Ghosts

As the title suggests, supposedly, this piece should have been appropriate last weekend.  However, this has to take a backseat as the equally important but more urgent concern (spent wash spill) at the North Bais Bay had to be dealt with front and center. So far, at least, while the extent of the damage is yet to be established, the Universal Robina Corporation (URC) extended some assistance. The affected families received P5,000.00 each.

          Egregiously though, in the midst of this tragedy, some individuals had the audacity to squeeze through a phalanx of warm bodies honestly needing some help and insert their names in the list of legitimate beneficiaries. Truth be told, some of them were, allegedly, not fisherfolks and were, therefore, unqualified. Frankly, we call them ghost beneficiaries.     

          Indeed, gone are the days when ghosts refer to (as defined by Oxford Dictionary) as an “apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image.” Metaphorically, the only acceptable one then was “ghostwriter” or a “person whose job is to write material for someone else who is the named author.”

          Today, however, they come in many forms. As mentioned above, though in small amounts, some are referred to as ghost beneficiaries. Contrary to the general notion, this does not only refer to those individuals (or institutions) receiving government assistance, grants or other benefits who do not exist. This also refers to those who are not qualified to receive them. Just like those pretending to be fisherfolks and are, in fact, members of the appropriate People’s Organizations but are not and, therefore, unqualified. This is fraud by any measure as these are money that went to the wrong pockets.

          Moreover, remember the “ghost students” the Department of Education uncovered?  They were students who were listed but were not attending classes. Therefore, it was either they were non-existent (like Mary Grace Piatos) or, if they exist, they were not attending classes.  Simply put, they were unqualified. The question is, to whose pocket the money now resides.

          Same is true for the Department of Labor and Employment’s TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers). This is one of the most abused and where “ghosts” abound. As we all know, this program “provides emergency, community-based employment to displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers in the country.”  Supposedly, this program offers “temporary wage employment, typically for 10 to 30 days, through community projects like public cleaning, disinfection, and other local initiatives.”

          In actuality though, there are several mockeries that exist. First, some of them never have been workers (whether seasonal or displaced, etc.) all their lives and are, therefore, unqualified.  While it is true that they exist and are receiving wages through remittance services, they are asked to turnover one-half of the pay to the Barangay Captain. Allegedly, the other half shall be given to the other person who may work for the other half of the workload. Asked for the name, none given. Therefore, ghost beneficiary. Worse, more often, these beneficiaries accomplish almost nothing, therefore, have ghost accomplishments.

          Then, the most famous among LGU Executives, ghost employees. Known to most of us, this is so prevalent. Some are regular government employees with designations or those classified as Job Order employees but are working in the offices or businesses of the LGU Executives. Definitely, they exist but with zero output. Again, by definition, a ghost employee.  On the other hand, there are those who do not exist but are included in the payroll. They are Job Order employees by classification and whose signatures are just made up by skilled “artists.”

          The list can go on but if there is one that we shouldn’t miss, it should be the mother of all, “ghost projects.”  The miseries that we are facing today should have been avoided had it not been to our voters’ unforgivable mistakes. That of voting for politicians whose only motive is to enrich themselves at our expense. In electing those whose insatiable greed for wealth made our country, for decades, an object of ridicule and our lives miserable.  

          Forthwith, think about how much you received every election day then sum them up.  The amount you get is your share of the loot. Did it make your life better? Now, look at the lives of the dynastical families of politicians you voted to office. Make a good count of their mansions, sports cars and air assets. If you are educated enough, attached a value in each of these assets plus the cost of the pompous lives of their nepo babies. How much have you summed up?  That’s their share of the loot. Now, compare it with your share. Are you happy? Definitely not, even until you become a ghost yourself.