Did you know that the building permit payment in Quezon City increased by 200% earlier this year? That's approximately about P7,000 for a 120 sq. meters. You probably wouldn't care right now, but imagine yourself a few years from now getting psyched to have your very own house built. You're living a simple life with your 2 kids and you want them to have the best education so you enrol them in prestigious schools. Also, you decide (while you were still living in an apartment) that life would be much comfortable if you bought your family a television set, a DVD player, a personal computer, a laptop, an aircondition, 2 inexpensive cellphones (for you and your spouse), a rice cooker, a microwave, a washing machine, a sala set, a telephone line, and a cable (so you can watch interesting shows other than the local ones). Then boom!
Bureau of Lands employee (in BL cubicle): "P7,000 kapag 120 sq. meters" Impatiently waits for you to hand over the money. You: "Bakit napakamahal naman?" BL employee (getting irritated): "Ganun talaga. Rule yun eh!" You (checking out wallet): "Pwede bang balikan ko nalang? Kaunti lang dala kong cash eh." You walk away -- dismayed. You have too many bills to pay. All you ever wanted was a decent home for your family. BL employee rolls eyes and says for you to hear "Wala naman pa lang pera may papunta punta pa dito. Hmph. Next in line please!"
Oh! I forgot to tell you, in other cities and provinces building permits come free.
(Fiction)
9:39 AM
The Rocker
20 years of dramatic existence. Loves the Philippines. Despises the Philippine Government.
