‘Monitoring’

This word, “monitoring” describes in one pack the knee-jerk, favorite responses of two government agencies, the Department of Trade and industry and the Department of Energy. Every time a problem arises and they are asked what they are doing about it, the spokesmen of these departments, if not their undersecretaries, always tell us “we are monitoring”.

The term refers to a mechanism or way to warn and thus allow the person or agency to take action or respond accordingly. Monitoring is not action, only a means to determine what action to take or avoid.

The recent rises in the prices of food resulting from the constant spikes in fuel pump price were treated cavalierly by the DTI as if nothing is happening in the market. It talked about our high international ratings, low inflation and interest rates and steady supply but the people who go to the market every day are already howling that the prices of fish and vegetables have risen as high as 25 percent and biting deep into their wages that have yet to be approved by the Department of Labor that is also engaged in monitoring the economy.

Pressed, DTI simply said it is “monitoring” the situation without even accepting that prices of fuel have already impacted on the food situation and pensions of senior citizens.

Even before this column comes out, it is possible that another team from the DTI, not the secretary (who’s that?) or undersecretary will be visiting the public market, with a dozen media people, several television cameras and a host of photographers doing a “monitoring ”visit to check on prices. The cameras would span right into the prices and “show” that indeed the situation is normal.

I remember a time when a president of this Republic, to show that prices of commodities when regular, contrary to newspaper reports, came to Burgos Market. Before the presidential arrival, a team from somewhere was putting up price tags and asking the vendors to smile for the camera.

Filipinos, as they are, with a penchant to smile at the camera even in the midst of calamities (foreigners do wonder what our psychological makeup is) indeed were all smiles. The nation looked and was deceived to believe that the prices of food were indeed affordable except in their backyard. After the presidential entourage left the team of deceivers told them to put back the real price tags.

Although it monitors, the DTI instead of taking the information as a warning to take action, ends with just monitoring until the next situation and question and the standard reply of “monitoring”. That is our tragedy.

On the other hand we know that the DOE cannot manipulate the prices in the fuel pumps in similar manner that we know the DTI cannot dictate prices, but the DOE unfortunately has the same response to the problem – monitoring the oil situation in the world market.

The spokesman of the oil companies, I mean the DOE secretary, said that we can expect more prices increases next week since their monitoring showed an upward movement of prices.

Another oil company spokesman, I mean a Malacanang spokesman, says that the price of oil per barrel is presently at $120 and we can expect this to rise to $150. This is mind conditioning unworthy of a Malacanang spokesman but easily worthy to speak for the oil companies.

Anyway we should be happy that the DOE is constantly monitoring the situation and we are forewarned days ahead of price fuel increases. What is our tragedy is that there is no solution or a relief of a centavo lower than what the government and the oil companies charge.

The oil companies are insuring that government spokesmen do not turn out liars so they raise prices to make the government prediction true.

Is there relief here at all? As we say, when there is a will there is a way, but with the DOE enjoying the recent fad of “noynoying” we can expect nothing.

The “unkindest cut of all” is that every time the fuel price increases, government collects more. Some government functionary justifies the “noynoying” as a necessary posture so that the government will have more money for roads and bridges, classrooms and other infrastructures that in the end will benefit the people.

We have a wise saying for that: “anhon pa ang kumpay kon patay na ang kabayo?” What will one do with the grass when the horse is dead?

But there is more here than concern for the future. These projects are milking cows and carrots for politicians. Reducing the budget due to lower pump prices will mean less money to steal and pork for politicians to make them toe the government line.

So this “noynoying”, which our old folks called Juan Tamad syndrome, works excellently for the government.*

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