We need performing assets in the Senate

We have had a number of NPAs — “non performing assets” — in the Senate, and they know who they are. Many were elected simply because they have name recall and not necessarily having the best qualifications. Many have not accomplished much that would give credit to the position, unlike the good old days when senators were regarded with respect, perceived to be the best and the brightest, imbued with the sterling qualities of a leader.

Over the years, people’s perception about the Senate has been at its lowest — which is why last Friday, the Manila Overseas Press Club held its very first Senatoriables’ Night in its 60-year history to give us a glimpse of some of the best senatorial candidates to choose from. The Liberal Party sent Neric Acosta and Risa Hontiveros while the Nacionalista Party sent Gilbert Remulla and Bongbong Marcos. The forum might as well have been a takeoff from the traditional rivalry between the NP and the LP, the oldest parties from whose ranks came the best and the brightest among our senators, bringing to mind the days of glory in the Senate.

I must say the Senatoriables’ Forum was very successful, the discussion lively and punctuated with “interesting” questions from panelists which the senatoriables answered with admirable composure. All the speakers were very articulate and eloquent, prompting so many requests for the MOPC to hold another Senatoriables’ Forum before May 10.

I especially liked the strong stand of Neric Acosta on environmental protection, describing the Philippines “in ICU status” that is in dire need of resuscitation. We have to seriously worry about this issue because the country is at the top five of those most vulnerable to natural disasters, as seen in the recent disasters that have hit the Philippines and other countries like the volcanic eruption in Iceland whose ash clouds disrupted air traffic in Europe. Like Loren Legarda who has long been an advocate of disaster risk preparedness, Neric believes in the urgency of crafting environmental laws and enforcing existing ones. 

Bongbong Marcos was eloquent and articulate as always, describing what he has done in Ilocos Norte where one of his major accomplishments is the establishment of a windmill farm in Bangui that produces clean and renewable energy that can supply half of the province’s energy needs — something that this country direly needs in the future. He says the world has turned so many times, and current problems should be approached in the context of today’s changing world instead of redoing or copying what others have done in the past. Bongbong could have chosen to lead a charmed life, but he believes his calling is in public service. And knowing that he has been blessed, he wants to give back to the country. 

The soft-spoken Risa Hontiveros minced no words, saying she is fighting the good fight and intends to re-file the jettisoned Reproductive Health Bill, believing it is crucial to the issue of women’s health and wellbeing — a perspective which I myself firmly believe. The RH bill should be enacted into law sooner than later because among the biggest problems in this country are health, education and population. A big emphasis of Risa’s program is to overhaul the current health infrastructure to increase the coverage to every Filipino — exactly what is needed by the poorest sectors of society.

Gilbert Remulla was equally articulate, drawing laughter at the revelation that his youth has always made people skeptical of his capability even when he was just starting as a journalist. While Gilbert agrees that education, health, environment and poverty should be prioritized, the focus should be on livelihood. He says credit should be made available to people to help them start their own small businesses, drawing on the examples of other countries that have leapfrogged to progress. Livelihood is key because if the stomach is empty, everything would fly out the window, he stressed.

It’s no secret that over the past three years, the performance of senators has come under close scrutiny, with complaints that they spent so much time on televised hearings and investigations “in aid of legislation” on such scandals as the ZTE broadband deal, the Euro-generals and even the sex video of Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili.

Admittedly, hearings and investigations are necessary evils because they enlighten Filipinos and even educate them on legal terms like “subpoena duces tecum.” Naturally, these televised hearings give some senators very welcome media mileage, but people have yet to know whether the investigations have actually resulted in legislation. 

On the first year of the 14th Congress, the Senate passed on third reading 30 bills against the Lower House’s 253. However, the 30 bills were a lot more than the 16 and eight passed by the 12th and 13th Congresses respectively, during which time the senators also came under fire for failing to act on bills already approved by the Lower House, focusing more on investigating high-profile scandals and anomalies involving the Arroyo administration.

Late last year, the Senate became a house divided. Senators wrangled — prompting Miriam Santiago to challenge her peers to resign because they have become “useless.” Be that as it may, there are still many who have proven themselves as legislators, authoring bills crucial to many sectors and which have markedly improved the lives of the people.

We need a lot of new faces, but more than that, we need “young performing assets” in the Senate who will legislate critical laws and moreover, make the new leadership accountable, preparing this country for the challenging years ahead. 

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