of Turks and Caicos near Bermuda. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines and is a Fellow of the Design, Technology and Management Society International (DTMSI) based in Ladismith Cape, South Africa. He is a retired Regional Executive Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and is an awardee of the UP Alumni Association in Dilliman, Quezon City on April 16, 1977 for rendering outstanding services in Muslim Mindanao.
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