DSWD & DAR secretary?

WITH the armed crisis in Marawi entering its final phase and the “caliphate world” of Maute acolytes crumbling, the next peace offensive for the Duterte Administration may be the hardline CPP-NPA still stuck in their dated formula of bloody catharsis.

The President in several speeches, stated the next objective of the military, after the Marawi siege will be the communist front. Whether this directive cascades as policy is awaited with bated breath.

For the “Maoist party” and their various armed and partisan sectors, preparations are proceeding in earnest in the countryside with the specter of war looming. Street protests of front organizations have increased, beating down on Duterte effigies, while political rhetoric by the Makabayan bloc in Congress has risen to anti-Marcos levels of outrage in the early 70s. Their party-list representatives severing the Gordian knot with Malacanang, realizing it has gotten all it can squeeze from the alliance. The notice of two cabinet members shown the door by the Commission on Appointments, exposed all-along their hidden contempt for this government. The president is correct. It is one thing to be a Socialist which he proudly proclaims. It is another matter, to be a Communist. The former often provides the base of support for the latter. But in the end, becomes the favored children eaten by the supposed reformist revolution initially partnered.

Perhaps, with the DSWD and DAR posts vacant, nominees for the DSWD must necessarily come from a list endorsed by allied legislators of this government. Outstanding personalities from certain sectors, as well, considered for social welfare/development, e.g., Don Bosco focusing on youth and impoverished, Habitat Foundation, and the tireless Gina Lopez? For DAR, there is wisdom among many legislators for merging agrarian reform with the Department of Agriculture. Secretary Manny Pinol will be a plus heading both agrarian concerns as a bureau incorporated into a more effective and wholistic agricultural program. Not to mention the budgetary savings when both are under a single cabinet member. The wave of countryside development in the world is really towards land productivity via factories and industrialization balanced with agricultural sufficiency, and not the ideological myopia of “land distribution” for a preferred militant constituency.

PERSONAL: Belated warm greetings to former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, and wife, Ambassador Cristina Ponce Enrile on their 60th wedding anniversary. Love conquers all.