Pinoys told to stop acting, thinking poor to solve poverty

MANILA, Philippines - To solve the country’s problem of poverty, Filipinos should stop acting and thinking poor, former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman and vice presidential candidate Bayani Fernando said.

Fernando said to become a progressive nation, Filipinos should end the “ugaling mahirap” or poverty consciousness and start working hard with an innate passion and determination to succeed.

“Tayo, nagmamagaling tayong masyado, shortcut, mga ganyan. Yan ang problema nating mga Pilipino (We are always in hurry. We take shortcuts. That’s the problem we Filipinos have),” Fernando stressed in a talk over dzRH radio while discussing the M/V Catalyn B tragedy.

“Ang kulang sa atin, isiksik sa isipan ng bawat isa, sundin ang batas, huwag magmarunong (We need to stick in our minds that we have to follow the law),” he stressed, saying that sea mishaps would not happen if only rules and laws were strictly followed.

Fernando said inland sea vessels like M/V Catalyn B should not be used for outer sea travel because such ships are not built for such purposes.

He said “ugaling mahirap” includes taking shortcuts or the “pwede na yan” attitude – being content with slipshod work – which is practiced even by the country’s very leaders, who are supposed to set high standards of work to be followed by the people.

He said productivity is the key to progress and that it means making each and every individual work well. Fernando, in a talk with STAR reporters last month, explained that productivity is the key to making the Philippines strong again.

For example, he said teachers should be able to make students learn or lose their jobs for failing to effectively educate them. Fernando said though it sounds harsh, high standards should be followed to make Filipinos productive again.   – Michael Punongbayan