Are politicians overpaid and underworked?

Why are Filipino candidates spending millions, even billions of pesos just for political ads? Why do politicians never stop buying votes, attempting to bribe election officials, and cheating during elections? And why are candidates interfering in the distribution of AKAP, AICS, and TUPAD? The answer is obvious and a no-brainer.

The taxpayers are paying so much money in terms of salaries, allowances, travel expenses, representation, and other officials, not to mention millions in confidential funds. They also get to hire their close friends as consultants on 15-30 basis, they exercise influence in getting their relatives appointed as judges, prosecutors, arbiters, commissioners, and even non-career ambassadors and consuls. This country with millions of people living below the poverty line is paying high compensation to politicians, many of whom are incompetent, inept, and corrupt.

Let us examine the salaries of top officials and we are talking only of visible and declared income. Not to mention the commissions paid by contractors and suppliers and some kickbacks for multi-million government projects and purchases. The president of the Philippines, with salary grade 33 is paid no less than a monthly salary of ?423,723 or an annual compensation of ?5,040,676 translated to ?30,508,055 for six years in office, not counting the bonuses and allowances for travel, representation, health and life insurance, and housing subsidies and educational assistance for dependents and beneficiaries.

The vice president, the Senate president and the speaker of the House have the same salary grade of 32 and equal monthly salary of ?374,678 or an annual income of ?4,496,136. Again, we do not count the many allowances, perks, privileges and almost unlimited opportunities for travel at the expense of the taxpayers. The senators and the congressmen have the same salary grade of 31 and monthly salary of ?312,902 or an annual compensation package of ?3,754,824 or ?11,264,472 for three years for members of the House and ?22,528,844 for the six-year term of every senator.

Can you imagine ?11,264,472 for the three years’ salary for every member of the Lower House means ?3.559 billion and for six years that will be more than double that amount. For senators, we need to spend ?540 billion for six years for 24 senators. And there are senators who do not even know the provisions of the Constitution. There are senators who do not know the nuances of lawmaking. There are some who do not fully understand the principles of checks and balances and separation of powers.

In the local levels, governors of first-class provinces and city mayors of first-class cities receive no less than ?207,978 monthly basic salary. That does not include the perks, privileges and many allowances. The vice governor and the city vice mayor each receive a salary of ?162,877. A municipal mayor, depending on the class of municipalities they head, receives a monthly salary ranging from ?185,695 to ?204,054. A councilor receives a monthly salary of ?54,000 to ?144,000 and a barangay captain from ?13,000 to ?36,000.

The governor's and the city mayor's annual salary amounts to ?2,495,736. Again, we do not count the multiple allowances and confidential funds that they disburse with scant limitations. They can appoint job-order workers among their close friends and trusted political allies. They can travel to foreign countries with public funds to finance their airfare and hotel accommodations. They can hire many consultants to reward their political leaders and they can create all scenarios to be funded by the taxpayers' money.

There are two female candidates for senators who have already spent more than ?1 billion each in political ads alone even before the official campaign period. Why are they investing a lot of money? Well, all such investments can easily be recovered in a matter of time. Being in government is no longer a public service, it has already become a big business. The people are poor and the taxes go higher and higher.

It is the politicians who are making heydays while the poor continue to suffer in hunger and poverty. What is happening to our country?