In a recent move by the government to help stem the tide of continuing price increase of oil and basic commodities especially rice, a five year action program was laid out to provide the ordinary people cash assistance for them to cope up with the current crisis constantly hounding the nation.
Government officials have announced that a 5 billion peso fund will be used to help the poor and deserving families living in Metro Manila and selected and identified areas where big concentrations of indigent families resides. Based on the program, the government will give 5 hundred peso monthly take home cash to every family.
But this early, the program has already met oppositions and disapproval from the different sectors. According to the critics, the government is committing mistakes by giving the fish to the fisherman instead of helping the fisherman to fish. The critics further said that the government absolutely failed to live up to its promises to eradicate poverty and misery. The promise was assured by Arroyo before 2004 Pres. Election.
The 5 billion peso cash dole out, as the critics conclude, is only a “Band Aid” solution which is not appropriate to have a long term solution. The program is also not corruption free. The money would attract vultures and crocs in government. At the end of the day, instead of going to the poor, the money, most probably will go to the dirty hands of a few.