(EID-008) “EXERCISE TO GET IN SHAPE”

The issue is definitely debatable, but it could certainly be argued that most Filipinos are not used to obeying laws, simply because they have not been honed into exercising their civic duties. Perhaps it could also be argued that the behavior of people when it comes to obeying the laws is similar to reading the newspapers, meaning that it like developing a habit over a long period of time. Guided by this reasoning, the United National Integrated Development Alliance (UNIDA) will soon embark on a program that would hone its members in exercising their civic duties, so that they could build their habit of becoming good citizens in due time.

Although the program is primarily intended to produce a working model that would validate the “Civic Duty Exercise” (CDE) approach, it is actually envisioned to shoot three birds with one stone, because it would also solve specific social problems, aside from it being able to raise funds for the projects of the allied UNIDA organizations in the shelter, health, agriculture, peace and education (SHAPE) sectors.

For many years now, we have been trying to encourage our citizens to pay taxes, to vote regularly and to recycle always. As we clearly see it in the low tax collections, the low voter turnout and in the low volumes of segregated garbage, our encouragement is falling into deaf ears, indicating that our citizens are not doing their part as far as these three civic duties are concerned.

As a requirement for keeping their membership in good standing, members of allied UNIDA organizations will be asked to turn in their official receipts and to submit copies of their tax returns. This will validate the fact that they are paying their taxes properly. They will also be asked to “vote” regularly in opinion surveys and referendums. This will get them into the habit of voting, a habit that would ordinarily be difficult to build if they could only do it a few times over many years. Lastly, they will also be asked to segregate their garbage always, and to turn these over to designated collection centers.

As an incentive for members to comply with these requirements, they could win prizes in regular raffle draws in exchange for their official receipts and tax returns, they could receive discount coupons and promo items in exchange for their survey “votes”, and they could get points for their segregated garbage, redeemable in the form of grocery and food items.