EDITORIAL – Legislative gridlock

A business group’s complaint, aired to President Arroyo last week, is nothing new: one hindrance to national progress, the group observed, is gridlock in the legislature. To be fair, Congress – particularly the House of Representatives – does get its work done. But the work could be faster and the output greater.

Unfortunately for the public, lawmaking in this country, especially in the Senate, often gets bogged down in endless inquiries that are ostensibly in aid of legislation. In fact the inquiries are often used mainly to harass political enemies or promote lawmakers’ personal and financial interests. When the legislators are not conducting these inquiries, they are using privileged speeches to slander their enemies. Fortunately for the House, the controversy generated by Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez erupted as the congressional Christmas break was approaching. Otherwise the chamber would have been unable to focus on anything else.

The Jimenez circus is far from over, however. Even if he changes his mind yet again and decides to leave for the United States, there are still too many questions unanswered, which could divert the attention of Congress from urgent legislative work. Then again, with the general elections approaching, there are lawmakers who surely believe that the issues raised by Jimenez and his friend, Bulacan Rep. Willie Villarama, are urgent enough to merit congressional attention.

Such issues make headlines, but there are other matters – not headline-grabbing, not helpful in a lawmaker’s re-election bid – that require urgent legislative action. The nation is in dire straits. In the 21st century we could find ourselves facing crisis after crisis. We worry about the supply of our most basic requirements including potable water and electricity. The public education system is an unmitigated disaster. We are being left behind by our neighbors in agricultural development. Smuggling is rampant, killing industries that are struggling to become globally competitive. One day we could wake up with only one major export: our precious human resource. Even our overseas workers, however, are losing their competitive edge. Corruption and criminality are keeping away investors.

The nation has to move quickly to address these problems. And lawmakers should be among those showing the way.