Readers’ reactions on corruption
The Philippine Star
October 03, 2003

Today, we give way to the readers who reacted to our column last Monday entitled "Is it Corruption or a Way of Life?" (Philippine STAR, Sept. 28, 2003).

The first reaction is from a concerned citizen and parent named Aya. She opens her letter with a question: "Are you benefiting or suffering from corruption?"

Aya continues by writing: "You need to identify who are the ones benefiting from the corruption and who are currently paying for it. When you and everyone else talk about how it could solve a deficit situation, for example, you need to drill down on who is suffering from a deficit situation.

"And when you have finally identified who is suffering from the current deficit situation, then go and ask these people that you have identified, whether they really care and would like to do something about it. If they don’t care or couldn’t care, then corruption will somehow continue to "BE" and you may now continue to write about it again and again.

"For after all, the people that are hurting from it continue to do nothing about it ... and you guessed it, much less anyone else ... because ‘anyone else‚ are all benefiting from it. Finally, which one are you??? Are you currently suffering from corruption or are you one of those benefiting from it?"

Dear Aya, as I stated in my column, we are all in this together. On some instances we all "benefit" from corruption happening around us. For instance, we feel happy when we come across good buys when we go shopping. For all we know, these items were smuggled in and are sold at low prices. Do we stop and ask whether proper taxes were paid or turn away from a good bargain? I wonder how many of us will act this way.

Managing corruption.The next reaction is from a reader who prefers not to be identified. To the column’s questioning title "Is it corruption or a way of life?", our reader responds: "The short answer to your question is YES to both. It is corruption and it is a way of life. "Here’s a parallel quote from M. Scott Peck, M.D. ‘The Road Less Traveled’: ‘Once we truly know that corruption is a way of life (in the Philippines), once we truly understand and accept it, then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that corruption is a way of life (in the Philippines) no longer matters.’ "Now let me jump to your last paragraph, last sentence ‘Are we ready to change?’ If any change is to happen, it must start with each one of us. But are we prepared to do so, or will we just wave off the corruption report as ‘an old hat story’?" Our reader continues: "Is corruption here to stay? You bet it’s here to stay. ‘In every forest, you will find a snake.’ Some forests have big snakes while others have small snakes. "Back to ‘Are we ready to change? With the unabated corruption of basic moral values, not just in government but also the Filipino’s personal life, it will take more than a decade of lifestyle, morality, nightlife or whatever checks to reverse the growing tide of dishonesty in Philippine society. "You said it, I did not. Let’s accept what you said as fact at least for now. Procurement Watch estimates that the Philippines loses about P21 billion a year from corruption, just in the government procurement system. "Hey how about managing corruption. Can you, or anyone solve the traffic problem in Metro Manila? Hell, no. But maybe we can manage it. How about getting that P21 billion figure down to P19 billion the next year, down to P17 billion the next, and so on. "Here’s how I envision how a Cabinet meeting should be conducted. Cabinet secretaries, DPWH, Defense, Justice, etc. present: the message from the president will be ‘Hoy mga secretaries, let’s limit the amount kurakot this year to X percent of the total budget allocated to your various departments. "‘If you kurakot more than that, COA ka. Can you say COA? Let me hear you say COA. Do you understand what the word COA means? Those of you that do not understand what COA means, stay behind. General de la Cruz will explain it to you at the PNP headquarters. Any questions? Cabinet dismissed. "Am I condoning corruption? Let him who has a better (real and practical solution) cast his suggestion. "I am a regular reader of your article(s) and I watch you on the tube. Keep up the good work." Our anonymous reader is a realist. He has accepted that corruption is here to stay. And if it can’t be eliminated, he is suggesting that corruption be managed, starting at Cabinet level by giving each one an allowable corruption target. It would be interesting to see how the civil society groups will react to this suggestion. And finally, a reaction from Paul dela Cruz from Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

"Greetings from Saudi Arabia! Thank you for your column today in the Philippine STAR. We hope that there will be somebody or a group to lead our country, especially in the forthcoming elections in May 2004.

"OFWs here in Saudi Arabia – and I’m sure in the rest of the universe too – are wishing and waiting for that leader to uplift the Philippines in the eyes of the world. Mabuhay ang Pilipino!"

Dear Paul, let’s not lose hope. There are about 80 million Filipinos and sooner or later someone will surface to lead us out of this web of corruption enveloping us. But to wish for someone to emerge after next year’s election may just be asking too much.

Isulong Ang Pinoy Chess Update

Kudos to Pilipinas Shell for the highly successful 2003 National Active Chess competition, the 11th edition of the only grassroots chess development program in the country. The newly discovered future chess grandmasters are Wesley So (in the Kiddies category) and Deniel Causo (in the Juniors category).

The Philippine Chess Society headed by Rod Suaco also deserves a big hand for extending its technical support and assistance to ensure the efficient management of the grand finals held at the SSS Main in Quezon City.

Here’s hoping Shell continues to support this laudable youth development program.

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