|
Government should intensify the call for austerity. Austerity in all
aspects—in our personal lives and also, in the way the government
spends its money. The elite should avoid the consumption of
expensive goods sourced from abroad. In that way, we can save on
precious dollars.
In truth, we are an importing nation. We get
most of our oil and raw materials from abroad. We are not
self-sufficient, even in rice. As the ordinary man knows now, we get
mostly of our wealth from remittances of overseas workers. But we
consume a lot, specially luxury goods. Ask the Bangko Sentral how
much we allocate dollars earmarked for luxuries and you will be
shocked. Go to any mall and you will see people buying expensive
items.
If I am bit alarmist, we are almost in a war
situation. It is also because of the continuing oil price increases.
Every Saturday, we see gasoline and diesel prices increase. Our
budget for LPG goes up every week too. And what solutions do we see?
Nothing. We only wait for the inevitable—the diminution of our
peso value. Hanggang kailan kaya ito titigil—ang pagtataas ng mga
presyo?
These are the times when the government should
be decisive. It should be strong as it should be caring. It should
not rely on old formulas like depending on the private sector to
manage the economy. That would be ruinous. Excuse me, but the
businessmen cannot be relied upon to work for the general interest.
Businessmen are interested in returns on their investment. That is
their nature.
Government should now be open to price control
because of the crisis. Congress should consider this for the sake of
the helpless public. The old thinking, carried out during the Cory
government, that price control is bad no longer holds. Price control
can be applied intelligently, without being anti-business.
I often see officials of the trade and industry
agonize over the question of applying price controls. They often
tend to be ideological, lecturing on the virtues of free trade and
globalization. Little do they realize that the people are already
suffering and government is already being pilloried for
helplessness.
If the government applies price control, expect
the chambers of commerce to balk. But government should not be
worried. It is its mandate to help the people in times of crisis. If
the government cannot help the people, why is there is a need to
retain this institution?
___
Ateneo’s Utopia helps Western Visayas
Aside from government and foreign institutions,
the private sector is also helping the people of Western Visayas
(and that should also include Romblon which borders South Luzon).
One of these groups is the Ateneo fraternity Utopia whose alumni
group is now headed by Tony Bernardo, the former Customs
Commissioner.
Bernardo and former envoy to Iraq Boy Parungao
went to Kapihan sa Sulo last Saturday to call for donations, in cash
and in kind, to help the victims. They are helping their fraternity
brothers in the region who are also mayors. Part of the donations
will go to Mayor Jerry Trenas of Iloilo City and New Washington,
Mayor Ed Peralta of Aklan
Iloilo City was devastated by floods and people
need food, construction materials for their destroyed homes. By the
way, even the family of Trenas was imperiled by the floods, which
hit the city for the first time since its existence.
By the way, Mayor Ed Peralta has revealed that
the monument of Cardinal Sin now stands in the plaza of New
Washington. Sin came from this town, starting as a parish priest
before being chosen by the Pope to lead as Archbishop of Manila. The
monument was donated by former envoy to Laos, Mr. Antonio Cabangon
Chua.
___
Pacquiao to carry RP banner in Olympics
The decision of President Gloria Arroyo to
appoint boxer Manny Pacquiao ambassador to the Beijing Olympics is a
popular move. I would like to see Manny carry the banner leading
around 30 Pinoy athletes during the opening ceremonies. Other
countries have chosen their more popular athletes. For China, it
will be basketball star Yao Ming who plays for the national team and
the Houston Rockets.
I suggest that Manny be tapped by Solar Sports
television to comment on the Olympic boxing bouts. With his
experience in boxing, he would be able explain to us laymen the
beauty of the game and the intricacies of scoring in the amateur
field. Manny would definitely be a hit in Beijing, with his enormous
prestige in the boxing world.
___
BRIEF NOTES. The Comelec launched on Saturday
its website for the coming ARMM elections. It’s
www.armm2008.com.ph. By the way, the Comelec has already chosen
through bidding the firms which will automate the transmission and
counting of ballots. These firms are Smartmatic-Sahi and Avante.
jules42na@yahoo.com
|
