Prevalence of Poverty in the Philippines

While Mona Lisas and Mad hatters, sons of bankers, sons of lawyers 

turn around to say good morning to the night 

for unless they see the sky but they can't and that is why 

they know not if its dark outside or light

Mona Lisas and Madhatters, Elton John-Bernie Taupin, Honky Chateau, MCA Records, 1972

Mona Lisas and Mad hatters set to poetry the indifference of the rich and powerful towards the poor from an entirely separate time when the pace of life was slower, the world bigger and the population was only half  of what it is today. 41 years hence, radical changes took place where population exponentially increased, technology hastened pace of life while compressing  the world into a village and Sir Elton, contributed to the new era by departing from the stereo type macho rock star image by marrying another man. We thought, the world would never survive that, whew!

Still the indifference remained with the disparity between rich and poor becoming more acute where 1% of the richest owning 40% of the world wealth and a majority surviving on U$2.50/day. Some advance the idea that poverty ebbed somewhat , down 30% of world population from over 50% back in 1981. The World Bank even made an audacious announcement to eradicate extreme poverty by 2015, part of the millennium development goals.

Because the world will forever be burdened with scarce resources made more scarce by a burgeoning population compounded by greed and indifference, it will never rid itself of poverty. 

Here in the Philippines, scarce resources such as land and capital are controlled by less than one percent of the population (100M as of 2012). The  disproportionate distribution resulted in  26% of the population living below the poverty line and probably, the same percentage, sitting on its fringes. The abject poor consists of the 7% unemployed in the labor force plus another 19% underemployed  and their dependents. 

Poverty is a wholly economic perspective characterized by a set of parameters that deprive individuals of decent living conditions including adequate nourishment, shelter, clothes and education. Government views poverty with alarm knowing the direct proportion of hunger and rebellion. The devil and polluticians see a mass of corruptible souls to be exploited while the pious value poverty as a ticket to the pearly gate or its equivalent. The ordinary working stiff tries hard not to get sucked into it and those living it, may not be able spell the word. 

While so much  government initiatives (i.e the comprehensive agrarian reform program , the conditional cash transfer and country side development through the priority development assistance program among others) have been uploaded to alleviate poverty , one wonders why all these moves failed to make a dent on pervasive poverty. On top of the initiatives, the Philippines made so much  economic headway- the 6.6% GDP expansion, a comfortable foreign reserve and investment upgrades leading to commentaries of the country as the rising star in southeast Asia. Unfortunately, the economy always seem to be rising but never reaching the top with the impending landing into first world category always falling short of the runway of  reality.

Indifference theory

An assessment of the problem may lead to a conclusion that we've been pushing the wrong item as far as comparative advantage goes, therefore limiting investments. For a long time, labor has been the Philippines' comparative advantage made more pronounce by overseas remittance. Labor is the everyday man eking a living- technically capable, English proficient but considered the new nigger of the world and in his home, over taxed, under represented, underpaid and living in treacherous conditions.Labor could easily transform into a broad industry of entrepreneurs if nursed into that transition but, it is neglected. 

Look at the justice system. Magistrates reconfigured the process to serve solely the rich and powerful. A poor man cannot just enter the courts to press his rights. 

What is a temporary restraining order (TRO)? It is not a reevaluation of a case but a petition requiring security equal to 10% of the financial attachments. TRO is the exclusive domain of the rich. With all the TROs released, the justices now enjoy their renovated  Baguio hideaway of a seven star spa category.

Meanwhile, questions linger on controversial rulings. What led to the decision to open the gates of the party list system to every carpetbagger? Why the flip-flop on PAL?   How come the Vizconde massacre came out differently compared to the Abadilla five when both cases hung on the testimony of a single witness? Of the ombudsman, how can she let loose these people who jeopardized national security to enrich themselves. Are their lifestyles not enough evidence? Have we gone senile?

Lady justice maybe blind but she feels. Numbness on display by the justice practitioners is not making people comfortable on the whole much less about investment.

Insult to injury, there is under representation with the legislators who instead of protecting, defining and expanding rights are so absorbed with farm to pocket projects, ghost NGOs and realigning MOOE for additional perks. Legislators unleashed the cyber crime prevention act to stifle freedom of expression, burdened the public with EPIRA to answer for the skimming of profits and outright stupidity of stranded cost, decided to saddle us additionally with VAT while now campaigning under the platform of poverty alleviation.   

And of taxes, you know how much the government is ripping off your hard earned pay, almost half, 35% on income tax plus 12% for VAT, that is if you're a regular working man. If you're lucky to be above the formal economy, a taipan, a captain of industry, a professional, a sitting politician, or below the formal economy, a drug dealer, a gun runner, a pimp, then you pay only 12%.

What do you get in return for paying taxes, a justice system to protect your rights? An armed force to secure your well-being? Peace and order? 

Based on news, our police force is seemingly filled with psychopaths while the environment, of rampant crimes. It has gotten so bad that children have turned criminals and what do you know, the legislative body is looking at a bill that lowers the age for criminal liability. That is entirely lame. 

Meanwhile captains of industries get away with 5-5-5 contractualization and other unenforced laws for the labor group.

Equality as an economic ingredient

What is needed is an environment of equality where rights and privileges of every citizen would be protected;

where big and small landowners would not be deprived of the use of their assets, squatting would be crime, the CARP would issue justified valuation;

where misuse of funds by politicians would be prosecuted, no matter title or social standing;

where there would be just one set of laws to apply to everybody;

where dynasties would not be tolerated;

where civil servants fulfill their oaths of allegiance to the constitution;

where the court rules according to law;

where special interest are sacrificed for the common good, the party list system abolished;

where legislators actually know their craft;

where elections are not won by wealth;

According to the CIA fact book, our population ranks 12th in a universe of 239 countries with a density of about 300+/sq km (Macau has 19,000 people for every sq km). Government feels it is the biggest problem of the country and prescribed the RH as the strategy to combat the bloating numbers of the poor. I think their take on population growth is on the dark side.But the problem is not so much the increase but magnification of prejudice in our society. Prejudice and fear managed to shred our nation into ethnicity, religion, dialect, politics and creed. The RH is saying the poor cannot multiply because government cannot protect its rights. 

To fix the many social ill, the nation has to learn equality.Exacting equality will never eradicate poverty merely injustice. Injustice comes from indifference; indifference comes from wealth and power; wealth and power comes from undue advantage, a primary source of which is too much government intrusion but no governance.

Equality will never create heaven on earth but probably will create viable opportunities to neutralize the prevalent poverty.

Senatorial campaign 2013

The general campaign pitch of the senatorial candidates for the May polls is decidedly poverty alleviation. Sound bytes, images and subliminal messages are directed towards 26.5% (CIA Fact book) of the Filipino nation living under the poverty line and probably, another equal percentage on its fringes.  On print and broadcast, TV most prominently (one reason why political leadership would always be ruled by money), the electorate is bombarded with platforms of job generation, free education, free health care, stable prices and a host of promises dovetailed at what the Filipino poor wants to hear.

Maybe it's just me suffering from an overdose of an endless stream of campaign advertisement but I now alternately view the messages as reeking with  so much condescension towards what I fear these candidates see as the poor, downtrodden electorate. Notice how the word give or its subliminal context is plastered all over the campaign : give jobs, give education, give health care, give stable prices, so on and so forth to the mendicant electorate who thrive under the Conditional Cash Transfer. You can actually feel the bias of these privileged few when they look down on you from the idiot box.

I feel they all missed the point.

Senators are not suppose to give anything. They are not suppose to give to ghost non-government organizations their hundreds of millions of Pesos of priority development fund (PDAF) or to themselves, in particular, fat bonuses from realigned maintenance and other operating expense (MOOE) funds. Senators have nothing to give, in contrast they take from the electorate burdened as it is with taxes of 47% of their income (35% Income tax + 12% Value Added Tax). Senators take from the electorate their  salaries , MOOE, bonuses and PDAF. 

For all their perks, senators are suppose to ensure through legislation that equality, freedom and liberty are accorded to each and every citizen irregardless of social position, ethnicity, religion or creed as demanded by the constitution to arrive at a just and humane society. So, where are those conversations?

We've all heard how the 15th congress unleashed the cyber crime prevention act effectively restricting freedom of speech, an awful law not given enough debate. There is also Republic Act 10389 an act allowing recognizance for indigents accused of crimes. Some may find this cute but  think about it and it might occur that this is biased for the poor. Why only the poor, why not everyone? Take another cute law RA 10361 or the domestic workers' act presumed to protect the household help. Why the need for a special law? Senators of the 15th congress seem think there is a marginalized component of society. There should not be and if there is it's their doing. Laws are for every citizen equally applied. To paraphrase Alfredo Lim, laws are for everyone or no one at all. I hope I got that right.

For spreading equality, the 15th congress of the senate missed so much. As starter, there's the continued dominance of dynasties which suppresses an equal opportunity, political arena. Ideas have staled in the long run of dynasties because the political and legislative leadership are the 'same old, same old." Not surprisingly, most senatorial candidates agree there's nothing wrong with dynasties since they all hail from the same place. 

Even the president seems not immune. Palace spokes person Edwin Lacierda was once quoted as encouraging the electorate to evaluate between good and bad dynasties which was almost funny except it hurts when I laugh. It's like saying someone's an SOB but then its alright because that someone is our SOB. Then there's the VP who actually argued for dynasties, defending its existence with credentials and clamor. When asked about Nancy's credentials, the VP responds with 'She's my daughter'. Again, it only hurts when I laugh.

Here's a news flash, the President and Vice President along with all the officials, swore to uphold the constitution of which the anti-dynasty is a provision. Do they see themselves above everybody else with a license to trample on the constitution?

How about justice, does everyone have equal access? The courts are ruled by money, there is no denying that fact. There are people languishing in jail with far more time than that decreed for their crime because of their lack of lawyers, conclusively money. I have seen people accused of shoplifting having done over 6 months with still no arraignment. Now that's justice delayed, justice denied in clear context. Was RA 10389 the answer? Of course not!  The thing is that there should be a legal limited holding time by which accused should be charged and arraigned. 

The courts, as these stand today, are not  public areas where everyone has access. It is restricted for those with money. How else can one explain the same testimonial circumstance but differing outcome of the Vizconde Massacre and the Abadilla 5? The Philippine Airline flip-flop? And Jonas Burgos? Where is justice when lawmakers become fugitives then given merely a slap on the wrist when finally apprehended?

On May 9, we go to the polls to choose candidates to assume the current vacancies of the senate. Thirty-three candidates vie for twelve seats, six of which are incumbents. The word 'senate' comes from the Latin senex (old men) to mean the council of old men. Roman emperors enlisted retired magistrates to lend advise on political management policies. Obviously they thought the older, the wiser. Unfortunately its not always the case while the young also have nothing to offer. The senate needs 12 men to fill its vacancy who will offer a vigorous debate for equality and freedom which we do not get from the likes of Ramon Revilla, Lito Lapid and Jinggoy Estrada while mocked by the plagiarism of Tito Sotto and Pia Cayetano. None of those I heard discussed core issues of equality and freedom just the same song and dance routine. 

Will Somebody please take the lead in the 16th.