THE
BUSINESS OF GOVERNANCE
The entire world is enthralled with Obama’s victory, including
the Philippines. It is reported that in France, the search is
on for a French Obama. The other day the hosts of a popular radio
program asked listeners to mention who deserves to be the “Filipino
Obama.” Someone immediately texted the name of a popular
young senator. Just as quickly, another texter disputed the choice
and suggested the name of another senator.
The
thinking is that anyone who is relatively young, tall, good-looking
and smooth-talking can be a Filipino Obama. An important question
to ask is: who is funding wanna-be-Obamas? Obama’s funding
largely came from the public. Are our Obama pretenders using
public funds for their campaigns? Are they depending on big
business and trapo money?
Another
important question is: what is their track record? For presidentiables
who are senators and congressmen, what is the output of the
committees they chair? A simpler question: are they working
in the Senate or out touring campuses on public funds to seduce
the youth vote?
A
large percentage of those who voted for Obama are young. In
the Philippines, the race is on for the youth vote. Every other
candidate has its youth arm. This is not really a new thing.
The youth has always been recognized as a potent force for change.
At the same time, cynics note that corruption starts at a very
young age, say, in the Sangguniang Kabataan.
In
a forum with young political leaders, a young man asked the
anguished question, ”Too often, the youth have been disappointed
by those who promise to lead them. They end up worse than their
trapo parents, handlers and funders.” The youth then recited
a long list of politicians who wooed the youth vote and turned
trapo. “What is your guarantee that you will not disappoint
us when it is your turn?”
An
enthusiastic journalist wrote that the Obama victory was “the
first global election.” He has been described as a “historic
and transformational” figure. It is too soon to swoon
over a self-proclaimed Filipino Obama. We need a Filipino for
the Filipinos, not a grotesque Obama imitation.
The
second book which Obama wrote is entitled, “The Audacity
of Hope.” Let us not be seduced by those who offer “The
Audacity of Hubris.”
When
the 2009 budget goes to the Senate
Today,
both houses of Congress resume their sessions after a month
long holiday. There are concerns that the Cha Cha train will
be rammed through a compliant House of Representatives. At the
same time, Congressmen will also busy themselves with reconciling
amendments to the 2009 budget so that it can be transmitted
to the Senate.
Sen.
President Manny Villar stated in a recent interview that “the
Senate will be “fiercely independent” of the Executive
when it scrutinizes the 2009 budget.
There
are at least four issues which the Senate needs to examine.
These have been exposed by Cong. TG Guingona III: the macroeconomic
assumptions upon which the calculation of the Ph1.4 trillion
budget is based; the Special Purpose Funds directly under the
Office of the President, now popularly known as the President’s
beef barrel; the accumulation of huge savings and the power
of impoundment; and the Bicameral Committee whose closed door
deliberations set the stage for illicit negotiations.
During
the presentations of the Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI)/Social
Watch in the Senate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson asked a hard-hitting
question: “The Macroeconomic Assumptions have been changed
at least three times because actual economic conditions did
not reflect the optimistic government projections. The P1.4
trillion budget is based on these assumptions. The deficit is
understated. What should be the realistic size of the budget?
How large should the deficit be?” Tough questions.
Sen.
Villar also announced that the ABI/Social Watch is welcome to
present its alternative budget proposals. Last year, the following
attended the presentations: Senators Lacson, Legarda, Pimentel,
Aquino and Madrigal. The two Senators Cayetano asked for separate
presentations. These senators picked out certain ABI proposals
and added these to the budget amendments. Sen. Enrile included
a proposal in his plenary amendments.
The
2009 budget is crucial for two reasons: first, it is considered
an election year budget. Priorities can be easily distorted
and manipulated for election-related goals. Second, Economists
are projecting that 2009 will be more difficult than 2008. The
budget can be wielded as a powerful tool for protecting the
poor or enhancing political interests.,
Last
year, ABI/Social Watch members were present in the Senate during
the final deliberations of the most important piece of legislation
to be produced by both Houses of Congress. Among the presidentiables,
those who were present were Sen. Villar, Lacson and Legarda.
We did not see Sen. Mar Roxas and Sen. Chiz Escudero. Hmm.
