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These
days, pigs have reason to be very angry with humans,
especially the Filipino variety. Pigs are bred and
mercilessly killed for food. No feast is complete
without a lechon as centerpiece. At the same time, some
of the worst human characteristics are ascribed to pigs.
A greedy, gluttonous and filthy person
is called a pig. Male chauvinists are called pigs.
Someone who is stubborn, stupid and obstinate is called
pig-headed. A dirty home is described as a pigsty.
Avaricious, contemptible people are called swine.
In Philippine politics, the pig has been
immortalized in the pork barrel, which is perceived by
citizens as epitomizing political greed and corruption.
And now, we have what University of the Philippines
professor Harry Roque describes as “The Grand Swine
Scam.”
In 2005 the Commission on Audit (COA)
reported that Quedancorp spent P1.66 billion for the
purchase of swine which was to be distributed to poor
families for breeding. However, only P176 million was
actually received by farmer/beneficiaries.
“An overwhelming number of farmers were
made to sign receipts for swine which they never
received for sums ranging from P200-P300 per signature,”
according to the report. Ghost delivery was evident.
I have heard of all sorts of ghost
deliveries—office supplies and equipment, furniture,
books, drugs and medicines—but swine!
Roque indignantly pointed out that the
procurement of P1.66 billion worth of swine was done
without bidding and supplied by four companies with
interlocking directorates. These firms were not even
accredited as swine-breeder farms by the Department of
Agriculture! Now, who are avaricious and greedy: the
humans or the ghost swine?
Three years ago the COA already
recommended the filing of charges against responsible
officials.
Roque shudders to think that the
President has announced that P40 billion will be made
available for rice support to the very same office and
officials who squandered nearly P2 billion for swine.
It is time to stop insulting pigs and
other animals by attributing human gluttony and avarice
to them.
I once saw a cushion in the shape of the
pig with the words: “Don’t call me a male chauvinist! I
am not a human!”
It is time for pigs to organize
themselves and carry placards saying “Don’t call us
greedy and corrupt! We are not human!”
]The
truth according to the World Bank
Many reports and statements were
circulated during the recently concluded Philippine
Development Forum. The government circulated reports
boasting about a 7.3-percent gross domestic product
growth in 2007 and glowing with optimistic predictions
about economic and social development.
The FSGO (former senior government
officials) statement focused on “systemic political
corruption” and challenged both government and the donor
community.
On the other hand, Social Watch
Philippines shared its actual experience in campaigning
and lobbying for additional funds for Millennium
Development Goals-related expenditures. Corruption in
the highest places was cited in interviews.
Among the donors, the World Bank
directly touched on topics closest to the concerns of
the donor community in its draft report, Accelerating
Inclusive Growth and Deepening Fiscal Stability.
The report was prepared by a nine-man
team of senior economists. It was reviewed by two peer
reviewers, with additional inputs from six other
economists.
While the report was restricted in
distribution, it was picked up by the media. One of the
most interesting chapters is on governance. The report
called for the strengthening of governance and the
quality of Philippine public institutions. It observed
that “in spite of a strong civil-society presence, an
open media and highly capable individuals working in
public administration, most governance indicators have
fallen substantially over the last decade and are also
lower than the average for middle-income East
Economies.”
Furthermore, the report cited
Transparency International’s Corruption, Perception,
Index which suggests that “corruption in the Philippines
has worsened significantly more than other countries.”
The World Bank observes that “corruption
is, perhaps, the most visibly recognizable
characteristic of weak governance.”
The w popular table in the
report summarizes the biggest corruption cases over a
period of 20 years under different presidents.
Ironically, the personalities involved in corruption
cases two decades ago are also among the biggest and
most powerful at present.
Much of what the World Bank says about
corruption in the Philippines has already been said by
Filipinos. They have written about it, exposed it in
hearings and shouted it in rallies. The government has
dismissed the accusations of Filipinos. This time, the
World Bank is saying it.
Will the government finally listen? |
