Government is Philippines biggest problem – Lacson

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The biggest problem facing the country today is government itself, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

Lacson, who is running for president under Partido Reporma, cited in particular corruption, which he said if addressed significantly would “solve 50 percent of the country’s problems.”

“Government is our problem – I’m not referring to any administration or government – government in general, is the biggest problem of the country. The solution is the same, good government, the antidote,” Lacson told members of the business community here.

“If you notice, everything starts with the government – the government implements the law; government makes the laws and government interprets the law,” he said.

He said in fighting corruption it is important that the government is resolute in “making those who committed misdeeds answerable.”

“There should only be one standard, do away with lip service and, most of all, leadership by example – there’s no substitute for that,” Lacson said.

He also pushed for his Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) that he said will spur development at the grassroots level, with the bonus of job opportunities for local residents due to the development projects.

“There will be a more equitable distribution of resources and development, and we can be a great nation again,” he said.

Under BRAVE, local government units will get more autonomy and resources, as well as the accompanying accountability, in implementing key development projects, programs and activities.

He also noted that billions of pesos in the yearly budget is not used and could fund development and livelihood projects at the barangay, municipal and provincial levels.

Lacson’s running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, meanwhile, vowed to implement a program that would have the government purchase 50 percent of all farmers’ produce all over the country at farmgate prices and sell the same in markets.

Sotto said the program would assure farmers as well as market vendors of income while consumers experience lower prices due to the elimination of middle men.