Key personnel at the Tarlac Provincial Capitol were sometime ago called for a staff meeting by Gov. Jose V. Yap Sr. to principally find ways at eradicating "red tape" in the wake of mounting complaints from suppliers and contractors.

Yap instructed Jose "Jopeth" Villa Agustin, the provincial administrator, to come out with an acceptable formula in facilitating the processing of papers without compromising existing accounting and auditing procedures.

For a while, there was a smooth flow of paperworks as indicated in the attached "paper trail" slip. But somewhere along the way, several requirements were again imposed by the signatories before the papers will have to move on.

Now, the preparation of a purchase request (PR) alone at the Capitol, it was learned, entails a month or two, for the purchase order (PO), another long, grueling days. The delivery and payment of items purchased by the provincial government are some sort of a ritual.

It now takes about three months to wrap up an entire transaction at the Capitol, a situation that is not conducive to good business.

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Indeed, government transactions suffer delay because these are mostly done deliberately, and for obvious reasons. Tsinoy (Filipino-Chinese) businessmen accustomed to conducting business with some government agencies therefore ten to offer "grease money" to officials holding sensitive positions to speed up the approval of their transactions.

These corrupt activities being practiced by some government officials have been discouraging investors from establishing their businesses in our country in general, and our province, in particular.

With corruption, the rise of criminality, political instability and rampant smuggling now bedeviling all of us, we find ourselves on the verge of collapse if no drastic measures are instituted by the present dispensation.

Our country is very sick — it needs a major operation for a speedy recovery.

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Barangay Talaga in Capas, better known as "Tinapa Country" to passersby in Tarlac, should draw attention from Capas officials.

The mushrooming of makeshift tiendas of tinapa (smoked fish) vendors situated on both sides of the MacArthur Highway has transformed this business into a cottage industry.

But in order to maintain quality and meet health standards in this industry, the local government of Capas must regulate the business.

For instance, there are complaints that spoiled tinapa are still being sold to unsuspecting customers — and once eaten, causes indigestion or food poisoning.

These are cases that could ruin this thriving business to the detriment of the industry due to some malpractices of a few hawkers. Our local health officials should conduct regular inspection and impose stricter measures for the protection of the buying public.

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Likewise, traffic signs are needed along the highway in Barangay Talaga to caution speeding vehicles and prevent untoward accidents, especially during the night.

There have been incidents involving wayward vehicles ramming through these makeshift stalls, resulting to serious injuries and even death due to the absence of road signs and other precautionary measures.