Now is their chance or at least that’s what they think.
A number of interest groups from the “right” and the “left” wing of things have been trying to get the media to make an “election issue” of their agendas or vested interests. But just because it’s “Their concern,” does it mean that it should really be an election issue?
Sorry, but that is not necessarily the case. A legitimate “election issue” is a problem or concern that affects the majority of voters directly and is serious enough to be put up for discussion and “voted” on indirectly by choosing the person with the plans or platform that properly addresses the problem.
The media on the other hand has been promoting candidate-related issue and passing them off as election issues when in truth, those concerns belong in the courts or the Comelec. NGOs and rights groups have been trying to get the media to make “human rights,” gay rights, environmental problem etc. as issues that should be focused on and to pressure candidates to take a position on these concerns.
But what about the big picture issues such as the following:
Peace and order, particularly expanding the PNP numbers and force; irregular/illegal employment practices such as contractualization and below minimum wages; performance and transparency accountability of local government officials; rehabilitation of tax laws; rehabilitation of judicial process to end decade long court cases or litigations settled based on who you know not what you did; addressing issues and concerns regarding broken marriages; a program to address issues or concerns on inter-cultural marriages, dual citizenship and property/business ownership.
Similarly, none of the debates seem to address narco politics/illegal gambling; transport and mobility problems in highly urbanized and populated cities; government housing projects/corruption and sub-standard construction and development; cost of education, rationalization of curriculums, addressing need for more state colleges and universities as well as facilities particularly dorms and faculty housing; rationalization of food production and distribution; water resource development and management.
Aside from the popular demand to reform our tax laws and tax brackets and inheritance nightmares, candidates who work for addressing problems of broken marriage such as property settlement, child support, as well as a legal means to start new lives and relationships or bury dead and gone marriages would gain a huge block of votes.
I am not for divorce but neither am I for prolonged torture and agony of people who have been abandoned, cheated or brutalized by a partner not fit to be a spouse, parent or who is a threat to others. The irony is that candidates in trying to be politically correct and popular, say they respect or support same sex marriage or gay rights but refuse to address the legitimate and pervasive problem of people in broken marriage.
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None of the legislators have really tackled problems or legal impediments encountered by inter-cultural couples and families. The government promotes itself as being investment friendly and woo foreign investors to come to the Philippines but have ignored “foreigners” who married Filipinos or Filipinas and raised dual citizen children deprived of rights because of antiquated or non-existent laws that could help them own property they bought for their families in the Philippines or business they contributed financially to.
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Politicians can argue about how to create employment but how many are willing to take a stand on what to do with irregular if not illegal employment practices in the country? Who among the Presidentiables and potential legislators have the guts to tackle “contractualization,” below minimum wages, and health risks in work environment such as factories or call centers where work related stress has resulted in increased alcohol and tobacco use as well as diseases?
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Who among today’s candidates would have the guts to make an issue or put up a platform to make local government officials more accountable for their conduct in office in terms of performance and transparency as well as public consultation? The fact of the matter is LGU officials have been untouchables because there remains a parasitic sort of relationship between national and local politicians especially during elections.
At the moment, only the Office of the Ombudsman or the Sandiganbayan seem to be dealing with LGU infractions and most of these are from complaints of victims or corruption related. But in terms of performance and accomplishments, who and how does government check on LGU officials?
On the reverse side, who among the candidates has ever shared an actual plan or platform that is meant to improve the skill set, competency and productivity as well as continuing benefits of the people in our civil service? Many people beat down on civil servants but none of the politicians or candidates have every talked about what and how they plan to develop better and happier civil servants!
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While candidates give their “Love and World Peace speeches” no one has really talked about our critical peace and order situation particularly the nationwide drug problem. Who among the candidates has real knowledge and track performance on peace and order and has come forward with an actual plan or platform focusing on expanding the number and force of the Philippine National Police?
Whenever the country hosts international events or gatherings, the PNP has to call in police officers from regions nationwide and puts up a show of force that results in very low incidence of crimes. If police presence solves the problem of crime fighting and peace and order, why not prioritize increasing the number of PNP officers instead of buying gas-guzzling jets that are only good for parades and fly-bys.
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Every time enrollment period comes around, the public sees and hears all sorts of laments representing our national failure to establish and maintain quality, affordable and accessible centers of learning. Last month the issue of smuggling of agricultural products and prices was once again an issue, but never the concern of candidates.
Politicians talk about the homeless but never really addresses the fact and hard truth that government solutions are wrong in so many levels!
Perhaps we need to make time and put some effort into getting media and candidates to deal with the real life issues for a change!
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