CRISIS AFTER CRISIS CAN LEAD TO CIVIL UNREST - KIKO

Bank holidays. Multinational operations shutting down. Job cuts. Rationalization of government posts. LPG shortage. A proposal to extend tertiary education to five years. How much more can Filipinos take?

"Bugbog na bugbog na ang taong-bayan," Independent Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan commented in light of the recent spate of crises hitting the Filipino public.

"Aside from people losing their jobs and means of supporting their families, dumarami ang mga nagiging desperado dahil sa mga sunud-sunod na krisis (more and more people are becoming desperate because of crisis after crisis)," Kiko pointed out. "Government should respond right away to provide solutions that will work. A mere five hundred-peso subsidy or other stop-gap measures will not do any good."

"With all of these happening all at the same time, we need someone who will step up and deliver results. But what's being done? And who's in charge?," Kiko asked.

The reform advocate pointed out that, instead of helping Filipino families find job and food security in the midst of global uncertainty through a job summit, the government chose this time to rationalize posts in the bureaucracy and propose a one-year extension in the tertiary level.

"All these will provide more pain for the people at this critical time. Why these initiatives?Why now? Parang taga-ibang planeta sila. Ano ba 'tong mga naiisip nila? (It seems like the people in power live on another planet. What are they thinking?)," Kiko asked in obvious dismay.

Last week, Kiko called on Malacañang to call for a job summit among the executive and legislative branches, the business sector, and civil society. He said that instead of thinking about Charter Change and term extensions, lawmakers and executives urgently need to address Filipino families' sources of livelihood because the public might resort to desperate measures in these desperate times.

"Baka ito pa nga ang mag-trigger ng People Power to oust GMA kung 'di ito ma-address kaagad (This might even trigger another People Power if this is not immediately addressed)," Kiko surmised.

He added: "Government should extend support to small and medium enterprises, because they are bound to feel the brunt of the economic slowdown. Give access to training opportunities so that Filipinos can earn income through the use of technology, especially with the widening use of the internet worldwide. Government should also look into how it can support SMEs by promoting and marketing their products and services utilizing mobile and internet technology."

On the issue of more overseas Filipinos losing their jobs because of cuts and retrenchments worldwide, Kiko suggested: "Government should expand credit access so that Filipino overseas workers coming home will instead engage in putting up their small businesses rather than waiting for job opportunities outside the country."