The way to Paradiso

(Part III of the series Dan Brown’s ‘Inferno’, Inspired by Dante Alighieri’s ‘La Divina Comedia’)

Dante Alighieri put together three books of allegorical poetry: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso while in exile. During the Renaissance period in the 13th century, theocracy, not democracy, was the style of governance in Europe. Both the Pope within the Vatican state and the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire believed that their governing authority is God-given but self-pride and greed blinded them. Dante’s poetry described symbolically the power struggles between the evil and good forces of these important men. Those whose evil intentions brought down the country he consigned to hell (inferno) while those who tried to transform their oppressive governance had to go through purgatory (purgatorio) hoping with God’s grace to ascend to heaven (paradiso) eventually.

When hell broke loose

During his presidential campaign in 2010, President Benigno Aguino III vowed to weed away corruption that has gripped the country for almost half a century, since the Marcos regime. He attributed the worst of it to his predecessor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her “accomplices.” This year 2013, in the middle of his six-year term President Noynoy, in trying to lead us through the straight path (daang matuwid) realized that he has opened a can of worms.

Filipinos have often wondered how the enormous yearly pork barrel is spent: P70 million for each Congressman and P200 million for each Senator. There has been no substantial evidence that this largesse has improved the lives of their constituents. Records of fund releases and procurements were not kept. Then, just as President Noynoy announced a big increase in the pork barrel, renamed Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the headlines screamed “200 lawmakers in P6-B pork mess” based on the 24-page Commission on Audit (COA) Executive Summary report.  

Hell broke loose when the people realized that the senators and congressmen involved released money to non-existent non-government organizations (NGOs), through businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, while several NGOs were incorporated by some congressmen, senators or their relatives. 

The President’s men

To head the Executive branch of government, each presidential candidate carefully selects a group of men who would assist him govern the country in case he wins the election. Two major factors are considered: their expertise and loyalty. These persons make up the Presidential Cabinet who assume the title of Secretary or Minister of the DILG, DSWD, DepEd, TESDA, CHED, DOH, DND, DPWH, DOJ, DFA, DA, DENR, DAR, DOF, DOE, DOLE, DOT, DOTC, etc.

Since a generous budgetary outlay is provided for each cabinet member, the public is disturbed why the president needs to pad the national budget with a PDAF. After all his Cabinet has the sole duty to protect the welfare of each Filipino citizen in all aspects. For instance, is the DILG functioning properly collaborating with the other departments? Is the environment prepared to serve the basic material needs for clean food and clean water, clothing, shelter and transport with proper zoning for public markets and shops. Is the commercial area separated from residential and school areas? What about the garbage disposal crew, do they regularly empty waste materials before the day starts, and readily put them away? Does the PNP help provide and train adequate and alert policemen and tanods, whose presence is felt and can competently arrest troubles. This unsafe neighborhood has endangered lives especially of the very young children. Our Pagsasarili preschool teachers in Quezon City complain that they get a daily dose of marijuana smoke referring to the basketball court beside the school as “Marijuana Plaza.”

Are the barangay captains literate enough to communicate regularly with the people and invite their participation to get things done? Why not let the schools help? The City Councilors must not be amiss in providing adult education for functional literacy especially since several pockets of illegal squatters are scattered in their cities. Practical lessons in personal grooming and hygiene, childcare, good housekeeping, cooking and nutrition would restore the self esteem of the underprivileged population and even provide sources of honest income. The Bureau of Alternative Learning (BALS) of DepEd provide Equivalency course that can make them earn Gradeschool or Highschool diplomas. Attention Kasambahay lawmakers.

Networking of government agencies, indispensable

Is there collaboration between DENR and DPWH to keep the land and waterways clear and unpolluted? Trees in the greater Manila area are eyesores, snarling the heavy electric wires, for they have never been pruned. Metro Manila mayors do not have the proper landscaping design employed in Makati and Greenhills.  Does the Department of Agriculture have this competence? What about relating to the Department of Tourism to enrich the local heritage sites and develop cultural programs investing in Musikong Bumbong instruments and inviting the surrounding schools to exhibit lovely folk dances and games. Lets replace the noisy Ati-atihan marches and the vulgar hootsy kootsy children’s show. Put the production in the hands of real heritage artists.

P-Noy’s ways

Questions are hurled daily to President Benigno Aquino III as different forms of terror plague the country. However, we do not get straight answers from him except through the so-called Palace spokespersons Lacierda and Valte. I wished he would personally assure us within the day via television or radio, especially with the Mindanao bombing, the wipe out of the Atimonan gambling lords and the Ozamis gang.

During the turbulent years in Paris, when terrorists’ bombing kept exploding between 1986 to 2004, President Giscard d’Estaing would directly address the public on television and assure everyone decisively what strong measures he is employing to hunt and arrest these disturbers of peace. This has been the strong image of presidents of European countries whenever alarming crises occur. The president loves to use hyperboles in his public statements like “Ikaw ang boss ko!” (You are my boss), and shows it by pampering the relocated squatters who whine and complain. They will only change their ways if DSWD, DepEd, TESDA network to help them help themselves.

How does the public perceive our 53-year-old president? He is extremely attached to his best friends and refuses to disown them even though they err. Gangmates and close family kins are very important to him, joining him in athletic pursuits and private entertainment. Driving a Porsche is a pleasure he now refrains from due to public criticism. For the same reason, he tried to avoid traveling when he was just elected. But right after, he began enjoying and exchanging visits with ASEAN heads of state. His diplomatic tact has been questioned by knowledgeable Filipinos: why beg to spare the lives of the erring “drug mules?” Why bend our knees to apologize to constant poachers and intruders of our ocean boundaries against whom we must be ready to protect ourselves.

An indulgent leader with wrong sense of judgment, President Noynoy approves a P10,000 anniversary bonus for all officers and employees of DPWH, an agency perennially perceived engaging in crooked and fraudulent deals. Why give bonuses to TESDA, an agency which has failed to prove its effectiveness for training the poor for gainful employment.

Philippines, foreseen to fail reaching the UN Millennium Development Goals 2015

P-Noy’s Cabinet men regularly tout reforms to reduce corruption. Yet, even with the rosy reports of foreign banks that we are performing better than other ASEAN countries, we remain poor. “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.” (If there is no corruption, there are no poor.) Eradicating extreme poverty is the first of the 8 UNMDG Goals. According to UNESCO, the only way to reach economic stability is to eradicate illiteracy. While Grade I children dropout mid-year, adult illiteracy keeps increasing. The second goal – “universal access to primary education,” has been partially fulfilled but we have defaulted in making a quality curriculum that is relevant.

In his mid-term SONA report, he acknowledged that the government needs to work harder to lift the 40% of the population from poverty. He asks our help to accomplish this. Meantime, foreign assistance has been available from Europe, USA, Australia and Japan. Henry Schumacher of the European Chamber of Commerce voices the plea of the European ambassadors in Manila, “Mr. President, Sir, make it easy for us to do business here to create jobs that will be long lasting. Please heed the World Bank survey that power and labor rates, and red tape are prohibitive. They hope that P-Noy can resolve the breach of P18.7-B contract to dredge Laguna Lake. This incurs P10-B penalty. Changing rules mid-stream would make countries shun the Philippines and consider her pariah in the international business.

ECOP president Edgar Lacson hopes during P-Noy’s watch, the Philippines would develop real economy. The bigger job generators are in manufacturing and agribusiness. He and the corps of foreign ambassadors wish the Philippines would be self-sustainable in the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development this 2014, during P-Noy’s watch. He could create policies to ensure food security, energy, upgrade transport, reinvigorate industry, self-sufficiency, and lasting peace in Mindanao.

(For feedback email at precious.soliven@yahoo.com)