Kagawasan sa Pagpakisayod

The Philippines, like many countries, has many problems. Some are actual problems, which can be addressed. However, many other problems are caused by inconsistent government actions and responses causing confusion among its citizens.

To this writer, these problems are more difficult to address. In one situation the government says that it is helpless like when the prices of petroleum and electricity increases drastically because of the increase in the prices in the world market. Then the government reverses itself when the people express their dissatisfaction with the government’s expression of helplessness.

This was the same situation with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of the Philippine legislators. It was only after many massive demonstration by the citizenry that the President openly stated that the government is abolishing the PDAF.

The President of the Philippines is given tremendous powers so he can address the problems of the country and its citizens. On his say, thing he likes to happen are done with haste.

Bills in the Congress he wants passed are passed even with the strong opposition of the citizenry. These were the so-called Reproductive Health Act and the sin tax on tobacco and alcohol. The hasty impeachment of the former Chief Justice by the House of Representatives and eventual conviction by the Philippine Senate is an example of the tremendous powers of the Presidency. Notwithstanding the fact that not declaring his true assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth is nowhere near the violation of the public trust and culpable violation of the Philippine constitution.

The people are now clamoring for the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill and the anti-dynasty bill by the Congress. The President was quick to respond that he will only support the anti-dynasty bill in Congress if it is “doable.” This is new tact in Presidential actions. With the tremendous powers of the Presidency the anti dynasty bill can easily be passed if the President wishes.

Nothing is “not doable” if the President wants it done after all he is in virtual control of the Congress. While he and his presidential spokesperson love to say that the congress is independent being a co-equal body, past events have shown that this is not really so.

What the President wants Congress gives. Reading between the lines this just means that the President is not in favor of the anti-dynasty bill.

The 2014 appropriations of the Philippine government still contain lump sum appropriations despite the ruling of the Suprme Court on the Priority Development Assistant Fund (PDAF). Among the lump sum appropriations are the PDAF of several senators.

The credibility of polling groups which said that 77% of the victims of Yolanda are happy with the response of President BS Aquino III to their plight is being questioned by the victims of the super-typhoon in Samar and Leyte themselves. Where did the “77% of the people satisfied with the Presidential response” come from when the victims of the typhoon were from Samar and Leyte?

In addition, many people are questioning the timing of the release of the Social Weather Station poll. It was released when there were many who were complaining that they have yet to get any form of government assistance and relief. Even the groups which helped the Philippines by providing relief assistance are saying that many of the people in the calamity areas have not yet received any form of relief or assistance.

Another government action that is being questioned by the people is the privatization of hospitals including the National Orthopedic Hospital. The government said that putting the hospitals under the private public partnership (PPP) program will improve its services but did not say that the expenses of going to the same hospital after it is put under the PPP program will increase, substantially making it difficult for the needy people to afford. This is a potential cause of conflict because the move is perceived by the masses as unjust.

The PPP program is called by one American critic as the “new privatization.” He said that without owning the government asset, a private group will profit from it like it were their own. In true privatization the entrepreneurs will own the asset after paying for the cost of the facilities. In the PPP program they have the whole profit for themselves while not owning the entire facility.

The government should endeavor to make it clear to the people that what it is doing is the same as what it is saying. As some say they should “walk the talk” or “put their money where the mouth is” and not just “talk the talk.”

There are many instances when what the government says is not what it does. Take for instance the issue of rice importation where the government proudly announced in 2013 that the Philippines is self-sufficient in rice and is in fact already exporting rice. This is an example of obfuscation. Exporting rice does not mean self-sufficiency in rice. It just means that we are exporting rice but it does not follow that if a country is exporting rice it is self-sufficient in rice. But of course, the typhoons that entered the Philippines destroyed the rice products making it necessary for the government to import rice.

The problem of not having clear communication between the government and the people is perhaps caused by many presidential spokesperson with varying titles. While they are supposedly spokesperson for the President, they appear to be speaking for themselves and for the government and at times they are saying not only different things but contrary views confusing the people. They should confine their statements to the President’s thoughts and avoid attempts to speak for the entire government. The various departments have their spokespersons who can express their department’s view more clearly and more authoritatively. The situation did not improve even with the departure of one of the Presidential spokesperson.