Privatization drive possible ‘life sentence’ for Filipinos

Why are real estate developers in a mad race to build high-rise condominiums and giant malls in critically dense Metro Manila? And why does the national government allow, even initiate, the disposal of existing and functioning public properties that deliver basic services to ordinary citizens?

These are questions that baffle not only the poor but also the middle-income taxpayers. Painful too in the Napoles and DAP (Disbursement Acceleration Program) episodes was the revelation that while more than half of the population twisted in want from serial disasters, government was awash with disposable cash. If government has so much “savings” in its coffers and can afford to play

Santa Claus to a favored few to the tune of billions of pesos, how come we suffer from “jobless growth,” very expensive unstable power and meteoric surges in the costs of food, shelter, medical care, education and transport services?

These are lifeline services which every government is dutybound to provide—not for free but at reasonable cost. John Locke, the famous political theoretician, once said: “… the sole purpose of government, the reason why men give up the state of nature for a compact of political organization, is for the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties and estates…” (William Ebenstien, “Modern Political Thought,” 2nd edition).

In Metro Manila, infrastructure buildup is reaching inordinate proportions. The rules on urban planning have been thrown out in favor of hefty revenues from building permits. City governments allow contractors to pour cement everywhere: on roads that have to be repaired, often because of floods; on malls in every corner, demonizing traffic and annihilating neighborhood shopkeepers; and, by the grace of greed, on condominiums that reach the sky to level with God. Can the hordes of unemployed and underemployed Filipinos afford living in these structures? Where is government in this chaotic and environmentally unsustainable urban design?

The worst part is probably yet to come. Government properties, hospitals included, are now on the auction block. Thousands of hectares of prime public lands are now being considered for sale to private investors, local and foreign, under the government’s privatization program. Is government now in the business of real estate?

Privatization as public policy is fine if tempered by prudence and transparency, with public welfare in mind. When societal comforts reach the level where the foremost concerns are just football, golf and car racing, then government can shrug its shoulders and say, “Hooray to market forces!”

At this stage of our economy, however, when the “free” in enterprise is unbridled and borders on oppression, we might become the only republic where impeachment and hospital arrests are the kindest end for corrupt presidents. And when karmic retribution takes its toll, this nation could end up building more jails for criminals than homes for the poor.

With privatization contracts spanning decades and billions of pesos in future incomes tied up in sovereign guarantees, the next generation of Filipinos could be indentured for life.

—EVA MAGGAY-INCIONG,

BF Homes, Quezon City