Do you feel that a drastic overhaul of the government is needed in order for our country to move forward?

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Yes, it’s the only way to effect genuine change for the better. Filipinos must be more revolutionary and more vigilant so that government officials wouldn’t abuse their power.

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: Overhaul in terms of values and principles, yes! There are also honest and dedicated people in government; we should increase their tribe.

The problem is with people in power

Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., Nueva Ecija: What for? Granting there’s an overhaul, I expect nothing, if the same corrupt people in the government are going to implement it.

Leo Tugaoen Luna, Metro Manila: There is no need to overhaul the government, for I believe that the setup of the present government is properly structured. The recurring problem concerns people managing the government. They lack sense of responsibility. The severe state of graft and corruption in all levels of the bureaucracy should be lessened and there is no other way to solve this malady aside from the voluntary surrender to fear of God and personal discipline. The problem in the Philippines is aggravated by the people in power!

Jun Cajucom, Tacloban City: We just need the right persons running this country. Then, perhaps, things would be different. But where and who could they be?

Mario Tejada, Ilocos Norte: No. What we need is a new breed of leaders that abhor and are hell-bent on stopping corruption in government. Corruption is the root of all evil in this country.

Alvin Perez, Manila: Yes, but not just the government. There’s a drastic need to overhaul the very people running it.

Joel Caluag, Bulacan: Not exactly a drastic change. A president with a political will and a quick judicial system, I believe, will propel the country to move forward.

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: You can overhaul the government on a yearly basis, but still fail to move forward as long as the head remains, dictating and implementing the rules.

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: We hope to install a set of energetic, efficient and honest leaders in 2010 who’ll have the wisdom and will to overhaul our ailing government.

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: Not necessarily the government per se, but the character and qualifications of people elected or appointed to various positions in the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. Currently, from the President down to mayors, appointments are given to followers and supporters regardless of qualifications. This gave rise to the pejorative term RA 1530, referring to employees reporting only to collect their pay every 15th and 30th of the month without rendering corresponding services. It’s said that PGMA is the only President who made the most political appointees in the nation’s history. Thus, the career system in the bureaucracy has been politicized by the executive and legislative from top to bottom.

Let’s get rid of the Senate

M. Sunico, Caloocan City: Only in this country can one find senators acting boorishly against resource speakers in their investigations “in aid of legislation”, as if the resource speaker had been adjudged guilty of whatever they are accused of. If there is something we can do to make this country move forward, it is to get rid of the Senate through Charter change. These senators are no longer fit to be in the Senate but in a cockpit, especially those unschooled politicians who have not done anything to prove their worth except act in the movies; squeeze the carnappers, kidnappers and drug lords of their money; or squeeze their wealthy relatives to finance their candidacies.

Punish the guilty first

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: We can overhaul the government over and over, but it will be useless unless corrupt officials are prosecuted. Many past officials who were involved in multi-million plunder cases go around scot-free because they have a lot of political clout. Some still call the shots in political parties. Plunder cases against these officials stay mothballed in the archives of the courts. We need to overhaul the system, but first, we should prosecute the guilty.

Elpidio Que, Vigan: For our country to reverse its direction, the purging of the corrupt in government is a must. With the exception of a few, the leaders and bureaucrats that we have are rotten. They are the reason why our country is far down below in terms of economy and up above in terms of corruption and graft.

The question is how

Felma Aguilan, Occidental Mindoro: Fine, yes, I so believe. The trouble is, how could that drastic overhaul come into being?

Crizel Fernandez, Baguio City: Of course, dapat lang, but it’s too impossible to happen.

Ed Alawi, Davao City: Yes, a drastic government overhaul is in order for us to move forward, but this is next to impossible with the self-serving politicians we have now.

J. Ibañez, Metro Manila: Yes, but is it possible?

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: Yes, but it’s very unlikely it would happen. The only drastic action that can be done is people power, but it is not possible right now because politicians cling to their positions like linta unless the President decides to remove them.

Gerry del Cano, Muntinlupa City: Yes, but greed and selfishness makes that dream elusive.

It’s in God’s hands

Arrin Villareal, Antipolo City: I feel that it’s too late. We are plagued by corrupt officials that have no conscience. We’ll just have to let God do his thing for this country.

Streamline our bloated bureaucracy

Jae delos Santos, Muntinlupa City: It will be one of the best moves if ever. Getting rid of those unnecessary offices, officials and politicians would surely help improve our country’s budget and management.

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: Yes, but it will take more than Hercules to streamline the Aegean stable of our bloated bureaucracy and eliminate the excessive red tape of a government encrusted with corruption.

Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: Overhauling the government should have been done long ago. When ex-CSC chairman David retired, she lamented that the bureaucracy was overstaffed with inept political appointees of PGMA to repay them and the Cabinet was occupied by more Usecs/Asecs than needed. Does smuggling in all fronts persist due to the influence of one so close to PGMA?

Long overdue

Rommel San Gaspar, Laguna: A drastic overhaul of our government is long overdue. The sad thing is, people seem to have resigned themselves to corruption in our government.

Nap Cinco, Rizal: Yes, I think so. Almost all government officials, including some Cabinet members, are perceived to be corrupt. Therefore, a drastic overhaul is in order.

Salvacion Tomines, Tarlac City: My answer is yes, in bold letters. Our government, through our leaders, should institute reforms for the betterment of our country.

C. Gaspar, Laoag City: Yes, overhauling the government would pave the way for a new set of priorities necessary to improve or normalize the country’s state of affairs.

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: Yes, as our country can be likened to a cancer victim in that the only way to make him survive is to take drastic action, like removing all cancerous cells.

Ric Vergara, Calamba: Correct ka diyan, Voz. Let’s restore the two-party system; dissolve and replace the Comelec; and force PGMA, Noli and all lawmakers to resign en masse.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: The government has degenerated worse than the Marcos dictatorship, thus a radical change is imperative. GMA’s apparatus of decadence must be changed.

I go for the curtailment of some freedoms

I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City: A drastic overhaul has a good and a bad side. The good side is the desired effect that may be achieved at the earliest time possible. However, things could also become worse depending on some factors. What we need now is a government that can institute discipline on all, from politicians to the common man on the street. I go for the curtailment of some freedoms that have long been abused, until good manners and right conduct is fully instilled among all our people. We need a firm authoritarian, but one who is always right in his decisions and patriotic in all his directions. Where is he?

From top to bottom

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Yes, I believe our government needs overhauling, from simple machinery up to the biggest one, and that is the President herself.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: First, we need to exterminate PGMA. Second, evaporate all her generals. Third, extinguish all her appointees, unahin na ang sarcastic at lintang si Raul Gonzales, and make a random audit of all the books of the executive and legislative Houses and the  kampon ni Raul Gonzales in the judiciary. COA auditors should be given tight and close security, because they will be playing a very important role in their auditing job. This, I am sure, will be a do-or-die scenario. Magkakaroon ng madaming exposé.

Nony de Leon, Bulacan: Our government needs more than an overhaul. It needs a complete redesign. We need a lean and efficient bureaucracy, a smaller and more competent legislature and a speedier judiciary. Our election campaigns should be less expensive so that able but poor candidates have a chance to win.

Change our system of government

Benjamin Nillo, Las Piñas City: We don’t need a drastic overhaul of the government. What we urgently need is a change in the system of government.

Carlito Pajaro, Pasig City: What drastic overhaul in government? We must change our system of governance from presidential to parliamentary and ban all incumbent national politicians.

Danny de Leon, Al-Khafji, Saudi Arabia: Yes, we have to change our form of government to parliamentary. With this, the head of state can be easily chosen and replaced if necessary. Filipinos are tired of House and Senate hearings, like what is happening now with Joc-Joc Bolante that we all know will lead to nowhere.

Loi Castillo, Davao City: Yes, we need a drastic overhaul to move this country fast. We need to change to a federal setup now.

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: A drastic overhaul in the government is not what is needed. What is needed is a drastic change in the form of government. We need to change it to federalism and to return to the two-party system. In the present political scenario, all programs and projects are tainted with political color. Temptation for corruption cannot be avoided because we put nationwide revenues in one basket.

If only voters were more mature

Joseph Jomoc, Bacolod City: Yes, a very drastic overhaul is needed starting from the top. We should not condone corruption in any way. We have to start being mature voters.

Don Hernandez, Las Piñas City: An overhauled car would still not be safe if the driver is reckless or driving under the influence. What our country needs are long-term solutions, such as enlightening our citizenry through proper education. A well-informed and mature voting populace would likewise elect enlightened and wise leaders and this would fuel the engine that would move our nation forward.

Cha-cha is a must

Josh Pacatang, Dipolog City: It’s the culture, habits and beliefs of the people, as well as the influence of religions that divide this nation and keeps it from moving forward as much as generally desired. But there’s no need for that; no government is bad. Without Charter change, you cannot overhaul the philosophy and structure of this government.

Manuel Canlas, Pampanga: Not a drastic move, but a constitutional change that will give way to an overhaul of our entire political system. Let us restore the two-party system, in which the leaders of the land shall be selected from among various talented, nationalistic and God-fearing citizens regardless of religious belief. A federal form of government will help us solve our social problems and bring forth economic development in every region of the land. This may start immediately after the 2010 presidential elections.

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: Change in leadership is not enough. We need Charter change for social and economic reforms and character change in ourselves in order for us to move forward.

Let it begin with me

Juan Eduardo, Baguio City: Meaningful change cannot come to the government until the Filipinos’ heart and soul change.

Patrick Miranda, Marikina City: Overhauling the government should come from the heart.

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: No system is good if the people running the system are not good. We need a change in all of us for the country to move forward.

Joy Ong, NSW:Watching Philippines news is not something enjoyable for me. Everyone in government, from the lowest employee to the highest official needs to have a clean heart, do honest work, love the country and the people. The same is true of every citizen of the country. Everyone needs to repent, ask forgiveness from the Lord and ask Him to clean our hearts and start living a life of honesty, love and service for people. Then the Philippines will be a land of prosperity.

The opposition must help

Sam Curameng, Pangasinan: Maybe, but a sincere and complete help from the opposition is needed. The government is working for the good of the country.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Yes, with the cooperation of all sectors of our society, especially the opposition. Otherwise, nothing will happen.

We just need to work together

Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City: Voz, I beg your pardon, sir. The country has been moving ahead past Cory’s time, more so even now when the world’s said to be in dire straits. The badly needed drastic overhaul in the government could have come to pass through the defunct Marcos regime that we missed. Now it needs the sheer will of the citizenry come together.

C.B. Fundales, Bulacan: No, we need united goals to move forward. Sadly, our political, business and church leaders; the media; and other interest groups have varied agenda.

R. Los Baños, Las Piñas City: That’s a sure-fire prescription for disaster for some of our clueless religious Ayatollahs, which will move our country backwards. What is needed is a concerted effort by the concerned government officials to combat the effects of a global financial meltdown, not to change them at this time, especially with elections already looming in the horizon.

The only way is through snap polls

Cris Rivera, Rizal: Overhauling is tantamount to snap elections. According to the surveys, majority of the Filipinos do not trust PGMA. Moreover, drastic change for the country to move forward is a fresh mandate from the electorate. The present government is tarnished with inconceivable corruption and scandals. Therefore, it is incapacitated to bring development and authentic service to the entire nation. Marlone Ramirez, Dubai

Yes, RP will progress if without lawmakers with eyes, ears and mind blocked by self-interest. We need well-meaning government performance. We need snap elections.

We should be a state of the US

E. Linsangan, Isabela: It seems that the only way for us to move forward is for the Philippines to be a state of the US. Kaya lang, Obama might have second thoughts about having a country that’s so corrupt becoming a part of America, baka kasi sila mahawa.

Incremental improvements

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Yes, incremental improvements on our present system could do much to build confidence in the ability of the government to cater fairly to long-term care needs.

Diony Yap, Bacolod City: The smallest deed is better than the grandest intentions.

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Overhaul, yes. But not as drastic as we want to think of doing. Pray, tell me, where do we get honest and straight-thinking people to serve the government nowadays? Our country has moved forward a few inches. That’s a lot of progress to crow about.

Change must be peaceful

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Yes, but one that must occur in a non-violent manner. A change through amicable and conciliatory means.

Mark Gil Gatila, Antique: I don’t think that violent responses will jelp for us to be able to move forward because such will only add to the present dilemma.

Let’s just wait it out

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Unless there is an assurance that the replacement in the overhaul of public officials can spell drastic change for the better, we might as well just wait for the next administration. That is less than 20 months away from now.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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