Filipinos have been told that unchecked population growth will result in widespread poverty. Thus, those concerned, by way of a proposed legislative fiat, are being urged to practice birth control.

        But why should we worry? We can cope with misery and hunger. We can weather any kind of storms, be they natural or political. We can overcome any crisis, imagined or otherwise. Besides, whenever life becomes unbearable, the more pious of us can pray; the more militant can take to the streets; the more mendicant can beg. The Church, the rich, the powerful and the corrupt will undoubtedly share their wealth with the masses in case of famine.

        If, despite all these, population growth remains a problem, our so-called “leaders” can always work out ways to cushion the impact. They can have the Constitution amended to change the form of government, thereby ensuring their hold on power and means to “serve” their starving constituents “better”. Another way is for the government to continue or intensify the deployment of Filipino workers abroad without necessarily generating jobs right in the country. The more Filipinos working overseas, the more dollar remittances they remit back home and more blessings for the economy.

        Further, our graft-ridden government may do well to provide the poor with well lit, less congested breeding, err, dwellings. It should strictly enforce the laws, if only to keep anyone, let alone public officials, from having mistresses and illegitimate children. To further reduce population, the government could choose to become inept, if it hasn’t been so yet, in stopping illegal logging, insurgency, criminality and terrorism that could bring about human havoc through landslides, floods, bombs and bullets, with only undesirable elements of society (the so-called big fish, the drug lords, heads of crime syndicates, plunderers, ad nauseam) ending up as casualties, or so we pray.

        However, if such measures would still not work, how about launching a program (with the help of Mother America?) to transport surplus citizens composed of scoundrels and political crooks to other planets?

MANUEL A. COLLAO

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-- Editor