“…there is a persistent talk that the Arroyo government is just waiting when the people’s emotions snap. When lawlessness starts taking toll on the streets, Arroyo would be ready to exercise her “emergency powers.” At the back of this is the agenda of staying in power beyond 2010.”
Cris Diaz
Every midnight, Fridays or Saturdays, motorists brace for another round of oil price hikes. Since the month of May, prices of oil increase every wekk and people have become restless. What gives us more pain is the fact that prices of basic commodities, including our staple food (rice and corn) are also shooting up.
I could not imagine how a family of five could survive with only the head of the family earning a minimum wage. Effective last June 1, the new daily minimum wage for non agricultural workesrs is pegged at 256 pesos for category one workers or a gross monthly take home pay of P7,680.00 (including Saturdays and Sundays). If we exclude Saturdays and Sundays, a worker could only have a gross take home pay of P5,632. Considering that a worker has no loan, still deductions from SSS or GSIS monthly insurance premium, Pag Ibig fund and Philhealth have yet to be deducted from his gross monthly take home (pay). Thus, we could say that an ordinary worker may get a P5,000 net monthly take home pay.
Of course, its unthinkable to survive with only a P5,000 monthly income considering that a sack of rice (commercial well milled grade) now cost more than P2,000 per bag. this, on top of three children going to public schools with a daily fare allowance of P20 each! What it the family rents a house at P1,500 or P2,000 monthly?
I could feel how hard up a common citizen of this country today is? With a population of almost 80 million and a national labor force of a little over 33 million, it wouldnt come a surprise if, every day, one or two Filipinos die of hunger. It would not also be a surprise if the index crimes against persons and property rises by the day. Sometimes I overheard passengers talking about arming themselves for fear of burglars and robbers. Apparently, the rising apprehension of people against an unstable economy is heating up. It would not take for long before street anarchy would burst into an uncontrollable passion as people with empty stomachs would fight for survival.
On the contrary, there is a persistent talk that the Arroyo government is just waiting when the people’s emotions snap. When lawlessness starts taking toll on the streets, Arroyo would be ready to exercise her “emergency powers.” At the back of this is the agenda of staying in power beyond 2010.
In fact, Malacanang earlier asked Congress to grant President Arroyo emergency powers under pretext of arresting the rising oil prices. Failing to get the approval of the Lower house, Malacanang is resorting to ostensible ploys in addressing worsening economic conditions.
