Crowdsourcing on GMA’s government

As President Aquino III continues to persecute his predecessor, it may be appropriate to show the contrast between her government and the present one. I had to look deep into my files to find a form of crowdsourcing that was conducted at random on what GMA’s government was to them.

I will include both the favorable and unfavorable comments. What comes out and this can be expected is that there will be dissenters but she had concrete achievements. Her governance is secure in history.

Germi Sison of Cabanatuan City: She managed to lower the rate of the US dollar against the peso from P56 in 2001 to P46 now. She also kept the economy smoothly running despite the US financial meltdown when many economists thought we would go bankrupt.  

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: Even if I can think of one significant achievement, many other things went wrong during her nine years in Malacañang and it’s too late for her to redeem herself.

Perhaps the most controversial accomplishment of the former president was the passage of the EVAT. Here’s what they said.

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: The imposition of the expanded value-added tax. It helped the economy to stay afloat and GMA to stay alive. The author, however, lost in his reelection bid!

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: The EVAT. We could have faced more difficulties and our budget deficit would have been doubled or tripled if the EVAT had not been implemented.

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Albeit unpopular and hated by almost all Filipinos, the most significant achievement of the Arroyo government is the EVAT. It saved the government from financial disaster.  

I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City: It is the implementation of the EVAT, which buoyed the economy to a large degree. It was so unpopular a move that it cost the reelection bid of its principal author in the Senate. But it has proven to be the right step to make in the precarious situation of the nation’s economy. It actually helped convince the world’s economic watchdogs and administration critics that our government knew its economic fundamentals.  

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: The approval of the value added tax despite widespread opposition from various sectors either adversely affected or always looking for negative points against the administration could be considered as PGMA’s single notable achievement. Severely criticized, its implementation nevertheless improved the country’s financial standing and provided needed funds for the national treasury. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by the abuses and corruption permeating the government and perpetrated by PGMA’s subalterns.  

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To others, the nautical highway was PGMA’s great legacy:

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: It would be the Philippine nautical highway and keeping the country afloat in spite of the worldwide economic turmoil.  

Felix Ramento, Metro Manila: It was a simple idea, but the practicality of the RO-RO, with the complementary infrastructure that were put up, is the most outstanding achievement of the PGMA administration.  

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: The most significant achievement of the PGMA administration is the Strong Republic Nautical Highway. This system reduces the usual travel time by 17 hours to the different key cities, enhances the accessibility of prime tourist destinations, and minimizes the handling expenses of goods all over the country.  

Pryncez Seira Fajardo, Nueva Ecija: For me, it’s the RO-RO system.  

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I concur with others who praised her for staying in power to pursue her program of government. To me, there are graver reasons why this is an accomplishment. It protected our sovereignty against the incursions of a foreign power to subvert it.

Rossini Torres, Nueva Ecija: Honestly, I can’t think of a significant positive achievement of the PGMA administration. My mind is clouded by different controversies and issues airing on national TV, plus the fact that we are ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Maybe one achievement is that she stayed in power for nine years in spite of everything. Pretty impressive, huh?

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: M/V Gloria has weathered all super storms and is steering safely to its point of destination on June 30, 2010      

Aaron Rivera, Nueva Ecija: There’s no doubt that most people dislike her, but despite that she stayed in her position and is finishing her term.  

Ethel Kate Cruz, Nueva Ecija: Due to controversies that she and her administration faced, hanging on in spite of everything she dealt with is what I consider the most significant achievement of her administration. PGMA deserves our respect for not letting our economy fall during the global financial crisis.  

Meecko Camacho, Nueva Ecija: Despite all the controversies, the administration remained tough and indestructible. That’s what I think PGMA’s most significant achievement is. Without a doubt, she’s a sturdy woman.  

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Her achievements include: Staying alive, that is, hanging by its fingernails, amid charges of being a pretender to the throne; King Kong-size corruption; advertising programs, like running after the big fish in smuggling, graft and corruption, tax evasion and jueteng, but failing to carry out such.  

 Louella Brown, Baguio City: The single most significant achievement of the PGMA administration is that it has kept us sane despite numerous controversies confronting it

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And still others praised her for keeping the economy afloat:

Pat Cuilan, Benguet: We give credit to PGMA’s economic fundamentals that minimized the harmful effects of the global meltdown that inflicted damage to the rest of the world.  

Dante de los Reyes, Bacolod City: The economy is stable despite the global economic crisis. Congratulations are in order!  

Mark Kenneth Santos, Nueva Ecija: I think the most significant achievement of PGMA is her developing a plan to lift the Philippines out of financial crisis. Looking back on her first year as President, she cited economic survival as her greatest achievement, although she remained well aware that much work lay ahead.  

V. Valera, Parañaque City: Of course, it’s the economy, which, unfortunately, is the least appreciated and least understood by voters.  

Ruben Viray, Metro Manila: The PGMA administration maintained the economic stability of the country and established the Philippines as a safe place for foreign investments.  

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: PGMA was able to manage the economy despite political uncertainty and a budget deficit.  

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More than half way through President Aquino’s term, what would a similar exercise produce? I leave it to you.