Brothers and sisters, while the pandemic is still raging worldwide, many of us have lost our homes, and our crops, possessions, and livelihood equipment were destroyed by the recent series of typhoons. Many of us are in debt because we lost our livelihood these past months.
Because of the calamities and the Covid-19 pandemic, severe issues surrounding poverty in the country have been exposed even further. After Typhoon Rolly, many farmers in Bicol would have sown the rice they cultivated if not for the typhoon. They still attempted to gather their soaked crops even if prices had dropped to seven pesos per kilo. Even before the typhoon season, the price of grain dropped to P11 to P12 per kilo in some parts of the country such as Surigao del Sur, Cavite, Bulacan, and Agusan del Sur. The importation of rice under the Rice Tariffication Law also doesn’t help.
While the provisions given to those devastated by Typhoons Quinta and Rolly continue, the question is: How will they be able to rise in the long term after having been severely affected by the typhoons? According to the Department of Agriculture, there are loans available for farmers amounting to P25,000 that can be paid within 10 years without interest. But since there are many farmers already buried in debt to middlemen and traders that lent them money needed to cultivate crops, surely these farmers will have second thoughts in accepting the additional loans offered by the government. It is better if they would just be given a cash grant, or enrolled in crop insurance programs.
The national budget is still being discussed in the Senate. One of the questions raised by critics is in regards to the funds that will go to projects administered by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). One senator suggested dedicating some parts of this budget for the people severely affected by Typhoon Rolly and for the medical and health needs in addressing the pandemic. In hindsight, there is also the worsening case of hunger, which, according to the Social Weather Stations, has reached about 7.6 million Filipinos in September. Gravely plenty of needs, with limited funds. How can we ensure that the government’s limited funds will be spent on what is most needed?
Compared to national agencies, local governments have more knowledge about the needs of the people they govern. Therefore, the voice of the local governments must be listened to the most in discussing and deciding where the national budget must be spent.
Even the Catholic Church agrees with the principle of subsidiarity. It is stated through this principle that government affairs that can be taken by lower levels of government must be fulfilled then. This is accompanied by another principle propagated by the Church, the principle of “participation” of the people for their development.
Most likely, the projects proposed by the NTF-ELCAC were established when there wasn’t a pandemic. It would be better if we look back at the barangays and municipalities if there is a greater need that must be addressed. However, the citizens also need to speak up to their leaders about their needs. Because of the gravity of the needs and the lack of funds, the people must speak up so they will be heard.
Brothers and sisters, in our Holy Gospel, when Jesus asked for the sick and the disabled, his question was: “What do you want me to do for you?” or “Do you want to be healed?” Our freedom from poverty begins with us by speaking up about the kind of help we need. True prosperity can only be achieved if those in need participate.
Make it a habit to listen to Radio Veritas 846
Ang Radyo ng Simbahan in the AM band, or through
live streaming at www.veritas846.ph, and follow its Twitter and Instagram accounts @veritasph, and YouTube at veritas846.ph. For your comments,
e-mail veritas846pr@gmail.com.
Image credits: AP/Aaron Favila