Matuwid na daan after 5 years
In his speech at the Philippine Military Academy few days ago President Noynoy Aquino recounted his accomplishments in the last 5 years of his term including the reforms he has instituted. These reforms he pointed out have as their centerpiece the anti-corruption drive of his administration or "matuwid na daan."
Having said this, PNoyturned his attention to his critics whom he said are trying to sabotage the reform he has initiated. On several other occasions PNoy had repeatedly accused his detractors as anti-good government, thirsting for power and influence they used to enjoy but lost.
This thinking clearly has some warped edges because not a few of those who are critical of his administration are not after anything but effective governance in the form of inclusive socio-economic development. They see the urgent needs of the country but are dismayed by the half-hearted efforts of those in decision corridors to respond to such needs.
For example, what has PNoy and his team of "matuwid" bureaucrats done to discourage thousands of Filipino from fleeing the country in search of foreign employment? One of the needed measures is of course to open more job opportunities by attracting foreign investors. And attracting foreign investments means massive infrastructure ventures coupled with facilitative government offices along with an enduring security umbrellaand other capitalist-friendly measures. But we are short of enthusiasm in this area that's why among Asian countries our investment level is the lowest.
And look at our farmers, rice farmers especially. Has the government extended to them enough assistance to improve production? Is mechanized farming encouraged through credit financing for purchase of farm machineries? What about irrigation?Has this been expanded and upgraded to ensure a year-round functioning? What about pricing, has this been managed to ensure profitability? Has rice smuggling been stymied?
And look at Philippine education. If education is a race between catastrophe and civilization we are clearly losing that race. To prove this do we have to belabor you with shortages of even the most basic needs of basic education? Classrooms, books, equipment, health facilities, arm chairs,and most important of all,teachers. Presently we are short of ten of thousands of teachers, short in number and short in salary (that's why teachers have taken to the retreats lately). But the irony is that instead of working to normalize the operation of schools through adequate provision of what are needed, our education leaders have embarked on a new craze called K+12 program to implement which more billions of pesos are needed.
These issues are only a few of the major ones bugging this country. But PNoy says that with the anti-corruption drive he has taken these concerns will soon be things of the past. What is needed, he said, is somebody who has the same mindset as he to succeed him after 2016. That is well said. The only problem is that even after five years of yellow-ribbon leadership corruption is still very much a monkey on the back of Philippine government. PNoy himself may be clean, but what about his KKK cohorts and the rank-and-file"friendly" bureaucrats. Yes, he can boast that under his watch a chief justice of the Supreme Court was kicked out while three senators are under custody for plunder. But what about the other 15 senators and almost 80 House representatives who were also involved in the PDAF scam, why have these remained peacock free?
After 5 years it's becoming clear that only PNoy himself and a few of his official family are sold to "matuwid na daan"; the rest are not.In fact lately even PNoyhimself has thrown aside his "matuwid" mantra with his dogged insistence that he didn't commit mistakes relative to the Mamasapano tragedy. This despite the findings of the BOI and the Senate committee that heviolated the PNP chain of command.
That stance is certainly a digression from "matuwid na daan".
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