EDITORIAL - No disruptions

When President Aquino talks of continuity, he may want to focus on the short-term, which is ensuring that public services will not be disrupted by the departure en masse of executive officials who will seek elective posts next year.

Even before the departures, the public has already had a taste of the consequences of having executive officials distracted by political plans for 2016. Chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, who is known to be eyeing a Senate seat, has received heavy flak for his provincial sorties while the region under his jurisdiction is paralyzed by monstrous traffic jams.

Manuel Roxas II and Francis Pangilinan have resigned to pursue their bids for positions in the general elections next year. More resignations are expected as the October deadline nears for filing certificates of candidacy. The secretary-general of the Liberal Party has been named to replace Roxas, the LP’s standard bearer, as secretary of the interior and local government – a position that will play a key role in the elections.

Pangilinan, who was appointed to a position that was created amid reports that President Aquino was unhappy with the performance of his agriculture secretary, is expected to run again for the Senate. The President has yet to disclose whether Pangilinan will be the first and only adviser on agriculture and food security and whether his functions will be given back to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. Key agencies under Alcala’s department had been placed under the office created for Pangilinan.

Also likely to seek elective posts in 2016 are Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and director Joel Villanueva of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Gregory Domingo has resigned as secretary of trade and industry but has agreed to stay on until the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit in November. Domingo is reportedly burned out, but there is also speculation that he will again help Roxas in the campaign for 2016. Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya may want to return to the House of Representatives.

Investors are reportedly putting plans on hold because of the election season. Government services, however, cannot be disrupted by the departure of agency heads. The President must fill vacancies quickly and when needed, the Commission on Appointments must act just as speedily on the nominations. There are still nine months left in the Aquino administration, and public services cannot be put on hold for the elections.