A Reality Check on the Naga City experience (Last Part)

C. Pandering versus Empowerment
Welfare is the most convenient system of delivery of basic services in the Philippine government. Consider for instance GMA’s solution to the fuel and rice crises. The government chose to subsidize fuel and rice. But the way to a poor man’s heart is through his hungry stomach. Subsidies are better than nothing at all. However, money is lost in subsidies in many ways. But more importantly, we lose our chance for independence and self-reliance. The poor continue to be dependent. And subsidies can in fact be an act of pandering.