What would our heroes say?

I write this on National Heroes’ Day, which we commemorate every last Monday of August. The day traces its roots to the so-called Cry of Pugad Lawin, a clandestine meeting led by Andres Bonifacio, and which is said to have heralded the Philippine Revolution.

Earlier in the morning, I was on the road and it was eerily empty except for a few cars here and there and some street children roaming around.

Perhaps the rest of the population are still on a quick holiday break or just enjoying some quiet time at home.

As for me, I couldn’t help but ponder and wonder – what would our heroes think about the Philippines of today?

If they were alive, would they be happy and proud of where we are now? Would they be happy of how our nation, whose independence they staunchly fought for during their time, turned out to be?

Would they do it all over again, knowing what would happen more than a hundred years later? Would they still offer their blood, sweat and tears for our country to be free?

There is no doubt that the freedoms we enjoy now are because of the heroes who came before us.

But a closer look would tell us that freedom isn’t only about being able to wake up and move about each day.

It is also about being free to enjoy all our rights, privileges and benefits as Filipino citizens of this country.
Unfortunately, this isn’t happening yet because we are bogged down by corruption and the unlawful or improper use of taxpayers’ money. Our money.

Our government officials have no qualms spending taxpayers’ money for projects that benefit them, more than the people.

Children’s book author

Take for instance a P10-million budget for a children’s book by a government official who isn’t even a children’s book author.

Here in the Philippines, the best artists and literary minds struggle to get funding for their creative work.

And yet, and yet, here’s Vice President Sara Duterte, who isn’t even a recognized author, publishing her own book using taxpayers’ money.

Our lawmakers are correct to raise questions on the project.

I write this though not as an attack or a commentary against the Vice President or the collapse of Team Unity, if it ever existed.

Corrupted with impunity

This is really about using taxpayers’ money properly. I am bewildered by how easy it is for our government officials to use taxpayers’ money as if it’s their own.

There are too many projects and unnecessary expenses funded by taxpayers’ money and people in power have no qualms about it – from multimillion-peso logos, to agency slogans; from children’s books to campaign posters; from wall clocks and wall-hangings plastered with their faces; from junkets to lavish parties, etc. etc.

There are ghost employees, too and ghost projects, especially among local government units (LGUs) that have become notorious for corruption.

What is happening to our country, indeed?

We can never be free if our taxes are corrupted with impunity. We can never be free if officials treat every project as campaign material. We can never be free if we do not have a government that works for its citizens.

A few good men

I find hope in individuals and institutions who fight for what is right and who, despite the uphill battle, continue to advocate for good governance and an end to corruption.

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), for instance, sent me a letter early this month, to share what it has been doing to fight corruption and red tape in government.

Efforts include the conduct of capacity building, monitoring and inspection of national government agencies and LGUs.

It has been proven with data and statistics that the most effective way of fighting red tape and corruption is to follow the directive of the President to streamline and digitalize government services, ARTA said.

Thus ARTA, together with other agencies, are intensifying efforts to ensure that LGUs – which in recent years have become known for shaking down businesses – are now compliant with the fully automated Electronic Business One Stop Shop requirements.

This means that the issuance and renewal of business permits and licenses are done online. This is meant to minimize human interaction, which often leads to red tape and corruption.

Compliant LGUs have experienced substantial increases in business registrations and revenue collections, ARTA director general Ernesto Perez said in his letter to me.

The agency has been recognizing LGUs that are compliant with the system.

“Our target is to recognize at least 100 LGUs this year. Imagine if we can have all LGUs compliant with this requirement,” Secretary Perez said.

I’m happy to hear about this, though cognizant of the fact that it’s only one part of the battle against corruption.

Nonetheless, props to ARTA for its efforts. I hope these initiatives continue. Follow-through and constant monitoring are also necessary.

Winning the war against corruption takes a whole-of-nation approach and it’s never an easy fight.

But one day, hopefully, our people can claim victory against it and all the other ills hounding our society.

Perhaps only then can our heroes in their graves be at peace knowing that theirs wasn’t such a futile battle after all.

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Email: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.