"Convoluted" budget priorities

During last Wednesday’s Congressional Budget Hearings, attended by honorable members of the House, among whom were our very own Rep. Eddiegul and Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, a revealing declaration was made by Rep. Emil Ong of Northern Samar and Rep. Nuur Jaafar of the Lone District of Tawi-Tawi. These gentlemen pointed out that the DSWD presented a budget proposal for P39 billion for 2012, which the DBM totally endorsed. Meanwhile, the DOLE and TESDA submitted a combined budget of P9 billion, which was reduced to a measly P6.9 billion. The gentlemen pointed out that while DSWD caters to the so-called “mendicants” through alleged dole-outs, the DOLE and TESDA are taking care of the employment of productive people, the training of workers, the protection of workers and the promotion of industrial peace.

 While this statement maybe too harsh and also not totally fair to the good people of DSWD, the labor front agrees that such priority would convey a rather disturbing message, albeit unwittingly, that the country is promoting mendicancy, instead of giving more impetus to employment and livelihood for our people. Accordingly, almost all the members of the House who were present agreed that the budget allocations should be realigned, transferring to DOLE and TESDA, a substantial portion of the DSWD proposals, at least equal to the amount slashed by the DBM. One member of the House even suggested that the budget allocations be reversed, that is: P39 Billion to DOLE and TESDA and P6.9 Billion to DSWD. At that moment, I said to myself that at last, I was hearing something from the House that is worth a serious thought.

 Of course, we fully understand the President’s social contract with the people, that include the so-called conditional cash transfer, which is reportedly a creation of the genius of Secretary Dinky Soliman under the GMA administration, and carried over to bridge between the total helplessness of the poorest of the poor to a condition of being able to help themselves. In other words, stripped of all euphemisms and play of words, this is a dole-out. Giving people some fish, instead of teaching them how to fish. This cash transfer in the amount of P4,000 per beneficiary would place them at a better advantage than a productive worker who is employed as a housemaid with a salary of 1,500 a month. Thus, the much ado from the Congressmen has sound basis in reason.

 On other hand, TESDA and DOLE are being tasked to find employment for almost 3 million jobless Filipinos and to augment the livelihood of more than 7 million underemployed. They are tasked to train workers and build their capabilities, to enhance their skills and market them in the domestic and overseas labor markets. They are held responsible for just and humane conditions of work, protect workers from job-related accidents, injuries, diseases and deaths. They are also called upon to manage industrial peace and promote both workers’ productivity and social justice. And only for a budget that is almost 15% of what DSWD would give as dole-outs. If this is not a convoluted sense of priority, then I don’t know what is. 

 The congressmen were very emphatic that in 2010 alone, the OFWs remitted no less than US$19 billion, not counting an estimated US$5 billion that were brought in via informal systems, other than the banking systems, infusing the economy with much  foreign currency. And then the agency that is tasked to care for them is given a poor cousin’s share of a small fraction of the pie. The TESDA that trains millions and provide them skills is granted about P3 billion, which is part of the DOLE’s entire P6.9 billion allocation.  The National Maritime Polytechnic, a world class government training center is given a very small share compared to the DSWD goodies.

Rep. Jaafar made reference to the straight and narrow path, which the President calls ‘’DAANG MATUWID.” Then, if we walk that way, he said, we should give more resources to productive and developmental programs, and stay away from promoting a culture of mendicancy and dependence among our people. Our country has so many brilliant minds and able bodies, and these should be trained rather than made into parasites. That Wednesday afternoon was such a momentous occasion when we had nothing but admiration for that august body. And indeed, the point raised was well taken, with all due respect to the DSWD and all. Indeed, there is no power on earth that is stronger than a bright idea whose time has come. And that precisely was it. Don’t you think so too, dear readers?