I believe this period of natural disaster within the Metro Manila area and the surrounding provinces like that of Rizal and Marikina City is a perfect time for the voting citizenry to observe how officials set to run for public office would respond.

Pastor Tito (Falguera), our kids pastor here at U-Belt, and I had been talking about what possible solution can be made in light of the tremendous flooding and damages brought by typhoon Ondoy last Saturday.

Being a resident of Manila for my entire life (and two years in Mandaluyong City as a married person), I’ve seen how congested Manila has become over the years.

Shanties, shanties and more shanties are present in Tondo, parts of Sta. Cruz, Binondo, Sampaloc and Quiapo—slender structures that had been built through the years considering that more folks from the provinces have relocated to Manila in the hope of seeking better future.

Sadly, unemployment or the lack of a better, sustaining job to support families await, more people from the provinces who have decided to relocate.

During my way back to Mercedes Street in Pasig (Monday night) after coming from Greenwoods Executive Village to distribute relief goods to one of the Victory members affected by the flood, I had an interesting conversation with two sidecar drivers, who were pushing their makeshift “flood-mobile” I was riding.

Both drivers, who were perhaps in their late 20s, told me they trace their roots from Naga City.

At a very young age, both claimed they were “forced” to seek for greener pastures in Metro Manila, where they eventually got married and had kids.

However, as it turned out, the “greener pastures” they sought was nothing but hardship.

“Bawat galaw po kasi sa Maynila, kailangan mo ng pera. (Every move you make in Manila, you need money),” said one of the sidecar drivers.

I was surprised though when both said that their families own plots of lands in Naga City.

When asked why they chose to leave the comforts of their properties and the company of family, all they said was that life in the agricultural lands is “hard”.

As I was analyzing their situation, I wonder why they would leave their family and the land they own in the province, when most residents in Metro Manila, if given the opportunity, would want to own a piece of property.

I believe their desire to leave the province boils down to the lack of opportunity to develop whatever they have.

My wife, a Sociology graduate from UST explained to me that provincial officials could actually help “declog” Metro Manila’s mushrooming population by educating farmers and landowners alike (like the family of the two sidecar drivers) on how they could maximize their pieces of properties.

Decongesting Metro Manila is one of the keys to getting rid of garbage problems, lack of clean, potable water in tight areas in Manila, as well as cleaner air.

With the Election 2010 fast approaching, voters should make a careful background check of the electoral candidates seeking public office before making the decision who to vote.

The sight of Metro Manila and some provinces may seem discouraging, but with God’s help, and with the lessons we can learn from the recent calamities that have struck our country, there remains a light at the end of the tunnel.

 Photo Source: http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s211/pikturbantay/Manila_Shanties.jpg