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State of the Nation Address: More empty promises

Most of the people I spoke to are very disgusted with Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday. They were looking forward to solutions the president would propose to address the economic and political crises confronting the nation, but they got no answer. It was a useless activity where public funds were again used, they retorted.

A driver friend of mine lamented that he has been affected with the increases of oil products. He expected the president to raise the issue of oil price increases in the SONA. But he pointed out that GMA instead forwarded the Charter Change (Cha-Cha) to transform the governmental system from presidential to parliamentary. “As if this will cure the economic hardship we are experiencing,” he said.

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I understand the feelings of my friend. I, for one, had been greatly affected with the crisis. This is despite the fact that I have a regular job. The salaries of every employee have not increased to cope with the rising prices of basic goods and services. Ordinary people need salary increases to survive the present crisis.

I view the charter change as another smokescreen on the real issues confronting the Filipino people today. It is a calculated move by GMA and members of her unpopular administration to save her deteriorating leadership at the expense of the people.

GMA’ Cha-Cha aims to hide the strings of corruption, like the jueteng gate, where her family is involved. Despite the initial hearing by congressional committees, the involvements by the president and members of her family are substantially established. She earlier adopted a solution for the “exile” of her husband but it was the wrong person who was “exiled,” Senator Aquilino Pimentel jokingly retorted.

Her SONA aims to hide the real economic issues brought by her liberalized economic policies. The deregulation of the oil industry, for instance, had institutionalized the international market’s dictate on our economy. It has caused damage to the peoples’ lives. But instead of adopting policies to rectify her pro-foreign policies, she decided to be quit instead.

What then is the use of her SONA? Where she is supposed to outline her achievements? Where she is supposedly to present realistic solutions for the present issues? None. The venue only served her self-interest to regain the people’s trust.

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It seems that the president had taken the advise of former Pres. Fidel Ramos – a charter change to establish a federal form of government. But whether the form of government to be adopted is presidential or parliamentary does not assure us that the crisis will be addressed. What we need are substantial changes, politically and economically.

Assuming that we adopt the parliamentary or federal system, will this do away with the elite’s control of politics? Will it correct the decades-old problem of political dynasties by the families who controlled our economy? Will there be devolution of power from the elite to the majority who are the peasants, farmers and middle class? Will it change the present system of political patronage? No it will not! It will be the same dog with a different collar, so to speak. But it is not an assurance for a change. Parliamentary or presidential form therefore is cosmetic.

The government should adopt substantial changes for land reform, Filipino control of industries, and doing away with the prescriptions by international financial institutions.

The land reform law enacted during Pres. Aquino’s term institutionalized loopholes for landowners to exempt their land. Yet landlessness was proven to be the cause of restlessness.

The opening of our basic industries, like the oil and mining to foreign investors, drove our economy to their control. The government can adopt solutions of directly controlling these industries for the national interests’ sake.

It should prioritize social services for our people and stop swallowing policies favorable to these financial institutions.

This is the time for these substantial changes. It can be realized, but GMA must step down first. #

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