Address root cause of corruption

Another election is upon us and politicians are again courting the people’s votes. Like in past elections, lots of promises are being made only to be broken. Yet, people continue to vote them into office. And, sad to say, corruption in government is so commonplace—a tragic social landscape for the bigger of the only two Christian nations in Southeast Asia. A nationwide moral force movement is needed to address this national bane which has undermined our stability and prevented our socioeconomic development.

While President Aquino is sincere with his “Daang Matuwid” advocacy, he will not be able to fully attain its objectives without the full support and cooperation of the Filipino people. It is not enough that he punishes corrupt officials. Even institutional reforms would not suffice. What is needed is a change in man and not a change of men.

To my request regarding the stand of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on the government’s flagship 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or Conditional Cash Transfer), Chair Loretta Ann P. Rosales replied, saying that the CHR appreciates the fact that the present government, in its effort to comply with its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, has come up with programs to ensure that children from poor families are not deprived of their rights especially their right to education. However, while the CHR appreciates the efforts of the government, it is also deeply disturbed by the reported inclusion of undeserving families in the program.

I was assured that the CHR will continue to monitor how our government complies with its obligations in protecting the rights of Filipino children, and it thanked me for my letter.

As a concerned senior citizen, I feel it is my duty to remind our politicians that they have yet to address the very root cause of our nation’s problems. As a children’s advocate, the right time to nurture children is during the formative years (six and under). We must not forget that what we parents teach, do and tell our young children, whether right or wrong, becomes etched on their very tender, vulnerable minds. What is happening now is partly the offshoot of neglect by parents and by our leaders in government.

I am thus appealing to sincere and well-meaning politicians to join or help the “Crusade for a Better Youth of Tomorrow” movement, which is aimed at transforming our youth into better children of God and upright citizens of tomorrow. One way to do this is to distribute copies of the 1997 book “Pinoy Child,” which I authored, to poor families in their constituencies. With chapters on child health, care, safety and education, the book guides poor parents how to nurture their children in the formative years at home without going to day care centers. This will ensure that when these young children reach adulthood, they would not be easily tempted to do wrong, such that corruption will be a thing of the past.

—NESTOR A. LACEDA SR., MD, Feadco Building,

161-A Shaw Blvd. corner

JB Vargas St.,

Mandaluyong City