Would our politicians do this? Philippine leaders donate salaries to flood victims

[babylonsister]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1008022/1/.html

Philippine leaders donate salaries to flood victims
Posted: 29 September 2009 1210 hrs


MANILA: President Gloria Arroyo on Tuesday donated her salary for two months to the victims of devastating Philippine floods and ordered all the members of her cabinet to do the same.

At a cabinet meeting aired live on government television, Arroyo said the cabinet should "donate our two months' salary for the relief and rehabilitation operations".

The cabinet members voiced no dissent at her suggestion and Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said all would comply.

However, the president and vice president are paid a mere 50,000 pesos (about, 1,042 dollars) a month, while cabinet members get 30,000. Many of them are extremely wealthy, with outside business ventures.

Arroyo also ordered the budget department to release the 13th month bonus pay of government workers immediately, instead of at Christmas as required by law, to help survivors rebuild their lives.

Tropical storm Ketsana unleashed six-metre (20-foot) floods in Manila and nearby areas on Saturday, killing at least 240 and displacing nearly two million others, according to the latest official tally.

Arroyo earlier threw open Malacanang presidential palace for those left homeless and as a distribution centre for relief goods.

[tekisui]

1. .

:rofl:

Not very likely. Many would, however, draft legislation for large campaign contributors to get the no-bid contracts to rebuild.

[babylonsister]

3. Sigh. I didn't think so either. It's nice to see some politicians

with compassion. Why is that so difficult?

[virgogal]

2. A woman in charge. That says something,doesn't it?

[thunder rising]

4. Are you kidding? Like Katrina, the disaster would be the fault of the newly homeless.

Besides, with China bankrolling us there is no need for any rich and/or privileged people to actually feel any discomfort.

[Barack_America]

5. Probably not. But they *might* be willing to share their cake.

[orpupilofnature57]

6. They solicit from us on their behalf ,Imagine Shrub giving aid to flood victims?

Let alone one penny of that Nazi money Grandpa leeched.

[valerief]

7. Ah, hahahahahahaha! Our leaders? Give US money? Ah, hahahahahaha!

They'd blow up the levees to let us drown!

[Louisiana1976]

8. They let plenty of New Orleanians drown without blowing up the levees....

[valerief]

10. It's a matter of opinion as to whether the levees were blown up or not, since we

don't have those facts. We do know our "leaders" let them drown and get eaten by alligators.

[Vidar]

9. Ours wouldn't donate the coins in their pockets.

[Canuckistanian]

11. If the politician is a Republican, no

They'd vote AGAINST aid for flood victims and say it was the "vote they were proudest of"