Noynoy/Mar’s New Platform: Constructive Questions.
Great start, Noynoy/Mar, your newly-published platform does a good job at differentiating your style of governance against the incumbent’s. It’s a great platform, if you were running against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
But as a concrete plan for action, it feels a bit thin. As a way to distinguish yourselves from the other candidates, well, I could easily take the numbered items and slap Manny Villar’s logo on top of it.
I’m sure this will be a recurring problem, not just for you guys, but for the other candidates as well. Because our country’s problems are so obvious, most of the candidates are sure to mention the same issues, and will propose much the same solutions. The real test is in how the platform determines policy on the ground.
My questions immediately after the jump.
1. From a President who tolerates corruption to a President who is the nation’s first and most determined fighter of corruption.
How does Noy/Mar plan to improve on Cory’s own track record re: fighting corruption in government? Cory was famously incorruptible, but it wasn’t enough. Cory was still vulnerable to accusations of favoring the Cojuangcos on Hacienda Luisita. Corruption was checked to a certain level, but LGUs couldn’t simply be swayed by example.
4. From treating health as just another area for political patronage to recognizing the advancement and protection of public health, which includes responsible parenthood, as key measures of good governance.
Does Noynoy believe that artificial reproductive methods have a place in a national reproductive health policy? Does Noynoy have a reproductive health policy in the first place? The Catholic Church is playing the policy game for the long haul; we need to know if Noynoy modifies his stand on reproductive health, it will not be to the disadvantage of poor couples that use artificial methods to space births.
6. From government policies influenced by well-connected private interests to a leadership that executes all the laws of the land with impartiality and decisiveness.
What influence will non-governmental entities have in a Noynoy Presidency? “Civil society” was disappointed to have a smaller-than-expected role in Arroyo’s regime. They look set to come back with a vengeance under a Noynoy Presidency. Of particular interest: the Catholic Church, as represented by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Which leads us to the next question:
What influence will CBCP have in Noynoy’s government policy? Particularly when it comes to the health, environment, and education portfolios? The first and last, particularly, have pretty much left the Church to do what it liked, and allowed bishops to influence decisions on reproductive health and sex education, respectively. Will this continue under a Noynoy Presidency? If so, to what extent?
12. From demoralized but dedicated civil servants, military and police personnel destined for failure and frustration due to inadequate operational support to professional, motivated and energized bureaucracies with adequate means to perform their public service missions.
How does Noynoy specifically plan to “motivate and energize” the civil service? How does Noynoy feel about better compensation for civil servants, as proposed by Gibo Teodoro?
How will Noynoy/Mar enforce their Credo with local government officers? There’s no guarantee that local government units will follow Malacanang’s lead with regard to corruption, unless there are both carrots and sticks in the equation. What incentives for clean governance will Noynoy make available to local government officers, and how will Noynoy punish erring local government officers?
13. From a lack of concern for gender disparities and shortfalls, to the promotion of equal gender opportunity in all spheres of public policies and programs.
What is Noynoy’s stance on LGBT representation in party list system? Will Noynoy follow the establishment line as laid out by Ferrer’s Comelec decision, or does he disagree with the decision? What kind of political representation does Noynoy believe the gay community deserves?
14. From a disjointed, short-sighted Mindanao policy that merely reacts to events and incidents to one that seeks a broadlysupported just peace and will redress decades of neglect of the Moro and other peoples of Mindanao. Environment
What is Noynoy’s stance on political dynasties, particularly in Mindanao? While dynasties tend to concentrate power within families, they are also a stable form of patronage, a social system that seems to be ineradicable in Muslim Mindanao. If he’s intent on destroying dynasties in Muslim Mindanao, what does he propose to put in its place?
16. From a government obsessed with exploiting the country for immediate gains to the detriment of its environment to a government that will encourage sustainable use of resources to benefit the present and future generations.
How will a Noynoy Presidency square our need to exploit natural resources through mining, and preserving natural resources? Both sides have a point. Our country has billions of dollars worth of natural resources; to leave them be is simply bad policy. On the other hand, extractive processes like mining, if badly planned and implemented, can disrupt communities and ruin the environment. How will Noynoy’s environmental policies reconcile both equally valid points?
Great questions. Hope you get some great answers.
Hello sir,
Someone directed me to your blog entry. You have great questions; I’ve done a some research, here are the answers I could dig up. Disclaimer: this is a personal response.
#1
Based on his track record in Congress and Senate, Sen Aquino has been an ardent fiscalizer, strongly pushing for transparency and accountability in government expenditure: put our fiscal house in order first, so to speak.
Very briefly: Sen Aquino has proposed that a statement of assets be made public by every government official upon taking oath in office. He wants to lift bank secrecy on the President and His/Her cabinet (and of course, appoint a credible cabinet). He wants full disclosure of the government’s ledgers.
Corruption is not only monetary, it is also moral, most demonstrable by abuse of power. You bring up an excellent point on Luisita, and I think that is indicative of how Sen Aquino will fight corruption in its myriad forms. Being who he is, the senator certainly has enough clout, contacts and resources to pay off striking workers, union leaders and journalists-for-sale and put this nightmare to rest, yet he did not and refuses to do so. He could also have just bent the law to his will (that he personally wants to divest of the hacienda), yet he did not. He is a man who respects the law, for that is what keeps society intact. But more importantly, despite wanting to let go of the property, he does not yet want to “release” Luisita until the family is able to find a mechanism in which to secure a stable livelihood for the farmers.
That is an example of leadership and governance through democratic and lawful means, of authentic concern for the people, something the Common Credo strongly espouses. Now that Credo is something that I think, if you slapped Manny Villar’s logo on, as you suggested, that logo would melt faster than the Wicked Witch of the West in water.
If the majority of your national leaders adhere to the Credo, and their influence trickles down to the regional and local leaders, they would be a a formidable block against corruption. That said, it is our duty as responsible citizens to elect officials, a solid government body, who would adhere to those values. Aquino never said he could do it alone. In fact he’s said that he finds the strength in the People. That would be us. Let’s prove to the corrupt officials swimming in taxpayer money, let’s prove to that monster behind the Massacre, what People Power can do.
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#4
1) Yes, Sen Aquino believes that artificial methods have a place in reproductive health policy, just as he believes that natural methods should continue to be available. That is, both kinds of options must be available to couples. In the end, the couple will choose for themselves based on the information, their circumstances and their own personal beliefs. The church nor the state, after having informed the couple, should respect that decision and assist them in executing that decision, whatever that may be. To quote the senator:
“There really seems to be a disconnect between having families and being responsible for them and the state has to intervene by educating the populace. Unfortunately, the very conservative quarters feel that this is a topic that should not be discussed. Ignorance cannot lead to informed decisions. As to how to plan and what methods to use - that should be left to the individual. That should be left to his conscience and the church he belongs to.”
2) Sen Aquino supports the RH Bill, which has unfortunately been overturned in the Senate. However, he continues to believe in its provisions and based on his record as a politician who has never contradicted himself, I daresay he would not modify his stand on reproductive health. On the RH Bill, Senator Aquino has said, “I’m being labeled today as an abortionist for espousing education. Be that as it may, I’d rather defend that which I think is right rather than accept something not right and be hard pressed to defend that position.” He will continue to defend couples’ reproductive rights, rich or poor.
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#6
Anyone would be hard-pressed to predict the future. However, that the campaign is being slated as a “people’s campaign” is telling: it’s not campaign of the wealthy, campaign of the Christians, campaign of the poor, etc. It is the campaign of the PEOPLE. If the past and present are any indication of how Aquino-Roxas would run government, civil society would play an important role; after all, it is for the service of the people that the tandem is running in the first place. The way the two leaders work with their constituents is indicative of the peaceful, cooperative, and inclusive approach their administration would take.
For example, to strengthen CSO participation in governance, Sen Aquino has said he believes that government should support society’s initiatives to monitor government activity, projects, expenditures, etc. He has proposed the revitalization of the National Anti-Poverty council (NAPC), which is an oversight/coordinating body of government and basic sectors. In tandem with that, he proposes to revoke Administrative Order 187 (which required any organization seeking to participate in the NAPC to be approved first by the Office of the President) because it constricts the space for citizen participation in the fight against poverty.
Regarding the influence of CBCP, please see the answer to #4, but to add to that, Sen Aquino will uphold the constitution and the law: “There is no provision in the Constitution that mandates a church-run government. In fact, there is a provision that says that there is a separation of church and state.”
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#12, 13, 16 I’m still doing some research on this one, I’m just as intrigued
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#14
Given that the recent issue on Mindanao dynasties is well, pretty recent, I couldn’t find news articles or documents on his stand on the dynasty question per se, but when I find an answer I will share it with you.
But as for peacekeeping, peace is never easy, and the historical and socio-political circumstances unique to Mindanao is complex. What the senator proposes regarding the peacemaking process is Dialogue, but not limited to armed factions. Ethnic and religious leaders must be included. Any agreement between the Moro/Mindanaoans and the government should protect the people’s rights, and the negotiation process must be transparent. A body should be created that will lead the rehabilitation efforts in the region, working closely with the communities. Human development would be a top priority: education, healthcare, employment, jumpstarting the local economy.
Felicity,
I totally understand that much of your reply is a “personal response” - the downside is that a lot of it amounts to optimistic extrapolations of Noynoy’s platform based on wishful thinking.
For example - what’s to guarantee that the principles of the credo will “trickle down” to local government units? (#1) What kind of “dialogue” does he have in mind (#14), and how different is it from the “dialogue” that successive administrations have engaged in for the past thirty years?
Ideally the platform should bridge the gulf between the Noynoy boosters and the Noynoy skeptics. The way I see it, the published platform says all the right things for the former group, but is preaching to the choir.
There’s not a lot in there that speaks to the latter group - we who haven’t ruled out voting for Noynoy in the end, but would prefer more solid reasons for doing so. Reasons based on evidence, not well-meaning opinions and wishful thinking.
For example: I’m from Mindanao myself (born and raised in Davao City) and the Mindanao policy you raised has been heard time and again back home. “Dialogue” is the favored “action” by politicos who actually have no strategy for getting things done but would like to look busy. Cory herself dialogued till the fat lady sang, but the problems remain the same.
I don’t wish to discourage you from replying - but I’d love to hear a more evidence-based reply, one with links to either video or first-hand testimony from either candidate.
I feel much more enlightened by your ideas on #4 and #6, although I have trouble Googling their backgrounds. If you could link to actual statements from the party/candidates, that would be really helpful.
The platform is basically a list of election promises for the purpose of appealing to the public to vote a candidate into office. While a promise is an assurance, it is never a guarantee. The HOW of achieving each of the promises is best determined after the oath of office where the realities can best be appreciated, complications are ascertained and dissected, and plans are revised over and over. While you asked the right questions, the answers at this point can only be based on assumptions and may or may not be the right ones.
While it is nice to get immediate answers, we shouldn’t expect them to be the best solutions several months after they’re sworn into office nor expect them immediately fulfilled. Even the ones with the best intentions are only human and will make mistakes. Hopefully the mistakes will be few and the sincerity in fulfilling the promises abundant.