We cannot move forward unless we understand the shadows of the past that had quietly straight jacketed our national interests. The priority of foreign debt repayment in our country’s economic agenda is one of the negative legacies of past administrations.

Try to recall the post-Marcos administrations, all of them professed in valuing education sector to foster nation’s development, but non-compliance of this profession have told us otherwise. Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo’s administration prioritized debt servicing in the guise of achieving a balanced budget; they have listened to the advice of their creditors more than hearing the groan of poverty in our country. Reality tells us that our country still suffers with classrooms shortages, lack of school materials and even unregulated school fees. These things should not be condoned because giving value to education is giving value to the basic human right and universal human value. Let me share you this, the pegging of 6% of our Gross National Product (GNP) as the budgetary allocation to education sector (following the Delor’s Perspective as international point of reference) must be accepted in our countries as most other developing countries are following this standard. However, we see the culture of indifference among our government officials. Do they think consistent debt payment will revive Philippine economic growth? How could this main cause of our sufferings elevate us from whopping losses? If you notice, as majority already has, the main source of our lack of economic dynamics is a wrong policy paradigm that we have allowed ourselves to be enslaved into. The United Nation proposed combative measures to fight poverty as stipulated in the Millennium Development Goal targeting 2015. One of these measures stresses the importance of education. Thus, education is mostly a matter of national policy to be noted. But not in the Philippines! Unless the new administration’s strategy contains bold moves to manage the foreign debt, including more expansive macroeconomic management along with a tougher taxation policy, not only will we fail to meet our Millennium development Goal targets in 2015, but our country might starve and worst, faith in government is nowhere to be found.

Until WHEN are we going to pay this huge debt of NO AVAIL? We are consistently paying and spending much on this, yet we see no effect in our economic growth. This is another call hindering PNoy’s administration to take a wrong turn. For unless the government will renew their pledge of commitment, Filipinos will forever be deprived of their basic rights!