EDITORIAL - Changes in the Cabinet

Swearing in the new "little president" yesterday kicked off the Cabinet revamp promised by President Estrada. It’s far from a sweeping shakeup – the President can’t possibly let go of the Cabinet members who have stuck with him through his worst political crisis. You don’t reward loyalty with a pink slip, so only those who want to run in the midterm elections in May are being replaced. Even outgoing Ambassador to Washington Ernesto Maceda, who hastily quit as presidential spokesman for the impeachment case after failing to get the post of either little president or agriculture secretary, may still get his reward for being a friend in need.

Even the tune the President hummed as he swore in his new Cabinet members sounded like a tired refrain. He said his "new team" would focus on the "three P’s" – namely, pabahay (housing), pagkain (food), and peace and order. "And, of course, we will go all-out against graft and corruption," he said. We heard all this two and a half years ago. What did we get? No relief from poverty, scandal after scandal that led to an impeachment trial, bombings in Metro Manila and a war in Mindanao.

Still, new Executive Secretary Edgardo Angara sounded upbeat. "This is a new beginning," Angara said at his oath-taking. "We must show to the people that despite the political controversy, we can deliver public services in a more open and effective way." Angara will have a huge pile on his plate. Maceda has dumped on him the task of speaking on the President’s behalf in the impeachment trial. Angara will also be tackling the garbage crisis in Metro Manila, apart from the other duties of the executive secretary.

Can the rehashed team make a difference when the team captain is distracted by his possible ouster? Since these Cabinet members have decided to stand by their President in his darkest hour, they might as well do their job right. There’s much work to be done in 2001. Apart from the crises in politics, Mindanao, peace and order as well as garbage, the economy is headed for deep trouble this year, as even administration officials have conceded. The nation can’t afford paralysis in government. Even as they provide shelter to the President in this political storm, Cabinet members must keep the wheels of government going – as efficiently and honestly as possible.