Roxas: “Palace Can’t Buy Love”

More Than “Tokens,” Consumers Need Real Relief

Senator Mar Roxas said the government’s moves to freeze tuition fee hikes in state schools, make texting free, subsidize oil, among other attempts to woo the consuming public are for naught if these do not come with solid plans for meaningful change.

“These ‘little things’ are good, as they offer relief to our consumers. But as the Beatles’ song goes, they can’t buy me love,” he said.

“Such attempts to buy ‘pogi points’ will only meet more skepticism if the government does not lay down a grand plan on how to effectively ensure the welfare of the people in times of crisis, not just provide short-term relief,” he said.

“The trust between the government and the public is in shambles. These little trinkets will not mean anything if the government does not act for the long term,” he stressed.

Roxas said, for instance, that moves to freeze tuition fee hikes in state colleges and universities is timely given the high prices of food and oil. But he said what’s lacking in the government’s statement is how to implement plans to ensure quality education.

“Oo, ginhawa nga iyan sa mga estudyante at mga magulang nila, ngunit kailangang sagutin ng gobyerno: paano naman ang mga libro at educational materials, ang training para sa mga guro, ang mga kinakailangang kagamitan tulad ng kompyuter, laboratory equipment, at iba pa? Sana kumpletuhin na ng gobyerno ang plano nila para hindi ito magmukhang ‘panunuyo’ lang kundi kongkretong plano para sa kapakanan ng mga bata,” he added.

Roxas also said the proposal to make short message service (SMS) or “texting” free of charge will also be beneficial to consumers who now consider the service as a necessity.

“But again, the timing leads to suspicion, unless the government can show a plan on how to ensure, in the long-term, that telecommunications services as a whole will improve through increased competition, that abuses and misleading promotions will be dealt with, that consumers availing of these services will be protected,” he stressed.

On the proposal to subsidize fuel,Roxas said “kung isu-subsidize rin lang, eh di wag na lang i-collect, maiwan na lang sa bulsa ng mga nagbabayad nito.” But aside from immediately removing VAT from oil, Roxas stressed that the government needs to show a plan on how to properly implement existing laws that mandate more competition and tight checks on price abuses. /MP