The Right Solution

The Philippines has placed tenth in the Global Bribery survey. Transparency International said in its report that the poor are the most hit in the worsening graft crisis ever to hit the country. The World Bank meanwhile said that poverty incidence has increased in the Philippines despite what the Arroyo administration says as the best economic performance ever. What do all these mean?

It means that these economic gains generated by a revitalized economy are not spilling over the masses but are being dissipated by corrupt groups in government. Those who control the levers of power are the ones benefiting from this inequality. Wealth continues to be concentrated in the hands of a few lucky ones close to the center of power. The disparity, says the World Bank, between the rich and the poor has increased because the system does not have the right spillover mechanism to enable the poor to at least get a slice of the economic gains.

This explains why the Philippines rank a close second to India in terms of the number of pessimistic people. Despite having a “sunshine” economy, most Pinoys are not happy. If you study the surveys, many are desperate and feel depressed. Many feel that they have nowhere to turn to. Since 1986, the people have searched in vain for the right solution. Always, the people fail to find one.

Those who don’t suffer the brunt of high prices or are insulated from the ravages of extreme poverty, they are the ones who discourage the people to revolt. For these few, the solution is still Gandhian. When you’re being killed slowly, will you still say “peace brother”? And by entertaining these thoughts, can you then be classified as a “coup plotter”, “ a war freak” or a “peace wrecker”?

Eventually, I believe, people will look at the palace and blame it for their current poverty. In dire times, people need to point on something or look at one direction to place the blame at. I shudder at the thought of seeing one day when poor people kill the rich because of their wealth. It has happened before in other countries.

Saving this country from chaos necessitates a collective effort. It may not be a coup. It definitely cannot be a revolt. It should be a pronunciamento. This could be the solution everybody is lusting for.