EDITORIAL - Priorities

Last Wednesday, the political party of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, inducted 33 new members including 11 governors, 13 vice governors, and three lawmakers, in the Diamond Ballroom of the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

The party also took the occasion to announce that they were now opening themselves to possible political alliances for the 2025 mid-term elections.

“I suppose it comes as no surprise that the reason that we are having this meeting is that we are trying to start to organize ourselves for the next election of next year... You cannot start too early for any election. And so, we have begun,” President Marcos said during the induction.

Actually, yes, we can say it is too early for the election.

The problem with governance in the Philippines is that too much politics is involved and the politics gets in the way of governance. And yes, governance and politics are supposed to be two separate things, although many people have come to lump them together because of our situation here in the Philippines.

The average Filipino will be forgiven if he or she thinks that the primary purpose of any political party, big or small, local, regional, or national is to make sure its members and close allies get political power, keep political power, and stay in political power --and not to improve the lives of the ordinary citizens.

They have seen to many compromises made and important issues ignored in the name of party politics.

This is why our fears that party politics and preparing for next year’s “intramurals” will get in the way of how basic services are carried out and how the public is served isn’t really unfounded.

Let’s get this straight; there is nothing wrong with a political party making itself and its members strong. But anyone who holds public office must never forget the reason why the government exists in the first place, and that is to make the lives of people better.

It certainly isn’t to gain influence, advance the social status of one’s own clan, improve one’s own financial situation, and certainly not to perpetuate some families in power.

The mid-term elections are still far off, but the pressing issues that hound the country are here now, today. In fact these issues were here yesterday and will be here tomorrow. Let those who hold public office not lose sight of what they should really be prioritizing.