Key issues Aquino, Erap, Gibo, Villar must address
MANILA - Philippine opposition senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino has taken an initial lead in opinion polls for the May presidential elections, but no clear favourite has emerged because candidates have not revealed their platforms.
Analysts say the presidential race will hurt local markets in a big way if the elections do not produce credible results, while a smooth transition of power will likely boost investments in local stocks and debt papers.
Here are some questions and answers on major economic and political issues markets want the top four presidential candidates to address:
HOW WILL YOU TACKLE CORRUPTION?
BENIGNO AQUINO - Aquino's phenomenal rise in popularity polls can be traced to an outpouring of emotion after the death of his mother, the country's revered democracy icon Corazon Aquino, in August 2009 and his campaign promise to fight corruption in government.
He vowed in his political ads and website to be the country's first and most determined corruption fighter, but he has not given details.
Unlike his three main rivals, he has not been involved in any corruption scandal and he has lived simply, opting to reside in the same house he grew up in.
MANUEL VILLAR - Billionaire lawmaker Villar, ranking second in most polls, has been linked to a multi-million dollar infrastructure project allegedly inserted in the national budget. His opponents say the project was aimed at benefitting his family's property company.
He promises to fight graft, which he said has contributed to poor delivery of services and bad infrastructure, but also has not given details.
JOSEPH ESTRADA - Former president Estrada was ousted from office in 2001, later convicted of plunder and then pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to fight corruption and nepotism.
Estrada was known during his three-year rule for throwing midnight parties with gambling and drinking buddies.
GILBERTO TEODORO - Although former defence chief Gilberto Teodoro has never been involved in any irregularity, his close association with Arroyo, who has been hounded by corruption issues since 2005, weighs him down.
During his term as defence chief, Teodoro suspended a multi-million dollar deal to acquire combat helicopters due to allegations of bribery and contract fixing.
HOW WILL YOU LIFT STATE REVENUES?
AQUINO - Aquino has an economics degree but no experience as an economist. He has yet to lay down a clear platform on how to address the budget deficit problem and the market is nervous about how he will tackle the revenue shortfall given his little executive or managerial experience.
VILLAR - Villar has vowed to be prudent in state spending to cut the budget deficit, now at record levels, and raise revenues. He promised to raise the country's revenue to GDP ratio from 12 percent to 17 percent, but did not give details on the specific measures he will undertake.
ESTRADA - Estrada has not given details on his fiscal programme but in his short-lived presidency during the Asian financial crisis, he kept a tight rein on spending to limit the fiscal shortfall.
TEODORO - Teodoro is widely expected to continue the current government's fiscal programme, which aims to balance the budget by 2013.
HOW WILL YOU ADDRESS SECURITY ISSUES?
AQUINO - In his website, Aquino said he will pursue a broadly supported peace deal with Muslim rebels that will address decades of neglect. His running mate and the leader of his political party, Senator Manuel Roxas III, opposed a government deal expanding the autonomy for Muslims that led to an escalation of conflict in Mindanao in 2008.
VILLAR - He has said in public debates that poverty is the root of the the peace and order problem in the southern Mindanao region. He said state resources must be poured into the region if the government was serious in uplifting the lives of people in Mindano.
ESTRADA - He advocated iron-fisted policies to defeat communist and secessionist rebels during his administration and is expected to assume the same stance when elected.
TEODORO - As a former defence secretary, Teodoro is well placed to tackle the communist and Muslim insurgency issues. Like all the other candidates, he favours holding peace talks to end the insurgencies that have killed more than 160,000 people and displaced 2 million. He has also said the government must invest in increased police and military visibility in Mindanao to eradicate private armies.
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Sa PARAISO ni VILLAR, MARAMI NA SILA!
Naranasan mo na bang PUMATAY ng MAHIHIRAP?
Upang MAAGAW ang MUNTING dampa na bunga ng kanilang SIKAP?
Si Manny VILLAR! ARMALITE at DAHAS ang pangtapos sa MAHIHIRAP!
(Subaybayan ang kwentong buhay ng mga taong biktima ng LAND GRABBING ni VILLAR sa Paradise Park, San Pedro Laguna, sa Norzagaray, Bulacan, sa IloIlo, sa Las Pinas,. . . WOW! Malapit nang BUONG PILIPINAS!)
MANNY VILLAR!!! HINDI LAMANG C5 AT TAGA! ! !
ALAM AT GINAGAWA LAHAT NG KLASE NG PANGWAWALANGHIYA!!!
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Ang Mga Senador ni Villar, Tunay na OPO-POPOSISYON !
GILBERT REMULLA, ADEL TAMANO, PIA CAYETANO, TOOTS OPLE , RAMON MITRA, GWEN PIMENTEL, SATUR OCAMPO, LIZA MAZA, BONGBONG MARCOS, ARIEL QUERUBIN, MIRRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO, BONG REVILLA
OPO, Gusto naming maging BILYONARYO, tulad ni VILLAROYO!
OPO, PARARAMIHIN namin ang MAHIHIRAP para marami ang MANGARAP!
OPO, MagpapaTUTA kami kay MANNY, para EVERYBODY HAPPY!
OPO! OPO! OPO! OPO! OPO!OPO! OPO! OPO! OPO! OPO! OPO!OPO!
Miss one
HOW WILL YOU ADDRESS SECURITY ISSUES?
Equal focus on the current issues as if it was the center of power. And this should be true throughout the land. A long trend of neglect within the lesser area needs to be realize if unity and peace is the goal and to be achieved. when I was a child, I can still recall how we are so different and yet we call ourselves Filipino.
My take
-HOW WILL YOU TACKLE CORRUPTION?
Just like drugs, you say no! It's not that hard when your intent is to say no...hindi ba?
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-HOW WILL YOU LIFT STATE REVENUES?
You hire an economist which should be part of your cabinet=adviser.....no? :)
In truth, i think you guys are asking the wrong question and to the wrong people. You should be asking those question to yourself like where do want our country 10 years from now. As long as you depend on the government to take care of you, the less you will be taking care of. Understand this, just as I've stated in a another thread. This is not about them, it's about us as a nation. The constitution is there for us to be govern, but it us our right as a citizen to demand how we should be govern....get it?
Sacrificial lamb
The most important issue and the first that needs to be addressed should not be overlooked. "How to unite the nation". Without this, no amount of excellent platform, promise, threat, mud slinging, corruption expose, strong qualification (degree, achievement, good moral conduct) would change the current status quo and see any good change happening very soon in this country. Divisiveness is the number one illness dragging the Philippines from one sh*t hole to another. The way things are going, candidates are even doing the opposite to win votes. Political parties disintegrate because of this, relatives disown each other because of this, alliances were made and broken because of this, neighbors and innocent people were killed because of this, my God, even the religious people go separate ways to express their individual emotions and sentiments because of this. Can any candidate at least say somtething to address it? "No Change Without Unity". That's the Gospel truth!
Submitted by Adoremus on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 11:14.
BRAVO!!! Amen to that...but who will be the sacrificial lamp? :) I am truly hoping that Noynoy would take that step since his parents understand of this with all their heart. And please don't ask me how I know......
“To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.” -Confucius
MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE!!!
The most important issue and the first that needs to be addressed should not be overlooked. "How to unite the nation". Without this, no amount of excellent platform, promise, threat, mud slinging, corruption expose, strong qualification (degree, achievement, good moral conduct) would change the current status quo and see any good change happening very soon in this country. Divisiveness is the number one illness dragging the Philippines from one sh*t hole to another. The way things are going, candidates are even doing the opposite to win votes. Political parties disintegrate because of this, relatives disown each other because of this, alliances were made and broken because of this, neighbors and innocent people were killed because of this, my God, even the religious people go separate ways to express their individual emotions and sentiments because of this. Can any candidate at least say somtething to address it? "No Change Without Unity". That's the Gospel truth!
kahit pa
Mr. Pretty Boy
kahit na sabihin mong LESS CORRUPT sya, andun padin ang salitang CORRUPT, maaaring nabawasan nga ang CORRUPTION para sa sarili, pero mas LUMALALA ang CORRUPTION ng dahil sa mga kapartido.
big PEACE!!
WALANG BAHID
Para lng matapos ang issue regarding NOYNOY at maniwala kami na hndi ka korakot at sincere kang talaga, Maari bang ipaliwanag mo muna kung saan napupunta ang pork barrel mo at kung ano na ang mga ACCOMPLISHMENTS mo. ganun lng kasimple.
To: Manny Mogato, Reuters
I wonder why you didn't include Senator Gordon in your report. Maybe you didn't like to make long report by including the long resume/accomplishments of the great Filipino public servant Sen Gordon is. By the way, I already help you by posting his resume below. We hope next time, be a fair journalist, many silent voters are for Gordon. Yes, no enough fund because we don't like funding by trapos/businessmen, that's why we cannot manipulate the surveys. But watch out on election day, we the silent voters, the volunteers for the real tranformation of the country will show our deep concern to progress, by voting by the reasons and not by emotions..
Reasons vs. emotions
GORDON, RICHARD "DICK" JUICO
BIRTHDATE: August 5, 1945
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Independent
SPOUSE: Kate Gordon, former Olongapo City Mayor
VISION OF GOVERNANCE:
“What this country needs is not a change of men but a change in men.”
He envisions a Philippines free from corruption or “transactional politics.”
On President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “Masinop mag-aral, may work ethic. Ang sabit niya ay sa governance…You have to be resolute in so far as your leadership is concerned. That I think is something na nagkulang siya.”
On how he will make a difference as a president. “Baguhin ang attitude. Aim high. Mag-ambisyon tayo. Bawal ang tamad—work ethic. Lalong bawal ang tanga—mag-aral tayo. Duty muna bago ang sarili. Dignidad at determinasyon—ginawa namin sa Subic iyon.”
On why he admires his father former mayor James L. Gordon. “He was a man born an American, but elected to be a Filipino… Pardon me if I’m getting emotional because sa tingin ko maraming hero sa mundo but you have to live your heroism not during your death but during your whole life. Sapagkat iyon ang nakita ko (sa kaniya).”
CURRENT POSITION: Senator of the Philippines, 14th Congress
OTHER INFORMATION:
* Former tourism secretary; headed “WOW PHILIPPINES!” Campaign
* Former chairman administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
* Currently facing ethics complaint in connection with his “dual position” as senator and chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross
* Proposes charter change after the 2010 elections through a constitutional convention
* As Chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee:
o Wrapped up the probe into the fertilizer fund scam
o Recommended filing of criminal charges against former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante
Source: Talkback ANC
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Elementary: San Juan de Letran College; 1954
High School: Ateneo de Manila University; 1962
College: Ateneo de Manila University, AB History and Government; 1966
Bachelor of Laws: University of the Philippines; 1975
CAREER HISTORY
Senator: Philippine Senate; 2004-Present
·Enacted Republic Act No. 9333: Fixing the regular elections at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
·Enacted Republic Act No. 9369, the New Automated Election System law
·Enacted Republic Act No. 9334, the Sin Tax Law
·Enacted Republic Act Nos. 9399 and 9400: fixing the tax regime in Special Economic Zones and Freeports in Clark in Pampanga, Poro Point in La Union; and John Hay in Baguio
·Enacted Republic Act No. 9346, the abolition of the death penalty law; and Republic Act No. 9367, the Biofuels Act of 2007
·Former Senate Chairman of the Committee Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Laws
.Insisted lawful process of charter change only according to the process set forth in the Constitution
.Opposed unconstitutional People’s Initiative
·Asserted Senate’s constitutional right to conduct legislation against: Executive Order No. 464 in Senate, et al. vs. Ermita, G.R. No. 169777, April 20, 2006; and Executive Order No. 1 in Sabio vs. Gordon, et al., G.R. No. 174340, October 17, 2006
·Former Chairman of the Committee Government Corporations and Public Enterprises
·Fomer Chairman of the Committee on Tourism
·Chairman of the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers & Investigations (Blue Ribbon)
·Chairman of the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises
Secretary
Department of Tourism; February 2001-January 2004
·Chair, Philippine Tourism Authority (ex-officio)
·Chair, Philippine Convention & Visitors Corporation (ex-officio)
·Chair, Intramuros Administration (ex-officio)
·Chair, National Parks Development Committee (ex-officio)
·Chair, Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (ex-officio)
·Member, Manila International Airport Authority (ex-officio)
·Member, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (ex-officio)
·Member, Board of Trustees, Philippine Retirement Authority
·Launched “WOW Philippines! More than the usual!” Campaign
·World Trade Organization Commissioner for East Asia and the Pacific (2002)
·Chair of Pacific Asia Travel Association (2003)
Founding chairman and Administrator
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Olongapo City; 1992-1998
·Converted former US naval facility into a primary trade zone (when Philippine Senate rejected a treaty extension ending a century of US military presence in the country)
·Lobbied in congress for the passage of a bill he drafted to convert the American naval and air force facilities in Subic and Clark respective into economic enclaves by the creation of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)
·Subic hosted the 4th APEC Leaders Summit in 1996
·During his leadership, SBMA had 300 investors: Federal Express, Coastal Petroleum, Enron, BICC Cables, Shell Exploration, Acer Computers, Thompson Audio, $3 billion worth of investments
·Generated 70,000 jobs
Mayor
Olongapo City; 1980-1986
·Youngest city mayor of Olongapo
·Drafted joint-use plan of Subic Bay by the Philippine and US governments
·Launched programs on active citizenry in solving crime, ensuring police accountability, efficient garbage collection, proper health and sanitation, orderly public transport and traffic
Associate - ACCRA Law Office; 1975-1979
Director - Kong Commercial Philippines Inc. 1974-1975
Delegate - Constitutional Convention; 1971
Brand manager - Procter and Gamble Philippines ; 1966-1967
The Philippine Politics:
For Corruptions: I just wanted to Vote for Noy coz am sure for his own life style and simplicity of being a human might not tempted him to be a corrupt leader and SCTEX issue is politically motivated.
For State Revenues: I like Mr. Villar for being idealistic and consistent but I am very much doubtful of his main purpose to run on a higher post in the land for public service in which he need to spend billions for a thousands of government salaries. And ill guess it is not logical theory for him as a businessman not unless he is too serious of helping Filipinos lives and to save our countries as well.
For Security Issues: I like Mr. Teodoro stands for Peace and order process in Mindanao and being Mindanao an I am not going to agree the all out war strategy of Mr. Erap and a dream promises of Mr. Villar although ARMM needs to be focus to upgrade education, health and social security issues also the livelihood programs.
But my bet is still open until May 2010 elections but in my own personal opinion I will vote for the person that I think he is a less corrupt no matter if he is lacking of track records because I believed our country now need a healing process and the process that might be effective as of now is we must to start to stop corruptions rather than to believed economic stands but it will end up to their pocket coz for me it is something in common and it sounds like 6 years in Presidency might not enough for the real change.