2 full years
President Benigno S. Aquino III completes two full years in office by June 30. It is therefore reporting and accounting time.
What has he accomplished in 2 years? He filed charges against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and put her in detention. He engineered the departure of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. He secured the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona. He claims he has accomplished his program of judicial reform.
Has he succeeded in his flagship anti-corruption campaign? Malacañang claims they have filed 291 cases of graft, smuggling and tax evation. That sounds good but records show there has been no conviction so far.
Definitely, corruption is still happening at the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, National Food Authority (NFA), DOTC, PNP, NBI, PDEA and some offices of DPWH below the Secretary.
Fund raising for the 2013 elections is ongoing. There is good basis to say that the anti-corruption effort is still not that effective.
The biggest problem of the country is the continuing high poverty and hunger levels as shown by surveys. Unemployment figures range from 7.2% to 33% defending on what definition of unemployed is used as a standard.
Definitely, the biggest problem of the country is the lack of jobs. Even with the 6.4% GDP first quarter figures, the National Statistical Coordinating Office ( NSCB) reports higher unemployment figures.
The CCT program was not yet designed to solve the jobs problem.
The next big problem is the deterioration of our educational system. We are 20 years behind our neighbors in Information Technology. Our public elementary and high schools are not computerized, as contrasted to private schools where every high school student has access to a computer or owns a laptop.
No Philippine University is ranked as one of the top 300 universities in Asia.
This week, the Administration implemented the K + 12 education program. Admittedly, it will take 5 years to fully implement it. Teacher’s groups oppose the K + 12 implementation, saying DepEd is not ready.
We agree with the decision to adopt K + 12 but again its success will depend on how much funding support President Aquino will give to the program.
President Aquino has said time and time again he wants to leave a “legacy” when he steps down in 2016.
The best legacy he can have is to bring down the unemployment rate to 3% or lower.
He has to be more decisive, act faster and now revise his priorities to not more than 5 programs namely:
1. Job creation, 2. Anti-corruption, 3. Educational Reform, 4. Peace and Order and 5. Agricultural programs.
TEACHERS PROTEST . . Rep. Antonio Tinio, Rep. Raymond Palatino and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) called a press conference to express its opposition to the implementation of the K + 12 program, saying the government is not ready, starting from a lack of curriculum.
Tinio said that for Kindergarten classes alone, there is a shortage of 20,000 teachers and 25,000 classrooms. The teachers also pointed out that 43,000 Kindergarten teachers are not receiving regular salaries and allowances.
Tinio said that for this school year alone, the total shortages stand at 132,483 teachers, 97,685 classrooms and 153,709 water and sanitation facilities. Sen. Antonio Trillanes has also criticized the K+12 implementation.
This again raises the question of the not so high priority being given to education on the annual budget. Only 3% of the budget is given to education. Considering that we now have a P2 trillion budget, why is it so difficult to set aside P40 billion to solve the classroom shortage once and for all?
But not withstanding the shortages and shortcomings, Sec. Armin Luistro is correct to begin the K + 12 program and to solve problems as we go along.
YEAREND PERFORMERS . . The following performed well in 2012: 1. DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro 2. DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario 3. Vice-President Jejomar Binay 4. DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson 5. DA Secretary Proceso Alcala 6. BIR Commissioner Kim Henares 7. DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez 8. PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat 9. PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome 10. MTRCB Chairman Grace Poe
NOMINATION OPENED . . The Judicial and Bar Council ( JBC) convened on Monday to consider nominations for Chief Justice. Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima inhibited themselves from the JBC meeting.
Senator Francis Escudero, JBC member said that all applicants must submit a SALN and a waiver of the confidentiality of their bank deposits.
Escudero said he will oppose any senator applicant as well as any person who had fought with or testified against Chief Justice Corona. That appears to be Justice Carpio, Sec. de Lima and Comm. Kim Henares.
Many quarters are suggesting an outsider be appointed. Applications will be accepted until June 18.
SENIOR WONDER. . Everybody is marvelling at the performance of 88-year-old Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile during the 5-month impeachment trial.
Due to his expert handling of the daily hearings, it went smoothly.
Common comment: it’s good to have wise old men still serving in high government positions. There’s no substitute for experience. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and Ambassador Sonia Brady are 70 years old. Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago and Ed Angara are over 75 years old. Sen. Joker Arroyo is 83 years old.
Brother Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord Movement said that Moses was 80 years old when he took the leadership of the Jewish tribes. TIDBITS . . . Thailand registered on 11% GDP growth for the first quarter of 2012.
DA Sec. Proceso Alcala has allocated P60 billion for projects in Mindanao with the bulk going to farm to market roads and irrigation. Water harvesting systems have been built in Baguio City. Let’s do it nationwide.