Retirement

by

Ricardo F. Maulion

(8^th Installment My 500 Words Daily Challenge – Jan. 9, 2014)

            Freedom - this sums up all there is why I availed early retirement from the government lately. Twenty nine long years at the Department  of Agrarian Reform starting as an Executive Secretary to Director, Information Officer, Agrarian Reform Planning Officer and last as Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer,  the longest position I ever held with more than half of my years served in the government service bringing me to the highest mountains of two provinces of Bukidnon and Caraga to the deepest sea of Misamis Oriental so to speak. And the most memorable of them all – Caraga - where my exploits of acquiring and distributing private agricultural lands brought me to unknown territories of the rebels at San Luis, Veruela, La Paz and Loreto. Not anticipating that the more than thousands hectares  acquired and distributed would sent me to Taiwan in 1991 as my incentive being an outstanding MARO and awardee nationwide and for Region 10 that year.

 Those four municipalities have been  famous four river towns of Agusan del Sur Province where  “Kataw”, local mermaid,  hybrid of half fish and woman was believed to have existed. And while I have those genuine chills, my assignment at Medina and later Malitbog, Bukidnon brought shiver down my spine as here I am helpless pilloried and  harassed at will through legal pressures in the end treating you incredibly with libel (ironically I was not even a practicing journalist then!) and both administrative and criminal complaint for having held my ground in the implementation of support services projects of the Department But no way I could be intimidated as all these were just part of that proverbial journey serving the government. As I said to Engr. John Rasonabe, my ever dependent technician and support services officer who was also a respondent of another case “Nothing to worry about for as long as you are not involved in graft and corruption cases!”

On the contrary these unsolicited cases thrown at me especially libel are just my badges of honor. How you have improved the lives of farmer beneficiaries are actually your true material evidence as trophies and bottom line of how faithful and successful you have served the government. Not plaques, certificate of appreciation and all that which are all paper concoction of liberating the farmers from the bondage of soil. Such were some of the highlights of my work experience serving the people towards that road to freedom and fulfillment..

Of course there are some setbacks. One among them wasting precious innocent lives sacrificed brought about by unpopular delivery of Agrarian Justice by the  Department. Young student leaders too mentored on Agrarian Reform and losing their lives later to the military.  Not necessarily surprising given the onerous and bureaucratic paper trail before the issuance of Certificate of Land Ownership Award (or CLOA)  to farmer beneficiaries. In such process, end result should always be on farmers’ favor but not necessarily at the expense of landowners as their lands subjected to DAR are given fair market value.

            There were actually many Department  serving their notice for my services back then before I enlisted joining the bureaucracy. There was Department of  Social Welfare and Development, National Economic Development Authority among others and Department of Agrarian Reform interested getting my services. That was roughly  twenty nine  years ago. But I opted for the latter considering my familiar extension work services from the seminary and the nature of  work specially land acquisition and distribution implied as ambitious  mission and vision of DAR liberating the farmers from the bondage of the soil.. If the tragic incident killing the original Secretary from hand grenade lodged to his group while lobbying for the ownership of a squatter area whose group of informal settlers deemed him as leader would be the gauge, I foresee my replacement would be similarly  vulnerable to familiar adventurism. I did know and suspected  that the road to travel would  not be that smooth-sailing given the sensitive  nature of work. And why not when you are dealing with one of  the most important economic indicator – lands no less - .But  thanks anyway that I survived unscathed   albeit  the ordeal,  stress and setbacks experienced.

            Lessons learned whose myth  I would like  demolishing. First, you are in the government to serve not to get rich. Maybe working harder  just enough or a little bit more better lifestyles as an incentive but not  pocketing hard-earned tax payers money. Second, it’s very hard to fight against your own  government who feeds you.  Kawat sa atubang as we say it in vernacular. This what actually happens for example to GSIS taking you into a joyride giving you house  subject to 25 straight years amortization. And when you fail regularly paying would compel you to pay very  prohibitive add-on compounded interest on the principal. That the housing unit is modest constructed only in one week but imprisons you to pay  till death do you part over  that highly usurious interest your tight budget could hardly meet and comply is already a living hell..

 There are many other relevant issues actually ranging  from great disparity of salary  pay between supervisors and  lowly paid employees whose salary are merely crumbs compare to handsome take home pay of the supervisors. Third could be the  too long retirement age of  65  years old or optional of 60 years of age to government workers. My heart melts seeing retirees already in their wheel chairs claiming their pension at Land Bank of the Philippines. What good it takes to retire only to spend your pension to debilitating diseases gradually taking its toll on your tired bodies?

            Thanks anyway that my retirement was recently approved although I’m still waiting clearance from Ombudsman. At least I could return back the compliment  serving better my family and of course to be back in my groove writing at will with no let-up and disturbance. Cheers!