EDITORIAL

A nation of pessimists

The recent Pulse Asia survey showing Filipinos’ downcast view of their economic situation was a result of the perpetuation of corruption in the government, which has significantly hindered the country’s development. The Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan survey on Filipinos’ quality of life revealed that 58% of Filipinos feel they are worse off now than last year. This is 12% higher than people’s assessment of their personal quality of life in the same survey conducted last year. Meanwhile, 44% of Filipinos are pessimistic about the upcoming year, up from 30% in last year’s survey.

After spending P1.3 trillion this year, the situation has even worsened. There was a rice crisis because of the corruption in the Department of Agriculture, and even now that the economic crisis from the US is affecting counties worldwide including the Philippines, Malacanang is still perceived as pushing to amend the constitution to extend terms of officials. Despite these, Sen. Mar Roxas said “Malacanang still has business as usual attitude in dealing with the country’s problems, as well as its inability to stamp out corruption. This poverty is too much, because of the corruption in our agencies. The politicos in Malacañang don’t feel the suffering experienced by our people.”

Roxas said the people have yet to see any real effort by the government to uplift their plight. “Unless President Arroyo shows she is sincere in reforming the economy, the people’s view of their situation won’t change. The government has done nothing to change the poor’s view of their situation. The sad thing is Malacañang won’t even care about the survey results. Pundits are saying national government officials particularly those in Malacanang know about all these but are insensitive or “thick-skinned” they wouldn’t care less, main reason they are pushing charter changes so they could extend their terms and happy days.

They are saying if most people of this Banana Republic have become pessimists, it is because they don’t see real and positive changes before national elections on 2010. The middle class, particularly, wouldn’t want to support another Edsa Revolution or a coup as they wouldn’t want Vice President Noli De Castro to take over the presidency.

The mood is to bear another one and a half years of government ineptitude and corruption before a change of officials in government. But would there be elections at the rate the Lower House and other administration minions are pushing to amend the charter? The coming days would attest to what will happen.