In an ideal society, the role of government is to alleviate the burdens of its citizens by providing essential resources and establishing physical and social infrastructures that enable individuals to pursue a high quality of life. This is the primary purpose of taxation – to pool resources and offer services and resources that would otherwise be unavailable to us. We pay taxes to ensure the existence of safe roads and accessible transportation, to guarantee a stable supply of basic goods, to ensure that everyone has access to quality education and healthcare, and to create and sustain livable communities. However, it seems that despite our tax contributions, the burdens on Filipino citizens continue to increase, and the average quality of life has significantly deteriorated.
We are faced with the issue of rising costs of goods, particularly staples like rice. Instead of addressing the looming rice shortage, representatives like Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin suggest shifting to alternative foods like “kamote” as a cheaper substitute. This trivializes the cultural significance of rice in the Filipino diet and shifts the responsibility of addressing the crisis onto individuals. Furthermore, government officials from the Department of Agriculture deny the President’s promise of reducing rice prices to P20 per kilo, leaving citizens in a state of uncertainty and frustration.
Traffic congestion in the metro has also worsened, even compared to pre-pandemic levels, forcing Filipinos to spend unproductive hours on the road in unfavorable weather conditions. Despite claims of a booming economy by Presidential Adviser Joey Concepcion, the reality is that traffic causes the economy to lose billions daily. Unfortunately, instead of seeking solutions to long-standing traffic issues, Concepcion dismisses concerns and suggests eliminating work-from-home arrangements to stimulate consumer spending. This approach places the burden on regular Filipino workers to spend more of their meager income on expenses they wouldn’t otherwise choose, instead of focusing on increasing disposable income and supporting economic growth.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has also made several missteps in addressing the rising costs of basic goods. They have offered depressing meal plans for special occasions like “noche buena” and have even claimed that the current daily minimum wage of P610 is sufficient for a family of five. These actions shift the burden back onto Filipino families, rather than assuring them that efforts are being made to reduce costs.
Furthermore, the Bureau of Immigration’s newly released travel guidelines place additional burdens on Filipino travelers. Aside from having weak passports when compared to other countries, Filipino travelers are now required to prove their innocence and justify their travel plans, even after going through the process of obtaining passports and visas and paying for their flights. Instead of taking responsibility for investigating human trafficking operations, the burden is placed on individual Filipinos.
Another example of government negligence is seen in the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. The department has shown a lack of understanding for the poorest of the poor, claiming that those who cannot afford low-cost housing units are simply lazy. This disregards the fact that many job opportunities are inaccessible to individuals with minimal education qualifications. The current job market even demands college experience for minimum wage positions, making it difficult for those with limited resources to find stable and decent-paying work. The proposed government subsidy for monthly housing payments still leaves beneficiaries with additional costs and maintenance expenses, burdening the poorest of the poor with million-peso homes they cannot afford.
It is crucial for the government to fulfill its responsibilities and alleviate the unnecessary burdens faced by Filipino citizens. Filipinos already work hard to support their families and overcome numerous obstacles in their livelihoods. It is time for the government to play its part and not add to the struggles of the burdened.
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