"I may not know if you're HURT, I may not know if you're SAD, I may not know if you're CONFUSED but one thing I hope you know, I'm HERE whenever you need me!!
For the sake of our country and the FILIPINO people !!!
March 7, 2008WEll here is one forwarded messgae from our fellow pinoy… quite interesting… so try to read also…
Digest Number 371
Dear fellow Filipinos,
I would just like to share with you a piece of what is on my mind given the developments in our country & its political environment which definitely affect each one of us whether directly or indirectly.
So much boooo…booo. ..so much grandstanding by the politicians. ..both administration & opposition.. .So much chaos… So much noise.. yet no concrete action is being proposed nor achieved. The cycle of removing the leadership becomes a vicious cycle with no gain both in the short & long term.
I used to be a parliament of the street during the peak of the Marcos regime. I was one of the few hundred people who were there in front of Camp Crame during the first day of EDSA 1 revolution, willing to sacrifice & ready to die if Marcos then instructed VER to bomb us when there were only few of us & was later joined by ATOM & other civil society groups at that time.
My sentiment at that time was very clear…Enough is Enough…I thought so that this would be the turning point when Filipinos would realize that Corruption must be ended. Unfortunately, this did not happen but even became worst. The past administration after Marcos, starting from Cory, to FVR to ERAP and now Gloria is no exception. Because those very people & politicians who once held hands in front of the tanks to fight for good governance & change for the better for the sake of our country were the very same people who are now in the main streams of dysfunctional political organization. They become part of the corrupt systems. A system which became already cultural with very few exceptions perhaps.
Nonetheless, while I respect those who are ventilating their disappointments with the current government through various initiatives which is the spirit of true democracy, let us not lose sight of the things we need to do to ensure that history would not repeat itself and become a vicious one. Instead, let us all identify these weaknesses, the roots of all the corruption and bad governance as a result of this uncovering of several anomalies & address it without fail. No need for “Pogi Points” but political will instead.
Please allow me to give some personal suggestions.
Please note that there are some of those which are immediately doable & some may require legislation but nevertheless would like to share this with you "JUAN Dela CRUZ" for the sake of our country.
1. On Appointments :
1.1 The President must only appoint cabinet secretaries. Other than the cabinet secretaries, positions must be assumed by the career persons in the government. ( This will protect the career people & would avoid midnight appointments & appointment to several positions endorsed by anyone close to the President out of gratitude to please somebody for whatever reasons). The appointment of the cabinet secretaries however must pass the test of competence, credibility & integrity without ifs & buts.
1.2 Ombudsman must be appointed from the OPPOSITION for check & balance but tenure to be co-terminus with the President. Selection must be scrutinized & made by a committee represented from a diverse group from various sectors ( one from government, one from civil society, one from the business sector, one from private professionals, one from the church, one from the academe, one from the ordinary Juan Dela Cruz ). All of them must themselves be credible with unquestioned integrity.
1.3 The COMELEC Chairman must also be appointed by the same mix of groups from various sector & would also pass the test for competence, credibility, integrity and with strong moral values.
There is a need to review & institute electoral reforms NOW not later.
2. On Corruption Issues :
2.1 All pre-qualified bidders who will be participating in the government projects must be printed in the newspaper to pass the test of the public that these are legitimate contractors aside from the prequalification being done by the government procurement office which more often than not are circumvented to accommodate favored contractor.
2.2 Posting in huge billboard the winning contractor, the amount of the project, duration of the project and expected recovery mechanism for the project to make it more transparent. ( Not the name of the congressman, or governor or mayor or councilor…)
2.3 All local government units to post in big billboard in full public view in their respective municipality requirements for getting permits, licenses etc, with the amount of fees to be paid by the applicant, the number of days for processing for regular transaction and for express transaction to also indicate the additional fees that maybe required, the number of days for release and also the responsible person for the section. (This would minimize if not totally eliminate the “suhulan” system to facilitate processing of permits & licenses).
2.4 Implement the "NO Contact payment for traffic violators" to avoid suhulan. Since violation can already be monitored through the database such that for 3 consecutive or say major violation, license will be revoked especially for public utility drivers who are responsible to the lives of the riding public.
2.5 Purge the drug testing facilities that mushroom near the LTO which are not really doing their mandate of ensuring the driver applicant to be free from drug but only for the fees. Imagine their methodology of urine sampling will definitely not pass the forensic test, simply because they will issue you a clearance even without knowing the result of the test & worst, not ensuring that the sample container is not tamper proof.
2.6 Remove the SK election and abolish the SK eventually. Aside from saving on cost, we shall be able to save our youth also from the root of corruption. As it is right now, the SK already lost its meritorious objective but became the breeding ground of corrupt officials & training their children to participate in SK to continue their hold on to power at the expense of these youth.
2.7 Implement fully the anti dynasty law. If there is a need to amend it, it must then be amended without pretense nor biases. ( Legislation issue ?)
2.8 What about the PORK Barrel? Do legislators really need this? If so, do they really spend it for their constituents? If yes, this should be accounted for at the end of the term of the legislator & publish in major newspaper for transparency.
3. On Others :
3.1 Revive the two political system since the multiparty systems lost its credibility since the party platform is nowhere to be found. The benchmark becomes popularity, compromising competence, credibility & integrity. Turncoatism becomes the name of the game. Ideology & party Platforms are becoming irrelevant. With two party system, the platform of governance can be very clear and the nominated candidate can be fully screened by the party to lead our country. Unless we can still overhaul the current multi party system, let’s go back to the two –party system. There should also be minimum qualifications for any elective position. If private companies have one, why not the government where the entire population depends on them. Minimum qualification should include moral ascendancy, without any link with drug lord, gambling lord or popular womanizers, just so we give respect & dignity in the elective position they are holding.
3.2 Fully implement transparency on election campaign funding. Starting from the Tax payments of the candidates, business interests, sources of campaign funds and full audit after election - win or lose.
3.3 We are also spending so much money on infrastructure yet maintenance is compromised. Look at the NAIA terminal 2 where comfort rooms are not well maintained. Look at our dilapidated Terminal 1 (Current International airport) where we spent hundreds of million on the comfort rooms rehabilitation yet look at its condition right now. Maintenance companies who are not fulfilling their contractual obligation must be terminated. There should be a regular Inspection team to ensure compliance.
3.4 Public infrastructure : Who monitor for compliance? what about warranties? Coordination with other agencies?
3.5 We have so much good LAWS that will instill discipline yet, we are not enforcing it. Let’s put a stop to our insensitiveness, ( look at the abuse in the use of government vehicles, use of siren & blinkers, abuse in the use of law enforcement stickers, etc. ???). ENFORCE the law.
These are but few of the many observations I have made but I wish to conclude that there will always be a solution and all these things can be done if we have the political will. We, Filipinos must remain vigilant not only when there is a big anomaly uncovered but everyday as we pursue our individual challenges & battle. Change must start & come from within in each one of us. This must become our culture. A culture of concern & patriotism for our country. NO foreigner will look after our welfare except us. It’s time that we show the world that we can do it. That we can unite for a common purpose of good governance which can be translated to economic benefits of our citizens. NO LIP SERVICE & POLITICKING. That together we can be proud to be truly FILIPINO without pretense nor hypocrisy and stand high before other countries and only then we can earn back their respect and be PROUD to be a Filipino.
Each one of us has a role to play. Change should start from within us & let’s unite to make this change for good and create a chain reaction…A ripple effect for the good of our country & our individual well being.
I hope this message will touch our hearts & mind. If we value ourselves and our country & the future of our children, let this message be a catalyst for change and with God’s wisdom, let us move now.
Let us not lose HOPE….Together we can make things happen…
If we care for our country, please pass this…
MARAMING SALAMAT PO .
GOD Bless us all!
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