THE World Bank just declared the Philippines as a lower middle income economy. I blame our economic standing on the culture of corruption. Is this the legacy we want to leave our children who will be the future leaders of this country? “Impairment of integrity, virtue or moral principle”—that is the definition of the word “corruption” by Merriam-Webster. I believe it is the root of all evil that induces anyone who wants a quick fix; A social cancer that has destroyed men and environment.

“We discovered a systematic fraud.” This is what Dante Jimenez of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission revealed in an interview with DZBB-AM. He then proceeded to explain that corruption is from the top brass down to the barangay level.

Top four entities being the subject of complaints are the following: Local Government Units (LGUs); Agency tasked to deliver health services; Agency in-charge of housing; Agency that deals with highways and infrastructure in connivance with LGUs.

As a matter of fact, Jimenez disclosed that four cabinet secretaries are under investigation. He likewise revealed that there are 43 complaints filed with the Ombudsman. Among these, involves the rehabilitation and housing project in Guiuan, Eastern Samar where only 36 housing units were built out of the 2,500 units stipulated in the contract entered into by the LGU and the contractor in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda (2013).

Decaying values is inclusive of bribery, misrepresentation, under declaration of the right amount of confiscated items and overpricing. Is there a government agency that has not succumbed to corruption?

Our seemingly corrupted society must have prompted Rep. Benny Abante to propose “Mandatory Bible Reading” bill. It is his belief that a bible study, incorporated in the Good Manners and Right Conduct subject in school, will be a good step to inculcate moral values among our students. Our children could learn a lot from Proverbs and the Book of Wisdom. The Department of Education, in reaction to the proposal, said that Values Education is now included in the curriculum. We still hope to have upright leaders in the future.

Changing times have shifted more responsibility to our educational system. Mothers, deemed to be the first teachers, are now working moms. Have we compromised moral upbringing with the current predicament that both parents need to work for survival?

We consider our country as the only Christian nation in Asia. How many Filipinos pray together as a family these days?