“We seem to believe we are a truly ‘resilient’ people, always ready to rise from calamity and get on with our lives.”
In Citizen at Large 20-05, we discussed “Lessons from Rolly”. Then came Siony, Tonyo and Ulysses. A few more may come before the year ends.
How much more can we take?
On top of the COVID-19 pandemic, one natural disaster after another has caused the tragic loss of lives and livelihoods, unprecedented destruction of property, lost crops and billions of pesos spent for safety nets, relief and rehabilitation measures. LGU and DSWD resources are drained. Many areas are literally on their knees begging for help.
Again, it looks like we need to get smarter, not just more alarmed. Expectedly, there is now a renewed and growing call for a change in mindset – from disaster management (meaning disaster ‘preparedness’, rescue, relief and rehabilitation) to disaster prevention and climate change adaptation.
Sadly, however, we seem to believe we are a truly ‘resilient’ people, always ready to rise from calamity and get on with our lives. Until the next disaster comes, of course.
Have we grown resigned to the punishment? In fact, some people will say we’re just being punished by God for our collective sins, or at least for the sins of our leaders (if you want to point fingers.) But one thing is sure: we can’t keep absorbing the punches.
Call for concrete action
We call on the national leadership to lead a comprehensive, systemic campaign to minimize if not prevent the never-ending loss of lives, properties and crops caused by natural calamities, which have become more frequent, more intense and more destructive. Listen to the experts and the scientists and let them map out specific strategies, plans and programs that will lessen the impact of climate change and severe weather disturbances.
The list of needed measures is long but they are necessary if we want to move forward.
Some points to consider
All LGUs should review and update their hazard maps and revise their Land Use Plans and Zoning Ordinances accordingly. More appropriate, adaptive and science-based guidelines will have to be established by national government and followed at all levels. Local planners will need massive technical assistance to move away from the “business as usual” or worse, the “cut and paste” approach.
The whole gamut of necessary measures: new hazard mapping, relocation of vulnerable communities, mitigation and protection measures, disaster-proofing of vital infrastructure, improved drainage systems, integrated flood control programs, proper rehabilitation, reforestation and protection of watersheds and rivers,
Imposition of bans on logging and destructive quarrying, strict enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, development, protection and preservation of agricultural areas and even redesign of abodes and population centers will be necessary.
It will demand huge doses of political will and leadership, not to mention resources. The impacts on land use, land ownership and land values will be huge, likewise on national and local budget priorities. But the annual losses in lives, livelihoods, crops and properties leave the country no choice. The big question is: can we and will we rise to the challenge?
On government priorities and where our taxes will go, Part 1
The proposed P4.5 trillion 2021 National Expenditure Plan (the Annual Budget), now under Senate review, was passed by the Lower House with little debate. The theme of the proposed budget is “Reset, Rebound, Recover”. I think it is unresponsive to prevailing challenges and smells very much like a pre-election year budget. But that’s just my opinion.
How’s the economy doing?
A recent online forum gave us a chance to hear some views about our current state of the nation and how the proposed budget will achieve its 3R (Reset, Rebound, Recover) goals. Some highlights on the economic impact of COVID (courtesy of JC Punongbayan):
1) Our consumption-driven economy has been severely affected by the pandemic. Average Filipinos’ income dropped to 2015 levels; 2) Fifteen percent of business firms appear to be permanently close; 3) Unemployment rose to 10 percent in July and underemployment was up to 17 percent in the third quarter; 4) 200,000 OFWs have been repatriated and 600,000 more are seeking government assistance; 5) Hunger incidence is at its highest ever at 31 percent and 1.5 million more people have been added to the ranks of the poor; and 6) Bank lending is at its lowest in 13 years.
Consumer spending is, therefore, expected to be very sluggish, and this will further affect those businesses that manage to remain open. The market for agricultural produce, sugar included, can be affected as well – worsened even more by the spate of calamities in Luzon, even as we approach the Christmas season. There just won’t be enough money in circulation.
Government stimulus spending desperately needed
The funny thing is, money is not the problem, according to Punongbayan. The problems are the “fiscally-conservative government’s misplaced austerity” and “wrong priorities”. What this says is that government isn’t spending enough and it’s not spending on the right things. (My note: The dolomite beach is an example). So the first prescription is simple: Government needs to spend, and spend wisely, to stimulate the economy. And that brings us to the 2021 budget.
Budget priorities
For lack of space, we can only do a cursory pass at this time. The main points: Huge allocations have been set aside to cover the salary increases of public school teachers and the additional requirements for the pension and gratuity fund of uniformed personnel due to their salary increases. (Local governments will likewise provide for salary increases for local government personnel.)
That is the bright side. Government employees have security of tenure and growing salaries, putting them on better footing than ordinary employees. On the other hand, the budgets for health services (27 percent less, with only 2.5 billion for vaccines) and education have been sacrificed (ex: insufficient allocation for distance learning).
In their stead, there is the P16.4 billion allocation that will provide P20 million worth of development projects for each of 800 plus so-called “cleared” barangays. The Office of the President will have P4.5 billion in Confidential and Intelligence funds.
Overall, the proposed NEP is heavy on Infrastructure (51 percent increase to P781 billion versus only P711 billion for education and training), military and police (P590 billion vs only P519 billion for social safety nets, health, food security, housing and environment). And there’s good news for 3,000 large corporate taxpayers who will get P68 billion in tax cuts through the CREATE Bill, compared to P29 billion for MSMEs (the huge majority of businesses in the country). – NWI (To be continued)
