Move on? Then stop whining why the Philippines remains poor, corrupt

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the political and economic rut our nation has been dragged into, it seems we have to move on. And move on we must even if this perpetuates the status quo — the poor getting poorer, the rich becoming richer, the powerful getting, well, more powerful.

Thanks to the much-vaunted resilience of Filipinos, the implementation of onerous laws and the imminent passage of a “pork-ridden” national budget seem not enough to dampen their positive outlook or their survival spirit. So what if prices of basic goods soar and public services dwindle? So what if government ineptness sends many people hurtling down the chasm of hunger and deprivation? Never mind if the government fudges its primordial role of providing livelihood, education, health, and other basic services to its citizens, particularly the poor.

We can rationalize with things that appear “inevitable.” We can still trust our so-called leaders and live with their propaganda, their skewed priorities, and unredeemed promises, can’t we? We can move on, it seems, even if graft and corruption, poor governance, and official incompetence, the main causes of our economic woes and social inequities, go unchecked.

But isn’t it high time our government rid itself of corruption?

Contrary to Ombudsman Samuel Martires’ opinion, the statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth of public officials and employees should best be left open to public scrutiny as our Constitution mandates. We should continue doing lifestyle checks on questionable “public servants” as these could help bridle greed and nail down the corrupt in our bureaucracy. But this should not be only for show — it has to be seriously pursued and made to yield credible results.

For one, the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Finance, or any agency entrusted with public funds has to publicize any disbursements indicating the purpose, amount, source (taxes or loans), and the beneficiary of such disbursements. For its part, the Commission on Audit, as an independent constitutional body, has to efficiently and undauntedly audit government transactions. Its findings, particularly those that uncover irregularities, have to be reported through the press — and be enforced accordingly.

Likewise, in all government infrastructure projects (roads, bridges, buildings, beaches, etc.), huge billboards indicating the projects’ proposed and actual costs, the source of funds, and the completion target dates have to be posted in conspicuous places, as well as published or aired through local or national media. More than seeing on such billboards the names and faces of politicians, the citizens are entitled to know exactly how and where their taxes are being spent — or misspent.

Other anti-corruption “watchdogs” may also find it worthwhile to monitor the whereabouts of public funds, if only to make sure they are spent judiciously, and to keep the tentacles of corruption from engulfing the whole government structure where honesty and transparency are supposed to be the rule rather than the exception.

Indeed, a crackdown against all forms of official profligacy, greed, and arrogance has to be relentlessly undertaken, and the culprits swiftly brought to justice. After all, a “whiff” of corruption is supposedly all it takes for the Duterte administration to combat this evil, isn’t it? And we citizens should help in the best way we can to resist this depravity by constructively criticizing official wrongdoings, without having to be tagged as “dilawan” or “terrorists.”

Unless of course, we want to move on and conveniently sweep this scourge under the rug, and get back to “business as usual.” If so, then let’s stop wondering, let alone whining, why this country remains poor and among the most corrupt in the world.

MANUEL A. COLLAO
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