By Danilo P. Padua, PhD
If you are still watching television news, you would have seen something of an aberration a few days ago. It was an abnormality, however, of the feel good type. I saw it myself, so that is an admission that I am still watching TV news despite the over-dominance of crimes and other negativism.
Most of the laws or ordinances that I know, heard or read about are of the deterrent type, something that criminalizes a certain act. These are the ones that our law enforcement agencies are enforcing. Problem is, these laws or ordinances unintentionally provide platforms for corruption. One might say that they are laws meant to deter or correct but spawn instead another kind of violation or criminality.
It is therefore very comforting to know of a piece of legislation, a city ordinance to be more specific, that is akin to the ones mentioned above. It is not a deterrent, prohibitory or the like. It is not anti-wangwang or anti-drug. It is something that could help some people in distress.
Hats off to the Santiago City ( Isabela) Sanggunian for passing an ordinance giving a ray of help to single moms. This is a recognition of the sacrifices, untold struggles, and the unfriendly environment into which single moms are unwarrantedly pushed.
Some single moms maybe faulted for their dire situation, like being too immature to understand consequences of whatever they are doing, or because of what they themselves have willfully committed or omitted, or just plain rebellious feeling against parents. Most, however, were just victims of circumstances, sometimes beyond their control. Whatever the reason though, such burdened moms deserve to be attended to. The crucial help accorded them is also a help in raising their child/children, resulting in less problems in the community where they live in. Ultimately, the state will be spared of unwanted problems, allowing it to spend whatever available budget for more meaningful programs for the benefit of the people.
There is always the possibility that unwisely thinking males will use such laws to shirk away from their responsibilities. It is even possible that such laws will create an atmosphere of devil-may-care attitude among both sexes compounding the problems of single motherhood. Some may aver that such laws are a recipe of ruptured discipline, inviting people to be complacent on some important responsibilities, or downright lose a sense of decency. The intent of the ordinance and benefits accruing from it, I believe, will far outweigh those possibilities even if they become realities.
Santiago City had trailblazed in helping the distressed single moms. It’s up to other LGUs, especially in CAR, to pass similar laws. Where the city will get the money to make their ordinance rolling is something that must be studied by others so they could have their own version of the ordinance. It is such kind of pro-people ordinances that will concretize the truism that “those who have less in life should have more in law”.
Local legislation should really focus more on such simple but meaningful ordinances where people could easily be benefitted. Laws like, an ordinance providing for alternative livelihood programs for persons with disabilities, or ordinance providing for better business opportunities for OFWs, or ordinance providing incentives for agri-eco-tourism investments, or ordinance providing for measures in making senior citizens more productive, should result in more smiles on most harassed faces. If such ordinances will be crafted, implemented and evaluated, ordinances like anti-littering, anti-shoplifting, or anti-dumping of garbage will be consigned to the dustbin of insignificance. There will then be less laws that will be used for corruption purposes.
Imagine an ordinance on no parking in selected streets. Enforcers will just implement the ordinance for a few minutes (although it calls for 3 hours or more implementation), and after detaching a minimum number of vehicle plates, the enforcers are already safely ensconced in their comfortable office corners. Never mind if after their initial round, more vehicles are parked where it is not allowed. The benefits of such ordinances can’t easily be appreciated by the people. **
