National problems

The first business of the new administration, according to President-elect Benigno Simeon Aquino 3rd, is to identify all the problems besetting the country to arrive at the correct solutions.

“I want to emphasize that wrong identification of the problems leads to wrong solutions, so there has to be correct identification,” the next president told the media at his first press conference on Wednesday.

What national headaches would the next administration inherit, not only from the Gloria Arroyo government but also from past regimes? We asked our resident thinker for help and he offered the following list for President Aquino’s consideration. He also suggested several improvements.

1. Widespread unemployment, with an even bigger underemployment problem.

2. Chronic threats to national security and stability, principally the 40-year-old New People’s Army/Communist Party of the Philippines insurgency, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front secessionism.

3. President Aquino’s smoking habit, which harms his health, image and influence over young Filipinos.

4. The weak criminal justice system, including corruption in the Philippine National Police, insipid prosecution service, inefficiencies in the courts and intolerable conditions in the national prison and local jails.

5. Terrorism from the Abu Sayyaf bandits and threats from restive members of the Armed Forces.

6. Where to sleep and spend the night after President Aquino’s grueling day in the snake pit called Malacañang Palace.

7. The persistence of graft in the bureaucracy, red tape, nepotism and issues involving conflict of interest.
8. Where to hold the inaugural rites—Quirino Grandstand, Quezon Memorial Circle or the Remedios Circle (Malate) for a fitting “people’s inauguration.”

9. Organized crime and public vices. Jueteng. Prostitution. Drug-pushing. Professional kidnapping, Bank robberies. Cell phone theft.

10. Crimes against the environment. Failure to collect and process public garbage. Persistent floods. Wanton tree-cutting. Air pollution. Poisoning of the rivers, lakes, bays and esteros.

11. Who to serve as First Lady or Fill-in First Lady for diplomatic and official functions. (Marry this year or next year? Stay a bachelor for awhile?)

12. The budget deficit and the national debt, including how to pay Noynoy’s campaign debts.

13. Homelessness across the nation. Unchecked squatting that steals public and private lands from the rightful owners. The persistence of slums that breed crime, disease, vices and threats to public safety and health.

14. How to get Vice President Jojo Binay and principal adviser Mar Roxas to work as a team to help the president for the good of the country.

15. Reforms in the Office of the President and Palace operations. Revamp the Office of the Press Secretary for simplicity, economy and efficiency. Elevate the Office of the Chief of Staff. Appoint an official Presidential Physician. Transform the Presidential Security Group into a professional, fulltime, career service. Introduce a bill for this purpose

16. Presidential image. Order the Cabinet and the bureaucracy to stop referring to President Aquino as “His Excellency” in public speeches and communications. “The President of the Philippines” will do for one who wants to get closer to the people. Order all government agencies—except the Department of Foreign Affairs and its embassies and consulates—to desist from displaying your official photograph on office walls and premises. Ban smoking in all government offices.

National identity

The recent headlines have not been flattering to the national ego. Placed together, they present a poor image of the country.

The headlines and stories, mostly based on the results of foreign surveys and world competitiveness studies, befoul the popular mood as we salute our 112th national birthday.

Here are a few examples: “RP among least peaceful countries—Global Peace Index.” “PERC (Political and Economic Risk Consultancy): RP has third worst bureaucracy in Asia.” “RP ranks 39th in Competitiveness Yearbook.” “Manila ranks 69th in World Quality-of-Living Survey.” “RP, Burma pull down peace index in region.” “RP needs 70 years to become rich.”

In the next exhibit room, more positive portraits appear. The Philippines is the second happiest country in the world, according to a survey by consumer soft-drink maker Coca-Cola, citing family closeness and friendships as producers of joy. More Filipinos expect their lives to improve in the next 12 months, says a March 2010 survey by the Social Weather Station. There are many good reasons for the swell of optimism.

Democracy, an imperfect but dynamic system, works in the Philippines. Freedom is palpable in the exercise of civil liberties (although human rights abuses do happen here—even as they do in Europe and the US.) The institutions of a civil society are flourishing. We have been spared the civil wars that rend numerous countries. The economy grows despite global and domestic challenges. We have become a model for multiculturalism, a multi-ethnic nation where all the faiths, races, languages and cultures co-exist in harmony.

We have just conducted, with great success, the first automated election in history. The polls were generally peaceful, the results announced in record time. The transition is working smoothly. The Filipinos have chosen Noynoy Aquino 3rd for president and all the wise losers have made generous concessions.

Manny Pacquiao, make no mistake about it, is our greatest pride. The overseas Filipino workers, almost one-tenth of the population, make foreign businesses, households and global organizations run at top efficiency. Our businessmen are competing aggressively abroad. Filipino “soft power”—expressed in movies, TV telenovelas, music, dance, fashion—enriches our cultural reach abroad. Filipino has become a global language

The national image is a mixed picture, all right. But look at the bright side. Optimism will motivate us to do better. Nothing can beat self-confidence. We have a world to build for our children and grandchildren. Let’s roll up our sleeves, help the new president, share the hard work and sacrifice with our countrymen and run the race for the gold.