MANILA - Is it possible for the Philippines to have issue-based elections in 2010, rather then the usual popularity contest?

“Yes, it is possible,” said Dr. Antonio La Viña, dean of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG).

Klaus Preschle, Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) country representative, said that his first impression of Philippine politics when he first arrived in the country in 2003 was that “it does not have an agenda, it is based on personalities."

KAS is a non-profit German political foundation guided by the principles of the Christian Democratic Movement.

Preschle said the ASoG's move to organize more than 100 civil society groups to discuss which issues should be addressed in the 2010 elections is a sign that Philippine politics is changing.
 
The civil society groups consolidated themselves under the Citizens Reform Agenda 2010 (CReforms 2010).

“I never thought issue-based politics would be possible in the Philippines,” said Preschle. "But I would love to be proven wrong."

La Viña said previous efforts toward issue-based politics were a not successful effort as they were too late coming together.

“When we presented our issues, it was already too late. It was already voting time,” La Viña said.

CReforms 2010 has been meeting and conducting focus group discussions (FGDs) since mid-2008 to discuss the issues candidates in the 2010 elections should tackle.

La Viña hopes that the early start of a group such as CReforms 2010 this time around would lead to a thorough discussion of key issues. These topics should also be addressed in upcoming debates with future candidates.

The 2010 issues and agenda

After a series of meetings, CReforms 2010’s key issues were presented at the “Elections 2010: A Presentation of Citizen Reform Agenda,” at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel last Wednesday.

Prior to the public presentation of the key issues, CReforms 2010 drafted a Covenant for Reforms. Included in the covenant are the issues to be discussed and a promise to make the 2010 elections issue-based.

CReforms 2010 shall engage the candidates and political parties in the 2010 elections by having them commit to the covenant they prepared, and respond to the key agenda and issues in the CReforms 2010 papers, said Joy Aceron, CReforms coordinator.

These key issues which must be addressed by 2010 candidates are: 1) corruption, 2) political and electoral reform, 3) environment and sustainable development, 4) local government reforms, and 5) human development.

Corruption

“The first issue that needs to be addressed is corruption,” said Vicent Lazatin, co- convener of CReforms 2010 and executive director of Transparency and Accountability Network.

To address corruption, the CReforms 2010 agenda paper suggests that citizens should have more access to information. There should also be reforms in the justice system that would help reduce corruption.

Efforts to strengthen institutions and to professionalize the bureaucratic system are also needed to increase efficiency. Lazatin said local government autonomy is also a must.

Citing the Human Development Report of the Philippines 2009, he said corruption in government results in disservice to the public.

The highly politicized “incentive system” benefits those who are loyal to the administration, not those who are efficient workers, Lazatin said.

An Asian Development Bank (ADB) report published in December 2007, “Philippines: Critical Development Constraints,” concluded that the worsening perception of corruption outside the country partly explains the low level of investments in the Philippines, he said.

In the executive summary of the agenda it presented, CReforms 2010 wrote: “Corruption has never been this worse. We must end it. It is time to repair the damaged institutions.”

Political and electoral reforms

CReforms 2010 is also pushing for a political process that is inclusive, empowering, and pro-poor.

“Institutional reform is an imperative [now] more than ever,” Lazatin said.

He said CReforms 2010 feels that the current government is not answering the needs of the poor. 

He added that a more accountable political party system should be practiced. People should take note of what candidates say during the election campaign period, and they should hold them accountable once they are elected.

Accountability must also be be applied to party-list groups who are supposed to represent and fight for the rights of the marginalized, Lazatin said.

The constitutional provision on political dynasties should also be implemented, he said. This is an almost impossible undertaking in the lower House since most of them represent political dynasties.

Lazatin also dwelt on the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).

The SK should not be a breeding ground for corrupt, traditional politicians who use their SK position as a stepping stone to higher public offices.

The SK must “be a vehicle for participation in electoral and democratic governance,” he said.

Environment and sustainable development

“The present leadership’s lack of an environmental agenda continues to pose a serious threat to the country’s dwindling natural resources,” CReforms 2010 said.

Lazatin said the present situation is aggravated by economic policies, like fiscal and tax regimes which are largely biased towards extractive industries.

“This leaves government coffers shortchanged and ecosystems downgraded,” he said.

He said that people should also ask whether the candidate is willing to support the enabling policies in Philippine Agenda 21 (PA 21).

PA 21 is the nation’s blueprint for sustainable development. Its vision is for families, households and communities to actively care for the ecosystem, and to empower social groups to manage the economy and participate in good governance.

In January 1999, Memorandum Order No. 47 was issued by the Office of the President to strengthen the operations of PA 21 and monitor its implementation. 

Lazatin said the government should revisit PA 21 and use it as a framework for sustainable development.

People should also ask whether their candidate is willing to support the enabling policies for PA 21's implementation, Lazatin said.

There should be additional funding for environmental protection as well as its prudent use, CReforms 2010 said.

CReforms also wants clear and separate definition of protection and utilization functions of different Department of Environment and Natural Resources personnel.

Local government units (LGUs) should also be more active stewards of the environment, Lazatin said.

Local government reforms

Since the local government is the closest agency to the people, it should be more empowered.

Power to LGUs must include being able to formulate and implement policies that best cater to their people, Lazatin said.

CReforms is calling for a review of the Local Government Code of 1991 and amendments that would strengthen decentralization and autonomy.

It also wants a more equitable system of local finance management that effectively equips LGUs with the resources they need for their quick service delivery and administrative needs, said Lazatin.

He said “inadequate local finance compromises social services delivery.”

CReforms 2010 also supports constitutional reform that would explore federalism as a viable political framework.

“The decentralization (of power) is possible through federalism,” Lazatin said.

Each LGU should also establish a check and balance system applicable to their community that would minimize corruption.

The system should take into consideration the circumstances in the local community since corruption problems are unique to every local government, Lazatin said.

Human development

CReforms 2010’s agenda is centered on human development.

“Employment, education, health and housing development should be addressed,” Lazatin said.

The number of quality jobs should increase. There should be more favorable working conditions in the country to discourage skilled Filipinos from leaving, he said.

In addition, strengthened labor rights should be enforced to secure Filipino employees from mass layoffs and unemployment in times of crisis.

Lower school fees and expenses are needed. At the same time, there should be an increase in salaries of teachers, Lazatin said.

Curriculum revision is also needed to cater to the jobs-skills mismatch that results in unemployment, he added.

Health care services, with emphasis on reproductive health, should be accessible to everyone, Lazatin said.

This, and the improvement of the local medical industry, are needed to reduce mortality rates and to control population increase, he said.

Candidates should also take a stand against violence in the demolition of houses of illegal settlers, Lazatin said. “This should not be tolerated,” he said.

He added that house relocation sites should be accessible to transportation as well as employment opportunities.

The housing structures should be built for long term use, and should not require costly maintenance for relocated families, Lazatin said.