When the pavement on the Coastal Highway started to unravel yesterday, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development faced harsh criticism, ranging from incompetence to corruption.
For the social media cesspool, that's the daily discourse. But the fainthearted might call it cyberbullying? We asked the Minister for his take on that:
Julius Espat, Minister - MIDH
"But with social media, it becomes fun, I suppose. And we have to deal with it. We're not running away."
Jules Vasquez
"Would you consider bringing cyberbullying charges against those people who are so vehemently criticizing you? No doubt, unfairly."
Julius Espat, Minister - MIDH
"I've been in this thing for going for 20 years now. I've never brought a charge against anyone. And if you look at history, I've been attacked more than most, while in opposition, while in government. I'm still doing fine. I'm still strong. I believe that the criticism helps me."
"I believe that if you can withstand those blows that come to you and still willing to give your life to service, I think it's positive because we are human beings. And if we are not criticized, then we start to believe lots of things. And that's where I believe we can get into problems."
"When I can't handle it anymore, which might be a long time from now, then you go home and you out the TV and you out the WhatsApp and you stop watch social media and you relax. That time is not there yet."
"But, but I have no problem with it."
"You get vexed once in a while and two seconds and you're cool down back. You are the best man to answer your own self that question because you have dealt with it too." (Laughs)
