On The Third Hand

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s [Philippines] Valentine’s gift to the country’s 1.4 million government employees has been raised to 3,000 pesos [about $60 dollars - ed] from 1,000 pesos. The President announced the grant of the productivity enhancement pay (PEP) through Administrative Order 115, which she signed Thursday.

“All government employees, including those from gvernment owned, or controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and local government units who have worked with the government for not less than four months are entitled to receive the PEP,” the AO said.

This is being called a “Love Gift” and is designed to be utilized by Filipinos for Valentine’s gifts for their spouses. All well and good, although I fail to see a valid reason for any government to be in the business of providing chocolates and roses to the public.

But there is a larger reason why I stridently believe President Arroyo is a few chocolate turtles short of a full Whitman sampler. Look where the money is being drained from:

Acting Budget Secretary Mario Relampagos said the amount that each employee would be receiving was based on the total savings of all government agencies from the austerity program implemented since last year.

So much for an “austerity program” designed to cut the federal budget deficit which hovers around 750 billion pesos this year.

The women is capital N, capital U, capital T, capital S - NUTS!!

Cross posted within the Cranial Cavity