More women on top

There are at present nine wo-men members in the Macapagal-Arroyo Cabinet – an indication that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has recognized the importance of having women help in running state affairs.

I’m glad that should presidential aspirant Raul Roco of Alyansa ng Pag-Asa win the race in May, he will see to it that half of the top government posts will be given to qualified women.

This is a promise that women advocates expect the former senator and education secretary to fulfill. After all, he has been hailed as an "honorary woman" for upholding women’s rights during his stint as legislator. He authored various pro-women laws such as the Women in Nation Building Act, the Nursing Act, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law, the Anti-Rape Law and the Child and Family Courts Act.

Mr. Roco’s campaign handlers estimate that a good number of female voters will cast their votes in his favor. That means a majority of the 50 per cent of the 38 million voters ( figures coming from Comelec).

Roco also calls for the full implementation of RA 7192, the Women in Nation Building Act, which was passed in 1992. This ground-breaking law states that "a substantial portion of official development assistance funds received from foreign governments and multilateral agencies and organizations shall be set aside and utilized by the agencies concerned to support programs and activities for women."

It also states that "all government departments shall ensure that women benefit equally and participate directly in the development programs and projects of said department, specifically those funded under official foreign development assistance, to ensure the full participation and involvement of women in the development process."

Debates among aspirants for top executive positions should be welcome – not only by the public, but by the candidates themselves whose opinion and ideas on issues of importance must be heard.

Political rallies should draw serious voters, too. Yes, so they can see the corny song-and-dance numbers of candidates who are trying-very-hard to please the audience. From the time I was a little kid, I’d watch not only the campaigners but also the people watching the shenanigans of the campaigners. They swooned and laughed at the jokes, but they also listened to what the jokers were saying

I had the opportunity to listen to three women candidates at the Bulong-Pulungan sa Westin Philippine Plaza Tuesday, and what they said revealed the kind of officials they will be when voted to power.

If I were a resident of District One, Quezon City, I’d vote for congressional candidate Berna Romulo-Puyat, an economics professor at the University of the Philippines from where she graduated with an MA in economics magna cum laude. She is a fascinating endless talker – so unlike her quiet father, Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, and her laid-back brother, Roman, who incidentally is running for the first congressional district of Pasig.

It was while working for her father in the Senate that Berna gained an insight into the law-making process and the concerns of the needy. This is reflected in her platform to help make things better for her constituents in the areas of health, science, small and medium scale enterprises. A doer, she solicited donations from senators to be able to distribute 8,000 Philhealth cards among indigent patients. She has helped conduct feeding programs and medical missions. Asked what she thought of squatters, she said she was not for professional squatters, but people who have stayed in squatter areas for more than 40 years need not be driven away summarily.

It looks like senatorial candidate Pia Cayetano will make it to Congress. People who listen to her talk about her platform and concerns are convinced she has the competence and sincerity to deserve a post her father, the late Sen. Rene Cayetano, had served well.

Pia is a businesswoman and founder of a foundation that helps children with cleft lips, hearing impairment and other special kids. An economics and law graduate, she helped her father run his popular radio show, Companero y Companera which she and a brother resumed. One of her priorities, when elected, will be looking into renegotiations with foreign financial institutions. As it is, 50 per cent of the government budget goes to debt payments, she said.

Jamby Madrigal of the wealthy Madrigal clan learned a lesson from the last senatorial election which she lost: that to win an election, a candidate must be sure that the votes are counted right. The Madrigal who was in power decades ago was Pacita Madrigal Warns, Jamby’s aunt. Jamby now wants to reclaim her aunt’s fame, and she likes it that she is not beholden to any other rich politician than the family.

Jamby is an outspoken critic of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. She said she does not believe in EDSA 2 (which catapulted GMA to the presidency). Quotable quotes from her: "The Supreme Court is a puppet of the Executive," "My character is not suited for local politics." One of the bills she plans to file will make her an enemy of government officials – declaring illegal the act of putting up signs claiming projects to be sponsored by the officials. "This is abuse of power," she said.

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