Hopeless symbol

Had not typhoon Unding unleashed its fury last week in Camarines Sur, the province could have launched with 10,0000 beneficiaries the food coupon program of the national government. This number constitutes, what Malacañang claims, the poorest of the poor.

To Mother Theresa, these are the outcasts of any society. She served them throughout her life. As a matter of fact, the Missionaries of the Poor she established, cares for these derelicts worldwide with the support from GOs and NGOs and rich individuals. A light she has become, a radiant symbol of living Christianity.

But to a government, these poorest of the poor are the helpless citizens surviving on welfare. The working population of the community shoulders their needs in recognition of the paternalistic stability inherent in a state. It is necessary for its continued existence.

So, the economic value of the employed determines the kind and quality of assistance that can be extended to the unfortunate. A different formula can disturb the state system. Such nonetheless works with the presumption that the wealth of the locale is equitably distributed.

It is to be noted therefore that by the natures of the two institutions, church and state, an approach on labor while aimed on the greatest good, which is highly denominational on the first and sweeping on the other on majority, illuminates two procedures: the freedom of will in religion and the compulsive legality in government. This assures the state the basic protection of all its constituency, to respect the variability of their beliefs.

With the fundamental democratic tenet, the PGMA administration must consider the poverty of the total poor that now exceeds all other sectors of Philippine society. Her previously promised commitment in the SONA on economy, education, utilities, etc. could not simply take the backstage. She must stamp out corruption in her midst. She does not have the privilege of shifting gears to account for a favored minority. She is not the president of a parliamentary form of government to act as a symbolic head.

If employment, the cornerstone of agenda in her 6-year term, is hard to come by because it is keyed on international investmens that thin away like smoke in the latest survey of the World Bank pegging domestic attractiveness to the 53rd slot in the group of 60 countries, Ms. Arroyo and her economists should be very serious on that matter. The priority of the plan should carry its equal implementing momentum.

Now, the enlightened local populace see the irrationality of the food coupon program via health, education, and livelihood-generated outputs to offset lower class maladies. They could not be faulted to compare the program to the 1970s Sariling Sikap that in spite of comprehensively strong structure was malignantly erroneous ab initio, that also, notwithstanding the drumbeaters of PGMA. This simply cannot be.

Its symbolism to government is misplaced. Its habitation beyond human character leaves it orphan. Homeless