The stakes in the next election

These were the concluding paragraphs in P-Noy’s last State of the Nation Address:

“Yes. This is only the beginning of a country that will not be cowed, and instead will stand as a beacon of justice and resolve in the global community. This is only the beginning of prosperity brought about by freedom from corruption. This is only the beginning of a society where every Filipino who works hard and does the right thing is guaranteed to succeed...now history poses a challenge to us to continue the transformation, so that it may bring about even more opportunities for future generations.

We are only in the first chapter of the great story of the Filipino people. Guided by the Almighty, as we continue to tread the Straight Path, we will fulfill even greater aspirations. We will open the doors to even greater progress. Nasa inyo pong mga kamay ang direksyon natin.”

P-Noy has a year left in his six-year presidential term. The Philippines has been transformed from being the “sick man of Asia” into the economic miracle of the region. It has experienced the second fastest economic growth, next only to China. The private sector has been energized and the nation is now globally competitive.

Daang Matuwid, the battle cry to fight corruption, has had dramatic results recognized by international organizations like Transparency International and the World Bank. There have been significant highlights in this campaign. A Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was impeached; a former President jailed; and four senators – Honasan, Enrile, Revilla and Estrada--charged with graft or plunder.

P-Noy’s bold move to bring the West Philippine Sea dispute with China to the international court has earned wide respect for the country throughout the civilized world. The effort to find a path to peace in Mindanao has also gained support from the world community of nations.

But a lot still has to be done. The fight against corruption is never ending as we hear of major scandals happening even in developed countries like the United States, China, Russia, Malaysia, United Kingdom and many others. Major global financial institutions like HSBC and Goldman Sachs have been accused of financial shenanigans such as money laundering.

There have been many vital projects and programs that have been started but will depend on the next presidency for their completion.

The BBL, the path to peace in Mindanao has been stalled by senators opposing reconciliation. The wide differences between the BBL versions in the Senate and the House means that there will be a need for major negotiations that will take time. If a BBL is passed, it seems likely that it will be a watered down version and will require the next president to restart the whole process.

The Public Private Partnership (PPP) is just getting off the ground with the first recently completed project. However, several PPP projects have been bidded out and there will be others  before the completion of P-Noy’s term. The final completion of most of these projects will be done also in the next presidential term.

The government of Japan has offered a $2 billion soft loan to build a North to South railway in Luzon which has been a dream project to link the island from the Ilocos to Bikol.

The K to 12 education program will finally uplift our public schools to the minimum global standards. We are only one of three countries left, in the world, offering only a ten-year basic education in a public school system. This new program will begin in 2016 and the two-year transition period, the most challenging time for the new program, will take place under a new president.

There are now excellent prospects for foreign investors to do business in the Philippines. The weakening of China’s economy coupled with increasing tensions between that country with Japan and Taiwan have tremendously heightened the prospect of Japanese and Taiwanese companies to transfer operations from China to the Philippines. The country also has the opportunity to join the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) once this is formed. This will be similar to the European Common Market but much bigger since it presently includes countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.

These opportunities will be fully maximized if the economic provisions in the Constitution can be amended. This possibility will again have to wait for the next presidency.

The decision on the Philippines’ case against China in the UN Tribunal will be rendered late this year or early next year. The consequences of the decision, whatever it may be, will require the next president to have the courage to face China and the adroitness to tackle the  geopolitical minefield in the West Philippine Sea.

All these means that there is a lot at stake for the Filipino people in this coming election.

Will the next president return the country back to the days of patronage and corruption, or worst of all another Marcosian dictatorship? Or will the next president build on the economic growth and social transformation that P-Noy has started and continue to improve the quality of life of every Filipino and institutionalize the rule of law?

We can only hope and pray that P-Noy is right when he said the best is yet to come.

Where the Write Things Are’s  Class for Kids and Teens

Write Away! Weekend: Online Writing and tips to get published with Mina V. Esguerra on August 15 (1-4pm) at the Canadian American School Alphaland Makati Place.  For registration and fee details contact 0917-6240196 / [email protected].

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