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We are in a Global Recession. According to economists it will take 12 months, at the very least, for the world economy to recover, if it starts now.
This means that throughout 2009 the economy will remain bad. The worst for the Philippines would be around the 2nd Quarter.
In the past, when times get rough, people would have the alternative to migrate to other countries like the USA, Europe, Australia, Canada, etc. This time it is different. The whole world is in a recession and, therefore, one has nowhere to run. You will have to stay put and face the music.
Although Filipinos are known for their resiliency, this past few decades have transformed most of us into a different breed because of the new technology and lifestyle introduced by the west.
It will therefore be bad as we have never seen before.
But there is no reason to despair.
In the first place, God knows what is happening in the lives of everyone who believes in Him. He has made this promise in scriptures and even today he continues to manifest his presence in the lives of his people.
If you ask us, we believe this situation the world is in is an act of God, to make people realize that we have eased him out in our lives for too long. It is time for us to go back to God and to rely and depend on him for our needs.
In the US where this all started and which is the most badly hit these days, they have practically eased out God in everything they do and the Anti-God Movement even wants to have the phrase “In God We Trust” removed from their money bills and buildings. They have succeeded in removing prayers in schools and now they even want religious programs removed from Radio and TV stations.
It is good that here in the Philippines the situation is not as bad. If anyone would even suggest doing the same here as they are doing in the US we could have a revolution or a civil war. Our culture is such that no one can ever take God away from our day to day lives.
But this is not enough. We need to acknowledge Him and trust in Him and next year, at the end of the year, we can all look back and thank Him for being around and taking care of us.
The members of the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (MAAS) have reportedly left their camp in front of the Court of Appeals in spite of a no decision on the case of the ordinance banning aerial spraying. Justice Romulo Borja who reportedly assured them that the case will be resolved before Christmas has not announced any decision on the case.
Rosita Bacalso, one of the senior members of Maas, said Borja promised them when he said that the CA justices will be coming out with the decision earlier than the extended six more months which will end January 26 next year.
Earlier, they expressed hope that Borja will make true his word to them. “We are hoping and we have not forgotten his promise. We look up to him as a man of principles and stands up to the truth. W have not lost hope. There are still a few days left before Christmas. In these days he can still show us that we can still depend and believe in him” said Bacalso.
At that time, the Davao residents said that If Borja will keep his promise and the case that questioned the constitutionality of the ordinance will come out before the extended deadline, Maas will be folding the camp that they set up near the CA since last month and will be celebrating Christmas with their respective families in DavaoCity. A check in the area revealed however that the camp is empty although the tents have not been dismantled.
In an interview with the neighbors, they said the protesters left last 24th but they expect them to be back soon.
Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros, one of the lawmakers who is supporting the cause of the Maas, has also hoped for a speedy decision of the case saying that the judiciary must decide the case immediately while all the other branches of the government—congress and the executive—are also doing their shares in responding to the widespread calls to ban aerial spraying.
“I hope the judiciary will come up with their decision on this case… and I hope this will come out before Christmas so these farmer-members of Maas can already go home to their respective homes to celebrate Christmas there” Hontiveros told the media in Cagayan de Oro during her visit with Maas recently.
Hontiveros recently delivered a privilege speech in the Congress urging her colleagues to investigate the plight of the farmers who have been complaining over the practice of spraying chemicals aerially in banana plantations of DavaoCity.
ThiswassupportedbyGabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan who has also filed House Resolution 741 that directed the committee on ecology and health to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the possible alternatives to aerial spraying of pesticide to “avoid damage to the environment and to the health of plantation workers and adjacent community residents.”
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez also filed in Congress a bill banning aerial spraying of pesticides in the country.
“Our Justices of the Court of Appeals are also Filipinos and they also have hearts…I hope they will already come out with their decision – favorable or not – so that these farmerscan already go home and spend Christmas with their families” Hontiveros said.
All our columnists have taken a break this week. They will be back on our first 2009 issue on January 5th. All our contributors, columnists, editors, staff and their respective families wish you all the best for the New Year!
The proportion of families experiencing involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months reached a new record-high of 23.7%, or an estimated 4.3 million households, according to the final Social Weather Survey for 2008, fielded over November 28-December 1, 2008.
The latest Hunger record is 11 points above the ten-year average of 12.6%. It has surpassed the previous record-high incidence of 21.5% in September 2007.
Hunger has now been at double-digits for over four years, since June 2004. The Hunger average of 2008 is 18.5%, higher than the 2007 average of 17.9%.
The measure of Hunger refers to involuntary suffering because the respondents answer a survey question that specifies hunger due to lack of anything to eat.
Record-high Moderate Hunger, Severe Hunger up
The rise in Total Hunger by 5 points between September and December resulted from a 3-point increase in Moderate Hunger, combined with a 2-point increase in Severe Hunger.
Moderate Hunger, referring to those who experienced it "Only Once" or "A Few Times" in the last three months, rose from 15.2% (estimated 2.7 million families) in September to a new record-high 18.5% (estimated 3.3 million families) in December. The latest score is nine points above the ten-year average Moderate Hunger rate of 9.2%. The few who did not state their frequency of Hunger were also placed in this category.
Severe Hunger, referring to those who experienced it "Often" or "Always" in the last three months, went from 3.2% (about 580,000 families) in September to 5.2% (about 940,000 families) in December. The new rate is two points above the ten-year average Severe Hunger rate of 3.3%.
Hunger jumps to record-highs in Mindanao and Metro Manila
The proportion of households experiencing Hunger is now highest in Mindanao, with the latest figure jumping to 33.7% (estimated 1.4 million families), a new record-high in that area.
It is now at record-high 23.3% (estimated 570,000 families) in Metro Manila, 20.7% (estimated 750,000 families) in the Visayas, and 20.0% (estimated 1.6 million families) in Balance Luzon.
Overall Hunger rose by 15 points in Mindanao, from 18.3% in September to 33.7% in December. It rose by 9 points in the Visayas, from 11.7% to 20.7%.
It barely changed in Metro Manila, from 23.0% in the previous quarter to 23.3% now, while it stayed at 20.0% in Balance Luzon.
Moderate Hunger rose by almost 12 points in Mindanao, from 16.0% in September to a record-high 27.7%, by 7 points in the Visayas, from 11.3% to a record-high 18.0%, and by 3 points in Metro Manila, from 15.0% to 18.3%.
It declined by 2 points in Balance Luzon, from 16.5% to 14.0%.
In all areas, the latest Moderate Hunger rates remain higher than their ten-year averages.
Severe Hunger declined by 3 points in Metro Manila, from 8.0% in September to 5.0% in December.
It rose by almost 4 points in Mindanao, from 2.3% to 6.0%, by almost 3 points in Balance Luzon, from 3.5% to a new record-high 6.0%, and by 2 points in the Visayas, from 0.3% to 2.7%.
The latest Severe Hunger figures remain higher than their ten-year averages in all areas except Visayas, where its latest score of 2.7% was slightly lower than its ten-year average of 3.1%.
Survey Background
The SWS survey questions about household hunger are directed to the household head, using the phrase "nakaranas ng gutom at wala kayong makain" or "experienced hunger, and did not have anything to eat."
The Fourth Quarter of 2008 Social Weather Survey was conducted over November 28-December 1, 2008 using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao, and 600 in Balance Luzon (sampling error margins of ±2.5% for national percentages, ±6% for Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao, and ±4% for Balance Luzon). The area estimates were weighted by National Statistics Office medium-population projections for 2008 to obtain the national estimates.
The quarterly Social Weather Surveys on household hunger are not commissioned, but are done on SWS's own initiative and released as a public service.
"You are our partners. The City Government will not be here if not for your support." This was the statement of the Division Chief of the City Treasurer's Office, Mr. Rey Pabito during the City Taxes forum conducted at the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation (Oro Chamber) - PUM Training Room last December 18.
The forum was organized by the Oro Chamber in partnership with Coca-Cola, Parasat Cable TV, Sunstar CDO, Zest-o and the City Government of Cagayan de Oro to ready the local business community for the renewal and registration of business permits starting January 5, 2009.
Around 60 member and non-member companies participated in the forum and were able to get the answers straight from the horse's mouth on the different problems they encountered during business registrations.
One major concern was about the different sanitary permits that a business has to get when a corporation has many businesses under it. Mr. Pabito explained that it was necessary to have sanitary permits for each business since it caters to different types of services even if it is located in one area but also emphasized to only pay once for the other fees such as oath of office, garbage fee etc. He also added that for businesses having different branches, a separate business permit for each is required but only one building permit in case of a hotel and restaurant in one location.
He furthered that registration of delivery vans has to be renewed every year, so even if the delivery van was registered only in November of the current year, it has to be renewed by January of the next year.
Mr. Pabito also encouraged the participants to duly renew and register their businesses staring January 5 to January 20 to avoid paying the 25% penalty plus 2% tax of the month of January and reminded them to attach the old permit in the application form for renewals including barangay clearance and cedula to avoid delays.
"We will be glad to answer your questions and clarify issues," he assured them.
Oro Chamber President Rudy Meñes personally thanked the City Government under the leadership of Mayor TINNEX Jaraula and the City Treasurer's Office for their unwavering support to the activities of the Chamber through out the year.
Oro Chamber is gearing up for 2009. This early, the Chamber has already aligned its monthly forum topics for next year which will include peace and order, taxes, business prospects, economic situationer, labor relations and benefits, business and workplace safety and ICT development. (OC PR)
Locally it is called Spamsilog, a play on the ever-popular tapsi offerings. For a little over $1.50 one is served up with slices of fried-pink Spam (the genuine, the original), egg over easy, and a cupful of garlic rice, and finally topped with a little refreshment of iced tea or coffee.
For many Filipinos a breakfast of this sort had been traditional fare as far as I could remember, believe it from a proud somebody who used to be called “Spam” boy by a now dead cousin as teasing tribute to my voracious ability as a kid then to consume a whole can in one sitting. A satisfactory start of a nice morning had been after a hearty breakfast of fried rice, eggs cooked in pork lard, and crispy fried Spam slices.
So this new local eating place (explosively called TNT) breaks new ground by reminding patrons about this once popular menu, by now offering this breakfast selection as one of the tempting choices of other traditional breakfast fare such as smoked fish, longanisa, and tapa, the last two being sausages and smoked beef.
We knew even then given the surprisingly, or maybe even unseemly, origins of Spam, that Westerners looked with askance at this staple. After all, Spam became famous as part of GI ration during WWII. Invented and marketed by an Hormel heir precisely for “hard times”. During war or before that during hard economic times like the Great Depression. The poor man’s choice of a meal.
With the now unraveling of the global economy with even more and harder times being forecasted, what should come to the rescue?
The lowly Spam, originating from one of Hormel’s factories in Austin, Minn. Production has never been better and at a more furious pace, with employees doing double shifts or overtime work to keep up with the increased demand
And unlike the Spam of old, one can now pick one’s favorite from an adequate selection – such as Spam Low Sodium, Spam with Cheese and Spam Hot & Spicy. And don’t you know you can also buy Spam retail – that is, packed as one slice per plastic wrapper? Averaging under $2 per can, imagine how much one slice would cost.
Thus, while the bad economic times have re-introduced this food for hard times, the Filipinos never entertained any such low regard for this product. Good or hard economic times will always be a happy time for Spam – especially for breakfast. Thus, while Westerners may derisively refer to junk email as Spam, no such dark thought lurks in the Filipino psyche.
What about Spam dipped in a batter of beaten eggs before frying and cooked in good old very hot lard?
Oh, sizzlingly scrumptious!
(By the way, Pinoys in places like Fremont and Hayward in California also enjoy this rare treat in at least one Pinoy restaurant.)
Alien nationals or foreigners seeking admission to the Philippines may soon be required to plant trees prior to the issuance of their visas.
This is in a measure filed in the House seeking to amend Sections 9 and 13 of The Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 as amended or Commonwealth Act No. 613 to require aliens seeking admission to the country to plant not less than 10 trees within the region where they plan to stay prior to the issuance of their visa.
Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez of the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro, author of House Bill No. 5577, said this requirement would show an alien’s commitment to the environment.
"Southeast Asia could have three-fourths less forest cover and 42% less biodiversity by 2010 at the current rate of logging, forest fires and problematic land use," Rodriguez said.
He also said global warming and climate change are intertwined with the world’s decreasing biodiversity.
For non-immigrant applicants, the additional requirement of planting trees shall apply to an alien businessman, an accredited official of a foreign government recognized by the Philippine government, a student who plans to take up a course higher than high school, and an alien covered by prearranged employment, based on the bill.
Further, it provides that parents or guardians of minors seeking admission as immigrants shall also be obliged to comply with this requirement.
Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said there was an urgent need to look into the recent closures of several rural banks, to protect depositors.
He has filed Senate Resolution No. 823, for the Senate committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies to conduct the inquiry.
Clearly, we have to strengthen regulations to prevent the closure of these banks,” said Roxas, in the wake of the closure of nine “Legacy Group” banks in the past month.
These are: Bank of East Asia, Pilipino Rural Bank and Philippine Countryside Rural Bank in Cebu, First Interstate Bank in Tacloban City, Rural Bank of Bais in Negros Oriental, Rural Bank of Parañaque, Rural Bank of San Jose, Dynamic Bank (formerly Rural Bank of Calatagan), and San Pablo City Development Bank in Batangas.
It is estimated that the PDIC would have to pay P7 to P11 billion in deposit insurance to depositors of these banks, due to alleged “pyramid” schemes wherein the banks would offer an annual return of as high as 20% for depositors.
Our people have to be protected so that these banks do not promise depositors what they could not fulfill,” he said.
The BSP, he noted, had been stopped by regional trial court orders from issuing its findings of undercapitalization of the Legacy Group banks, until the Supreme Court reversed the lower court rulings.
It’s the government’s responsibility to protect the country’s financial system, and if needed, we will strengthen the BSP and other agencies for this,” he said.
The Judicial and Bar Council finalized its shortlist of nominees to fill up the vacancy in the Supreme Court due to the retirement of SC Justice Ruben T. Reyes next month.
Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Martin S. Villarama got seven votes from the eight-member JBC panel headed by Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno as ex-officio chair.
Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, CA Associate Justice Portia Aliño Hormachuelos, Sandiganbayan Justice Francisco H. Villaruz, and Dean Cesar L. Villanueva, Dean of the AteneoLawSchool and senior founding partner of Villanueva Gabionza & de Santos law offices, all came in second with five votes.
The JBC also reconsidered its earlier decision and included former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner (BIR) Jose Mario Buñag in its list of qualified applicants after it was shown that the cases filed against him have been dismissed. He, however, got only one vote from the JBC panel.
The JBC, however, remained firm on its earlier disqualification of lawyer Rodolfo Robles for exceeding the age limit of 65 for outsiders. The JBC meanwhile deferred its action on Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera who has a number of pending cases in their preliminary stages before the Office of the Ombudsman. The JBC will request the Ombudsman to expedite its resolution of the said pending cases.
The President has, under the Constitution, 90 days from January 2, 2008, the date of Justice Reyes’ retirement, to fill up the said position.
The JBC is a constitutionally-created body which receives and screens nominations for all judicial posts, as well as nominations for Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman. The other ex-officio JBC members are Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzales, Senator Francis Joseph G. Escudero, and Rep. Matias V. Defensor, Jr., while the regular JBC members are retired SC Justice Regino C. Hermosisima, Dean Amado L. Dimayuga, Jr., Atty. J Conrado P. Castro, and retired CA Justice Aurora S. Lagman.
The voting are as follows:
Justice Villarama – Chief Justice Puno, Sec. Gonzales, Rep. Defensor, Justice Hermosisima, Dean Dimayuga, Atty. Castro, and Justice Lagman;
Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Peralta – Sec. Gonzales, Sen. Escudero, Justice Hermosisima, Dean Dimayuga, and Atty. Castro;
Justice Hormachuelos – Sec. Gonzales, Rep. Defensor, Justice Hermosisima, Atty. Castro, and Justice Lagman;
Justice Villaruz – Chief Justice Puno, Sen. Escudero, Rep. Defensor, Dean Dimayuga, and Atty. Castro; and
Dean Villanueva – Chief Justice Puno, Sen. Escudero, Justice Hermosisima, Dean Dimayuga, and Justice Lagman.
The Filipino people should remain optimistic of better days for the country regardless of widespread poverty and unbridled corruption in government, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today said as he wished the nation a reflective and meaningful Christmas.
"This holiday season, I celebrate with you the birth of Christ our Saviour. We as a nation celebrate Christmas as we hold on to a promise of change; of restoration of the rule of the good; of renewal of our social contract to care for each other," he said.
"I stand together with the Filipino people who seek the fulfillment of this promise. In a nation ravaged by the selfishness and greed of a few, we celebrate as a people: poor in wealth and power but rich in hope," he also said.
He urged the Filipino people not to lose faith but rather, remain hopeful the government would remedy its blunders and instigate extensive reforms badly needed to spur confidence among the people.
"Christmas has always stood for the restoration of the Lord's covenant with his people: this contract that says 'Do good, and you shall be rewarded. Fall in line, and you shall move forward," he said.
"May we all follow our own stars, as the three Magi did, steadfast in their faith in the Lord and in our ultimate salvation. May this Christmas be meaningful for all of us," he added.
Christmas greetings to all our brothers and sisters in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro!
At this time of the year, we reflect on the principal message of Christmas announced by the angelic choir: Peace on earth to all men and women of good will. Here in Mindanao we pray for peace, especially with the recent incidents of bombings in IliganCity, ongoing conflicts in other areas, and the breakdown of peace talks. We pray for the resumption of these peace talks in order to bring about a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.
A second concern we have during this Christmas and New Year’s Season is our solidarity with the poor – in the same spirit that the lowly shepherds were the first to be invited to the manger in Bethlehem. We support the small farmers in their ongoing struggle for the continuation of the agrarian reform program. We also support the fisherfolk and indigenous people in their advocacy for the implementation of social legislation to protect the environment and their sources of livelihood.
This concern for the basic sectors, including rural women and youth, was a key message of the National Rural Congress recently convened by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. The rights of the poor to their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and education, become more pressing with the observance this month of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
A third concern pertains to our families and the promotion of a culture of life. The archdiocese has been advocating for responsible parenthood through an All- Natural Family Planning program. More and more couples have indicated their interest in this approach of planning their families the natural way. We are glad to hear that our provincial and city governments are also starting their own programs on responsible parenting and NFP. In this regard, the archdiocese is ready to share its knowledge and experience. Respect for life from the moment of conception is the foundation for a wholesome family life. May the Holy Family at the birth of the baby Jesus be our model and guide.
Let us all then live the spirit of Christmas by working for peace in our communities, affirming our solidarity with the rural and urban poor in our midst, and promoting a culture of life in our families.
With only a few days before Christmas, the members of the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying is wary Court of Appeals executive Justice Romulo Borja will fail to keep his promise that the constitutionality of the ordinance banning aerial spraying will be resolved before Christmas day.
Rosita Bacalso, one of the senior members of Maas, said Borja still has a few more days to prove that he can keep his promise to them when he said that the CA justices will be coming out with the decision earlier than the extended six more months which will end January 26 next year.
“Naga-ampo lamang gihapon kami nga iyang tinud-on ang iyang saad kanamo. Naghinaut gihapon kami ug kami wala nalimot sa iyang saad. Kami naglantaw kaniya isip usa ka tawo nga adunay baruganan ug nagbarog sa kamatuoran. Wala lamang gihapon kami nawad-an og paglaum. Adunay pay nahibilin nga pipila ka adlaw una muabot ang pasko. Dinhi niining mga adlawa, mamahimo pa niyang mapamatud-an nga siya angay gihapon namong saligan ug tuuhan, (We pray that he will make true his word to us. We are hoping and we have not forgotten his promise. We look up to him as a man of principles and stands up to the truth. W have not lost hope. There are still a few days left before Christmas. In these days he can still show us that we can still depend and believe in him)” said Bacalso.
If Borja will keep his promise and the case that questioned the constitutionality of the ordinance will come out before the extended deadline, Maas will be folding the camp that they set up near the CA since last month and will be celebrating Christmas with their respective families in DavaoCity .
Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros, one of the lawmakers who is supporting the cause of the Maas, said the judiciary must decide the case immediately while all the other branches of the government—congress and the executive—are also doing their shares in responding to the widespread calls to ban aerial spraying.
“Sana huwag magpahuli ang judiciary at desisyonan na nito ang kaso …at sana ang desisyon na ito ay maipalabas bago pa magpasko para makauwi ang mga magsasakang meyembro ng Maas sa kani-kanilang tanahan upang doon ay magpasko, (I hope the judiciary will come up with their decision on this case… and I hope this will come out before Christmas so these farmer-members of Maas can already go home to their respective homes to celebrate Christmas there)” Hontiveros told the media in Cagayan de Oro during her visit with Maas last week.
Hontiveros recently delivered a privilege speech in the Congress urging her colleagues to investigate the plight of the farmers who have been complaining over the practice of spraying chemicals aerially in banana plantations of DavaoCity.
This was supported by Gabriela Representative Luz Ilagan who has also filed House Resolution 741 that directed the committee on ecology and health to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the possible alternatives to aerial spraying of pesticide to “avoid damage to the environment and to the health of plantation workers and adjacent community residents.”
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez also filed in Congress a bill banning aerial spraying of pesticides in the country.
“Ang ating mga huwes sa Court of Appeals ay mga Pilipino rin at may mga puso… sana mailabas na nila ang desisyon—paborable man o hindi—para naman makauwi na ang mga magsasaka at makapag-pasko kasama ang kanilang mga pamilya, (Our Justices of the Court of Appeals are also Filipinos and they also have hearts…I hope they will already come out with their decision – favorable or not – so that these farmerscan already go home and spend Christmas with their families)” Hontiveros said.
My Family and my Staff join me in Wishing One and All a Very Joyous Christmas and May the New Year be Prosperous, in spite of the hard times that may come.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!
CONSTANTINO G. “Tinnex” JARAULA City Mayor Cagayan de Oro City
The United Opposition (UNO) today said that the decision of the Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) to withhold economic aid to the Philippines due to government's failure to curb corruption has again undermined the country's standing in the international community and deprived Filipinos of basic social services.
UNO spokesperson Atty. Adel S. Tamano, lauded the US government's decision to bring pressure for reform in the Arroyo administration and said the development has been due for a long time.
"Finally the US government has realized what we in the opposition have known for a long time-- that the GMA administration is the most corrupt in our modern history," Tamano said. "That is why the Filipino people must stand against President Arroyo's cha-cha; otherwise we will have this corrupt GMA administration for another ten years."
Earlier, the MCC said it will not provide economic assistance to the Philippines until it curbs corruption, and urged the government to intensify efforts to fight this evil.
The Philippines had hoped to be elevated to MCC compact status this year to be eligible for large-scale grant funding under the US government's innovative foreign assistance program, but a continuing drop in its "control of corruption" scorecard doomed it to failure. MCC's aim is to reduce global poverty through the promotion of sustainable economic growth.
In a press statement, MCC said the Philippines will remain eligible for developing a compact proposal but emphasized the board will not sign a compact until the country passes the indicator criteria on corruption.
UNO President and Makati City mayor Jejomar Binay said the decision of MCC only underscored that the long-known fact that "corruption under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has again robbed millions of Filipinos of services they deserve as taxpayers."
On the other hand, Senator Mar Roxas said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo must take drastic measures in changing the administration’s corrupt image if the Philippines is to receive much needed foreign aid during the present financial crisis.
He decried the country’s ineligibility for aid from the United States’ Millennium Challenge Corp. as a result of rampant corruption in the government, saying this “rubbed salt in the wound” of Filipinos trying to cope with the dire economic situation.
“Despite the propaganda of President Arroyo’s people about the economy, every Filipino knows the real situation, and their anger grows as corruption in government worsens,” Roxas said.
“What’s worse is that even if our economy is in shambles, President Arroyo and her aides think of nothing but how to stay in power or come up with scams such as of Joc-Joc Bolante. We are sinking deeper into poverty,” he said.
The Philippines slipped in the MCC’s “control of corruption” scorecard, from 76% in the fiscal year 2007 to 57% in FY2008 and now 47% in FY2009. In 2006, the US government corporation extended $21 million in assistance to the Philippines to help it combat corruption, but to no avail.
“As the people’s view of our leaders goes down, we are also dropping in corruption ratings. It’s clear that it’s the fault of President Arroyo, after eight years of power, for Millennium Challenge Corporation’s assessment,” the Ilonggo senator said.
