Monday, August 21, 2017

Savor the blood of the innocents, unmindful of our own death

Kian is not just the latest casualty in this senseless wars being waged by Mr. Duterte. At a different level, in the economic sphere, we, ordinary folks, are being victimized by unscrupulous businessmen out to get a peso from us, in whatever way possible. We can barely breathe.

Yes, prices of rice remain stable, but you can't just eat rice and salt. You need meat. Red meats have increased by 15% in most markets, 20% in selected groceries. A yellow fin tuna now cost double. Vegetables can be bought by paying 20% more. Canned sardines, corned beef and the like are as expensive as the fresh ones. And I'm not even giving here prices of soaps, shampoos and the like. Traders are laughing themselves to the bank while we, ordinary folks, are cursing, turning, and scratching our heads in silent rage.

What is the value then of paying the salary of Secretary Mario Lopez of the Trade department? This moron, a radio commenter said, is the promoter of non-intervention in the free market. Allow prices to free fall? Under what assumption, Mr. Lopez? Probably under the presumption that millions of Filipinos get a hundred thousand peso per month salary just like yours. I recognize your efforts at promoting entrepreneurship among Filipinos, but that is just one of several functions of the DTI. The DTI is supposed to protect consumer welfare. Lest you forget, it is a regulatory agency of government. The DTI is not a Concepcion stooge, let me remind you.

Of course, Mr. Duterte's economic managers are saying that there is simply, nothing extraordinary going on--those higher prices are market consequences, a result of so many things happening, that it is hard for them to explain why most goods, even the basic ones, have shot up well beyond the reach of the ordinary Filipino.

Mr. Duterte, you simply have to visit one supermarket to see what I have revealed here.

While we savor the sight of blood of both the innocent and the guilty over national television, we are mindless of our own death, slowly, methodically.

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