NEXT YEAR’S POLLS WAY CRUCIAL
The way things are going, it doesn’t look like the ongoing pandemic will end anytime soon. With most rich nations cornering most of the vaccines at hand, developing nations such as the Philippines are left to fight for crumbs, delaying a hoped-for herd immunity.
Despite assurances that the country could have a merrier Christmas at the end of the year with the rollout now in progress, it looks like vaccine supply is still wanting. Adding to the problem is the unemployment woes of many Filipinos who are reeling from an economy that is in tatters.
This is why next year’s national elections are way crucial for all of us. We need a president who has the political will to institutionalize reforms for the future of the country.
We cannot survive under the old system of patronage politics. Whereas we used to consider whoever is elected president as a swashbuckling hero who could solve all our problems, the time probably is ripe to adopt a more mature attitude to elections.
Platforms are very crucial not only at the national level but at the local government unit levels as well. Recovery requires a whole-of-nation approach that would trickle down the grassroots. No more imperial Manila where all policies emanate.
It’s probably time for us to take a long, hard look at federalism, which President Duterte has long espoused even before he came into power in 2016. In fact, it has long been on the table, dating back to the time of the late former President Cory Aquino. Its original proponents were Reuben Canoy and Nene Pimentel, ironically the founder of the ruling party PDP-Laban, which is presently embroiled in a leadership dispute among two party wings.
The pandemic, indeed, has changed many things in our lives and has
“As one analyst puts it, continuity and reform initiatives are critical inputs into the 2022 election conversation.
“All the political noise we’ve been hearing simply won’t wash if we are to recover from this health crisis. We need candidates who have clear plans for the future.
exposed the wide development gap between Metro Manila and the other regions. According to economists, the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine put the economy into a recession because 40 percent of economic activities were in NCR Plus, including the logistics hubs.
The next president should know how to take these things into consideration. The federal-parliamentary form that did not take off as Duterte had hoped for could be what the doctor prescribed for our long-suffering kababayans.
Under this system, regional parties will have a stronger voice in the way policies are crafted. Constituents can easily identify with them and actively participate in its affairs.
Our next leader then should have the political will to institutionalize reforms. We cannot put in Malacañang one who would simply kowtow to the wishes of his or her benefactors. A federal-parliamentary system will provide consistency and continuity. Most importantly, it will allow public participation in governance.
Simply put, there is a lot at stake come 2022. All the political noise we’ve been hearing simply won’t wash if we are to recover from this health crisis. We need candidates who have clear plans for the future. Certainly not those who issue motherhood statements and campaign promises.
Enough of the intramurals. Bickerings even among partymates would do us no good. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and let the next president lead us to reforms that would benefit everybody, not just a chosen few.
As one analyst puts it, continuity and reform initiatives are critical inputs into the 2022 election conversation. We cannot afford to meander and stray into a disastrous path. Let’s begin the nation’s transformation now. This pandemic is a good time as any to make the necessary changes in our political system.
Remember, we only have one nation. We better take care of it.