Another test for P-Noy

After taking over a nine-year old administration that had been besieged by almost every kind of corruption allegation including election fraud questioning the very basis for its legitimacy, the incumbent’s term should be a walk in the park.

President Benigno Aquino III, the 15^th president of this republic, is after all an elected country CEO who enjoys the popular support of constituents based on an unquestionable mandate from voters during the last presidential elections.

Over the last 16 months, our current president has faced numerous challenges that fortunately have not yet mortally dented or irreversibly stained the shining armor he wears.

For starter, who can forget the Luneta hostage taking incident where eight tourists from Hong Kong died?

Mounting criticism

In recent weeks, the Mindanao crisis has brought to fore the kind of leadership that P-Noy wields. He has been severely criticized for being “less” firm on the insurgent Moro Islamic Liberation Front after 19 soldiers of our Armed Forces were slaughtered last month in Basilan.

The President’s statement supporting “all-out justice” versus “all-out war” in the aftermath of this atrocious incident in Mindanao was seen as “weak” by some sectors and reflecting a less-acceptable position on the scheduled elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Let’s not forget the many other instances in recent days and months (such as the GMA travel plea, the Marcos burial, the tourism rebranding, etc.) where those critical to P-Noy and his administration have found opportunities to open fire and throw brickbats.

Keeping trust

I always believed that trust is akin to water in a pot. Care must be taken so that it does not unnecessary spill and be wasted, as diligence is also important so that any spilt liquid is replaced at the soonest time.

While it is true that most decisions made by the President will not always be welcomed with an open heart by everyone, care must be taken to avoid this water to slosh out of the pot to such an extent as to diminish the trust and confidence in P-Noy’s leadership and ultimately taint the current leadership’s reputation.

Almost all decisions to be made by the president will have supporters and oppositors. And no decision is perfect one. However, the people surrounding the president, his official and personal advisers, have the heavy responsibility of providing the president all the angles and relevant insights to come up with a position that serves the best interest of the public as a whole.

On instances that the position taken is unpopular, these same people should be brave enough to take some of the brickbats that will be thrown and not just lay on the president’s lap the burden of absorbing all criticism.

Dragging issue of NAIA-3

One of the tests that P-Noy faces has to do with the continuing stalemate involving Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) and its builder, Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. This is another inheritance from the previous administration and has dragged on for too many long years.

NAIA-3 was vaunted to be the Philippines’ premier gateway to the world when its construction started in 1997. Regrettably, just a few months before the facility became due for completion and operations, PIATCO’s contract was deemed “null and void.”

What ensued since has been a legal nightmare on both the international and domestic juridical landscape. This has tarnished the government’s reputation insofar as protecting foreign investors that have been enticed to put in money in various national projects.

Worse, inaction for more than a decade has prevented the full operations of NAIA-3, leaving us with no choice but to let visitors use two old antiquated airports, one of which has recently gained notoriety for being the worst airport in the world.

What sayeth Sec. Mar Roxas on NAIA-3 and others?

Resolving NAIA-3 is a primary challenge for Mar Roxas, having been on the job as secretary of the transportation and communications department for a few months already. Unfortunately, he has not shown much in terms of providing solutions.

So far, Mar is author of so many reviews, analyses, studies and plans that unfortunately have not provided any concrete solutions to problems under his turf. Heck, just the simple problem of empty buses plying EDSA and creating unnecessary traffic congestion is not being addressed. And he wanted to be President?

Are we really not going to see any resolution to the NAIA-3 situation? Is this water that we can expect to slosh out of the pot that will diminish the trust and confidence of P-Noy’s leadership? Are we going to see more inutile advice from people who comprise the President’s advisory council?

Daang matuwid or politics

What is becoming apparent is that the advisers of the president are not keen on pursuing other approaches in finding a solution to the NAIA-3 case on grounds that it is mired in a web of corruption. And yet, has there been any evidence that has been found to support this allegation? Is this another case of “daang matuwid” paranoia?

Some see that politics has gotten into the picture fueled by rumor that PIATCO owners did not support P-Noy in his presidential bid. Is politics again causing national interest to be compromised?

Search for practical realistic solution

There must be a resolution found to the NAIA-3 case, and the sooner, the better for all. Developments in the past year have established that there is no legal impediment for government to reach a compromise agreement so that the facility will be fully operational.

This fact itself should be a major driver for Mar and his team, or even P-Noy, to come up with a solution that will put to end this decades-long impasse, one that has cost the government over $25 million in legal fees and related expenses.

Whatever formula that will lead to NAIA-3’s opening may not always be free from sarcastic comments and criticisms, but operating the terminal will show that P-Noy can solve problems that matter to this nation. That in itself would be worth any brickbats. And Mar, with P-Noy behind, should be able to hack it.

National collegiate championship update

University of Cebu Webmasters, powered by 2010 Collegiate Player of the Year awardee Junmar Fajardo, retained the CESAFI (Cebu) crown and advanced to the Sweet 16 Finals of the Champions League (PCCL) 2011 National Collegiate Championship.

Southwestern U Cobras, CESAFI runner-up also advanced to join early qualifiers, Ateneo Blue Eagles, San Beda Red Lions, FEU Tamaraws, San Sebastian Golden Stags, Adamson U Soaring Falcons, Letran Knights, UST Growling Tigers and JRU Heavy Bombers.

For more details, visit www.CollegiateChampionsLeague.net.

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Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.