“Never Give Up,” says respected businessman Cecilio Pedro on an electronic billboard posted outside the Lamoiyan Building – an intriguing quote that echoes sentiments on how Filipinos should look upon their nation over the upcoming years.
Never give up on new beginnings
Many are hoping that the P167.9-billion fund to rebuild the affected areas by Typhoon Yolanda may find its way to the 16 million Filipino victims. About P81.89 billion of this total amount came from in 58 foreign governments, P29.84 billion from the European Commission and P52.06 billion from our national government.
According to Budget Secretary Butch Abad, P89 billion was released in 2015. The Social Welfare Department received the huge amount of P30 billion, while P22 billion was allocated to the National Housing Authority, but where did the P47 billion go? He failed to mention this in his interview with Rappler.com. Though, the report included that the remaining amount will be released this year– the question remains if the rest of the funds will be released before or after the elections.
But according to the report of Chaloka Beyani, a UN special rapporteur, the Philippine government has not done enough to rebuild after Yolanda. Thousands have remained in shanties without power or water for nearly two years. Furthermore, I would agree to the statement of Mr. Panfilo Lacson. “The government must have the initiative and should be proactive in dealing with crisis like Yolanda, and not merely react to criticism as they come.”
May our next leaders, from those in the Malacañang down to the barangay officials, look into the importance of disaster preparedness and education with genuine concern.
Never give up on people’s voice
As election season progresses, a collective of 55,793,911 Filipinos registered to become official voters for the upcoming poll. They are expected to exercise their right to suffrage to elect a new set of leaders who will lead a nation geared toward development.
Do we elect someone who promises leadership—a person who said that if you are afraid to kill or be killed you are not ready to be a president, someone who is accused but not yet convicted of corruption, someone who promises a government with a heart, or the government candidate who promises to continue the “Daang Matuwid” program?
Pili Pinoy – Pili Husay
But the question stands, will all registered voters have the chance to participate and experience “the most transparent election in the Philippine history,” as claimed by Comelec chairman Andres Bautista?
The good news is that exactly a month before the May 9 polls, the Comelec announced it has printed all of the needed 56.77 million ballots.
Never give up on livelihood
The government is developing programs where 90 percent of small-medium enterprise owners in the country can continue their ventures through financing by government loans. This provides initiative for enterprising Filipinos to continue creating innovative products and services knowing that a more supportive government is willing to back their way towards progress.
With the growing number of overseas workers coming home due to conflicts in the country where they are working, the next leaders of this country should strengthen the livelihood program and financing started by the past government and create new ones, especially in provinces.
This could also help beneficiaries of 4Ps that these families will no longer rely on the dole-out of the government.
Let us build partnerships, encourage collaboration, and ensure cooperation.
Never give up on the system
Amid the everyday struggle of the transportation system, the labor force—an estimated 14.5 million female employees and 22.9 million male counterparts—is building their hopes towards the proper allocation of their hard-earned taxes. Someday, the entire nation will place their bets on a better system, one that is comfortable, hassle-free and is a justifiable answer to the undesirable and undeserved experience on traffic and railway nightmares.
The soon-to-be-leaders of this country should act immediately on the factors significantly contributing to these problems seriously.
The Filipinos are known for their resilient character. But it does not mean that we have to remain in the same situation, enduring the same pain. We are catalysts of change. As long as we never give up on our government and particularly, on ourselves.
Gising, Pinoy, gising
The author is a PhD in Business student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University.
The views expressed above are the author’s and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the De La Salle University, its administration and faculty.