TIP OF THE ICEBERG
Lifted from Aklat Mukha
Dated 24 May 2024
Mas malalang isyu ito kaysa pdea leaks
Mayor Benjamin Magalong
"Let me temporarily set aside my manuscript. Instead, let me speak from my mind and from my heart. Let me give you some facts about what is happening in the entire country today.
Last April, news came out that our national debt is already at 13.86 trillion. Remember that when we started, when President Duterte started his administration as president of the Philippines, our national debt was at 5.7 trillion, accumulated for decades. In just a matter of seven years, our national debt increased by as much as 142%. We're now at 13.86 trillion.
In short, we are already above the 60% debt to GDP ratio. Ang ibig sabihin niyan, each and every Filipino kapapanganak pa lang may utang na na P113,000. According to Cartua, our ability to pay our debt would depend on our ability to manage our financial leakages. And so I asked, ano ba yung financial leakage? And no less than the former Secretary of NEDA said,
ang final leakage na sinasabi ko, a big chunk of that goes to corruption. And surprisingly, when the news came out na ang utang pala natin is already at 13.86 trillion, only very, very few members of our legislative branch, people from Congress, raised hell. Ulitin ko, only very few raised hell. It is at this backdrop, or against this backdrop, that I would like to share with you this narrative.
Last year, I was invited by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Interior Local Government to talk before newly elected officials, twice. In one session, there are about 150 mayors. A second session, about 200 mayors. Last March, I was given a chance again to talk to about 1,100 municipal mayors, all members of the League of Municipalities. Three weeks ago, I had the chance to talk and speak before vice governors of the different provinces.
I was very concerned. The way we process, the way we manage our local government union. For the first 15 minutes, everybody was just so enthusiastic, listening to me, looking at my impressive presentation. And then I start talking about good governance. I start talking about traditional politics. I start talking about corruption. It is a direct correlation with poverty. And when I start doing that, they also start looking at their cellphones. Are we not going to ask ourselves, is corruption now becoming a norm in government? Is good governance becoming an exception?
It is very saddening that they have a percentage in every project. They have not yet become tired. They already have a percentage. They are still the contractor. They are still the supplier. Unfortunately, only a few people raise this issue. Tayo sa Philippine National Police. I've been talking to your CESPO, Louie Mclilan, and all the other RESPO. When they visited me two weeks ago, that was about three weeks ago.
We are willing to give or contribute a reasonable percentage of our pension plan or of our pension to national government to address this big issue. Pero nakakalungkot. Nothing have we heard from our legislators that they are willing to give up their pork barrels. Kahit manlang sana sabihin nila na bawasan niyo yung pork barrel. But nobody, for some reason, nobody would admit na meron pala silang pork barrel. But now that I am with local government, the fact remains that there is still pork barrel.
Tayo, in the uniformed service, both from the armed forces and from the Philippine National Police, we risk our life. We risk equality time with our family. And we are willing to give up a small amount of our pension just to help national government. Just to address this huge deficit. Just to address this big national debt.
Hintayin natin kung anong sasabihin ng ating mga magigiting na legislators. Hintayin natin silang magsalita. Hopefully, one of them will come out in the open and tell us it is about time that legislators should also give a big contribution to address national government issue, especially on our financial debt.
#CTTO
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