First Things First. The President Should Step Down. What If She Won’t Resign?

The perception that she rigged the results of the elections puts a cloud of doubt over Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's ability to lead this country. The Vice President will then take over the reigns of government, steer the bureaucracy forward and salvage whatever credibility is left of the government. Only then can we go back to the political table and decide on the best way to preside over the destiny of this country.


What about if the President won’t resign?


I propose that we ignore her. Let the politicized sectors of our society engage the President and her ilk in a protracted but non-violent confrontation until a tipping point is reached.
At the same time, the rest of us should focus our remaining energy in solving problems that will benefit the lives of actual and real people by working with the local government units and the communities.


Forest regeneration should be top of the agenda. With less than twenty percent forest cover, we cannot sustain the productivity of our farm lands, we cannot have natural protection against destructive typhoons and heavy rains, and we cannot improve the supply of our fish stock. We should plant native species of trees to re-green all our communities by at least 60 percent.


Rehabilitation of the marine ecological system comes next. Some studies point out that the Philippines is “the center of the center” of the world’s marine biology. We should, therefore, support Atty. Antonio A. Oposa Jr. and his partners in “cleaning up our mess” and then in protecting the Visayan Sea and other marine sanctuaries to ensure a stable and sustainable supply of fish for all Filipinos.


Promotion of ecotourism comes third. Yes, we have natural endowments that have attracted local and international tourists but tourists do not go to these places if their personal safety is threatened, if transportation is difficult, if the ecological systems are degraded, and if our taxi drivers behave like hold-uppers. In other words, there are many things that we need to put in place to make the promise of ecotourism a reality rather than a figment of our imagination.


There are other things that are equally important. Fighting graft and corruption, improving the conduct of our elections, providing basic social services, preventing crimes and punishing criminals, etc. are manifestations of good and effective governance. I propose that we let GMA tackle these issues. Anyway, it will take her entire lifetime to clean up the bureaucracy judging from her performance levels these past years.


Recently, however, GMA has asked the Department of Budget and Management to rate the performance of 17 agencies that have undergone the integrity development review or assessment of their strengths and vulnerabilities to corruption. I am hopeful that she will eventually rate the performance of all government agencies, including the local government units. Soon, she will intensify her earlier pronouncement enjoining government organizations to install their respective quality management systems and have these certified by independent auditors. After that, the National Economic Development Authority will include social and economic indicators or perhaps sustainable development indicators in the government organization performance assessment system.


I am conservative but hopeful that there will be continuous improvement in our governance system. What I am worried about is our ecological system. And this is the area that requires all our talents and energies. We don’t need a president like GMA to rehabilitate our forest. The Boholanos in Tubigon, Bohol won an award for their community-based mangrove plantation despite being neglected in the past by Malacanang occupants. The coastal town of Buswanga in Palawan has also maintained good quality mangroves despite the mediocre performance of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development. Some of our indigenous communities have successfully opposed mining operations despite the insistence of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that mining will generate revenue for the country.


Our environment is a matter of life and death, especially for our descendants. Nobody should mess with us as far as ecological health is concerned. If our environment is continuously degraded, we can’t just simply point accusing fingers to GMA or to the bystanders at DENR. We can only blame ourselves, as individuals and as a collectivity. Our descendants will not blame the presidents of our generation for whatever ecological tragedy they will face. They will blame us, their parents.


Come on people. Leave GMA alone. She has left us already. The next administration will go after her. If not, the Firm will.

Jose Rizal and Education

What makes Rizal current and significant is the idea that intelligence is the best weapon and that spirit is the best force in life. He became an intellectual by studying, absorbing and reflecting on ideas that he gained from school and experience and by using his intellect to formulate solutions to the problems that the country faced during his time. 


He did not stop there. He embodied his ideas by risking his life and ultimately offering it to the sacred altar of freedom.

Today, the Secretary of the Department of Education, Mr. Jesli Lapus, was quoted in the newspapers as lamenting the current state of education in the country. He says that education has sunk to its lowest level. He is not just talking about the low pay and the limited school buildings and facilities. He is also talking about the low level of competency of most of the teachers.

It is certain that Mr. Lapus knows what he is talking about. He knows too that the problem is systemic and the product of several years of neglect.

However, it should also be pointed out that the capability of the students is also an important factor in the process of producing outstanding graduates.

The question is: Do we have students who have the intelligence and spirit of Rizal?

Several young people, like Rizal, have offered their lives in the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship, for instance. It is safe to assume, therefore, that the Filipinos are not lacking in spirit. Now, is it safe to assume that anyone out there has the solution to the country’s problems? This is the question that I’d like to invite you to think about.

Happy New Year po!