Misplaced government spending worsens woes

Misplaced government spending worsens woes…

IN her State of the Nation Address last week, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reported on the economic gains her administration chalked up in 2007. Her speech, however, ignored the bleak data that government statisticians have collected in the last s…

I agree on the statistics presented. Everyone knows or has heard the issue on misplaced government spending. Millions of Filipinos are homeless and hungry. Millions survive on “padala” of OFW, whom GMA called the “unsung heroes”.

My question is : what is everyone doing about misplaced spending? Is it the President alone who has the right to decide on the budget? Is there no more budget hearing/defense? No more government officials who are brave enough to say “NO” to all these malpractices? People don’t care anymore? Too tired of politics? The easy way out is to go abroad for those who can!

The Philippines has voted for an intelligent economist “kuno” but where is the country heading to? Other countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand are doing much better than the Philippines? Are the government officials especially the President not ashamed about this situation or do they have any shame at all?

Sometime in the 70’s, the Philippines was much better off than these Asian countries. The IRRI served as a training center for the agricultural students throughout Asia and yet the Philippines has to import rice!!! Whatever happened to the “fertilizer scam”? What a shame!!! The country has the facilities and resources for human resource development. There is an Asian Institute of Management which trained managers and would-be managers all over Asia and yet the country remained badly managed!

The most critical factor that caused misplaced government spending is I believe rests in the very heart (morality) of the government leaders. if leaders have the heart for the poor, the country will not suffer as much as now even if there is a global economic crises. If government officials have moral values, there will be no rampant corruption! It’s like corruption is just an ordinary part of everyday life. it is normal!

Reports around the world point to the Philippines as the most corrupt country. A country can only be as corrupt as the leaders who run it. The budget is always focused on projects where corrupt politician can have a share. If they don’t have a share to place into their own pockets, the project gets low priority. I think this is the reason why social and health services have low priority than others. And what is NEDA and all the economic advisers doing about MISPLACED GOVERNMENT SPENDING?

The President is busy watching and applauding the Olympics while there is WAR in Mindanao! What a pity? Her unnecessary travels are glaring examples of Misplaced GOVERNMENT SPENDING!

People are homeless in the Visayas and Bicol due to super typhoons . The President’s economic adviser is the Governor of Albay in Bicol. Whatever happened to the millions of donations from countries around the world?

The President’s subsidy for the poor are just palliative treatment of a cancerous patient who is doomed to death. I am afraid the “economic storm” is already around the corner. It will be bloody (literally and figuratively)!!! When people are hungry, there will be a restless population which not even the Presidential security adviser and presidential guards can stop. Maybe temporarily stopped with the gun but the country will remain unsafe and the population unhealthy. May GOD save the Philippines!