Hi Jerry,
This is Pastor LC, a missionary that has lived in your city for over 20 years now. I have always enjoyed reading your editorial columns and Bobit Avila, as well. For years I read Max Soliven and Teddy Benigno of the Philippine Star until they passed away a few years ago.
Anyway, your recent column set me off thinking about a couple things I want to share with you by way of feedback:
1) You are so right when you observed that “Have our lawmakers lost all sense of propriety, that while they try to outdo one another in sartorial elegance and expense in the great hall of Congress, the very people for whom they claim to represent cannot even get inside for lack of “jewels†to be considered a guest worthy of a seat.â€
It is about the elitist mindset (and yes: the insensitivity) of the ruling class that indulges in such things with barely a thought to the people who can hardly make ends meet to feed their families or buy a pair of shoes for their children! I feel sorry for the average Filipino that struggles just to survive and has so very very little ACTUAL representation in Congress for their needs and problems.
And that brings me to my second point:
2) WHY ON EARTH doesn't the Philippines have a REAL and ENFORCED minimum daily wage? I cannot even begin to tell you how many wage-earners I have talked to over the years that get somewhere between 150 to 250 pesos per day (and sometimes less!) for their 8 to 10 hours of work! WHAT KIND OF A DEAL IS THAT??? It's appalling. There is NOTHING that is more oppressive to a man or woman (especially with a family to feed) when they can hardly find a job that pays them even THE MINIMUM (AND FAIR) daily wage as set by the government and labor boards. How many companies keep “two sets of books� How many government agents are bribed and “look the other way�
A fair and minimum wage that is so often refused on the part of employers is, without a doubt, the number one contributor to poverty, resentment, crime, and social iniquity way beyond what is right or tolerable.
I'm just being plain and blunt about it, but I'm sure you know what I mean and how generally widespread this social evil is.
Here is what I propose: The Philippines needs to enact AND ENFORCE the kind of Law that says: “If you do not pay your employees minimum wage as per the law, your business permit will be revoked, and you will be fined for noncompliance with the Law.†NO LOOPHOLES and stiff fines. VERY stiff fines.
Nothing else is going to work.
Thanks for your kind attention to this and God bless.
May your tribe increase.