17/04/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | "The Price of Greed: A Levee of Corruption and Ineptitude"
Written by: Aubrey C. Garcia
The systemic rot of unending cycles of lies and graft through decaying governance of collected and used taxes must come to an end. One of the vital parts of the government is the collection of taxes in order to implement a structured planning in different sectors and managementsโbut the great question to this statement: where did it all go? I firmly believe that the essentials and daily expenses of the people are one of the greatest burdens in our lives, especially the majority of these essentials such as canned goods and wet foods are heavily taxed.
Once, Vice Ganda said, the frustration expressed about how taxes are being collected and used a kind of โPriceโ that symbolizes โGreed.โ In this way, it is important for us to know the โCulture of Greedโ where our moral collapses under this kind of governance. Taxes that are used for โdevelopmentโ turned into public despairโhighways, in COA and Audit findings, worth of โฑ13.5-51.5M pesos of drawn projects were not smoothly implemented due to poor structured planning. The collected taxes are not being distributed efficiently and accurately leading to a wide range of frustration. People should be aware of how it was stolen because every single penny is dedicated for a single breath. Kindness, love and concern should be deeply rooted in the veins of every leader in our government for the betterment of our future.
Another statement focuses on how people strive to work hard in order to pay taxes but still face hidden or additional taxes. According to a legal reminder, National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, an individual is required to pay taxes failure to pay is considered โtax evasion or delinquency,โ and the penalties include fines and possible imprisonment for willful refusal to pay taxes. Yet it shows the evidence of the collected taxes now being used in terms of โGreedโ as how itโs being handled well unequal distribution, overpriced projects such as the โflood control projectsโ that is โฑ342 million peso found substandard, overpriced, or non-existent. As corruption deepens, floods rise not just in our streets, but in our hearts.
When public funds are stolen and power is inherited, progress becomes impossible. All the wasted public funds leads to poor built projects. This shows how it leads to a wider term of โcorruptionโ or how it was already โwoven in webโ, trapped by the selfish games of sectors and agencies.
On the other hand, if we look deeply into the rules and law, paying taxes is everybody's obligation it is self driven. On the brighter side, paying taxes can make multiple positive projects if only utilized well, and not be mishandled by the corrupt leaders and can also be used in times of insurgency. In some important point, the decaying governance should end. Leaders should set good example in order to have a better implementation of laws they should stand tall and serve with utmost capacity.
As a student journalist, I wish I would have the power to change what the Filipinos are experiencing nowadays. The struggle or frustration of buying overpriced goods and essentials contributed to a negative impact on our economy and the whole society not only it may lead to the downfall of the country but also the experience of โloss of integrityโ and โmoral collapse.โ We must stand firm use our voices to create harmony to set our country free from ineptitude, corruption and poverty because if this will continue to grow, the weight of taxes will result to โpovertyโ and โcorruption.โ
Vice Ganda once said, "Pagkatapos nating magbayad ng buwis, karapatan din nating obligahin ang mga taong tatanggap at gagamit ng perang ibinabayad natin," which is correct. We must experience the quality not just the unheard quantity of collected/used taxes. We must do something be the influence of good governance and in order to handle these situations, we must implement opinion make-ups for the journalist with this topic and conduct seminars workshops for the writers or even in a certain community.
Now is the time to raise our voices, question injustices, and demand transparency from those in power. Let us not remain silent spectators, but active citizens who choose accountability over apathy. Change begins when we refuse to be ruled by corruption and start standing for what is right. Projects and plans of the government should be transparent to every Filipino here and abroad. Change begins in our hands, contribute and spread positivities.Ignite the fire of the love of nation. Be selfless. Never be just, a commentator but a contributor to
our government. Be vigilant and responsible enough as a Filipino citizen. For we are not born just like an ordinary Filipino, but a Filipino who are skilled and has a dignity, honor and pride that can completely compete the neighboring countries.
Overall, we must embrace progress.
๐ผ๏ธ Mark Kent Villasfer
: Voices in Motion, Visions in Action."
