The other foot

When President Aquino made his first State of the Nation Address, the speech was filled with revelations of how officers and officials of Government Owned and Controlled Corporations received hefty, unreasonable bonuses for almost every move they made and every period of time they could think of. There was a bonus for this, a bonus for that, for attending a meeting here and there, because it was the middle of the year, for gasoline and whatever else. In other words, they greatly rewarded themselves with the people's money for practically nothing. This system was promptly stopped by the Aquino administration. But now, it seems the shoe is on the other foot.

Recently, the eight board members of the SSS received a bonus of one million pesos each. Aside from that, they received anywhere from twenty to forty thousand pesos every time they attended a meeting. This aside from the usual salaries and other benefits that they also receive. According to the president and CEO of SSS, it was just right that they be given the said bonuses because of their good performance and attendance, and that these incentives are necessary to be at par with the private sector, so there won't be any exodus from the government corporations. Oh. Since when were government corporations, or any department or agency for that matter, given salaries that were at par with the private sector? I always thought that government service was more of that, service and not salary, because there never was any great salary to speak of in the first place? Even the President of the Philippines receives nothing close to the president of a multinational corporation. That kind of flawed reasoning actually reminds me of some officials of the past administration!

Oh, and if they were entitled to such bonuses, because of their stellar performance and attendance, and so they won't leave government for the private sector, why can't the government do that for doctors, nurses, and teachers, especially those who man the poll precincts during elections? Don't doctors and nurses in government hospitals leave the country for better pay? So why not give them fat bonuses so they don't leave or go into private practice anymore, and just serve the country? I'm sure there are so many who could use their skills and services, especially the poor. To make things even funnier, the SSS is set to increase member contributions by next year, because according to the president and CEO, it doesn't have enough money to sustain the benefits!

I'm sure that the SSS will show that whatever bonuses they received was above board and with the blessings of the Palace. But just as the president had the right to buy the car of his dreams with his own money, it doesn't mean that it looks right, especially in a country such as ours. With all the scams coming out of the woodwork, where government funds were siphoned for personal benefit and enrichment, government officials receiving fat bonuses just leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Just like the million-peso dinner that Arroyo and company indulged in.