Governance major problem in Phl – EU

MANILA, Philippines – Governance has been a major problem of the Philippines and will require years for the country to effect transformation, according to the European Union’s outgoing Ambassador Alistair MacDonald.

MacDonald believed governance has been a problem in both national and local levels that require reforms.

The outgoing ambassador, however, conceded that some local government units made good and effective management capacities that had been providing better services for their constituents.

“I don’t think it’s something that can’t be changed and there’s prospect for change now,” MacDonald said.

He stressed the reforms needed would not only require President Aquino’s political will but also that of the Filipino people.

As head of the EU delegation to the Philippines for the past four years, MacDonald expressed optimism that the new administration of Aquino would “make a difference” in the next six years.

“I hope the next five years can make a difference. Six years is short for transformation. It may not be completely transformed, but (it could) make a difference,” MacDonald said.

MacDonald pointed out the Philippines also faces problems of natural disasters, population, poverty, and conflict.

The EU considers it “unimaginable” for the Philippines to give up its campaign against graft and corruption despite the Supreme Court ruling of Executive Order 1 as unconstitutional.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in December nullifying EO 1 that created the Truth Commission to investigate massive cases of graft and corruption, MacDonald said the EU would very much encourage the Philippines to take every step possible to address corruption and impunity, and to help carry both the economy and society forward in a way that would benefit all Filipinos.

MacDonald urged the government to take every step through legal means to prevent and address the problem of corruption.

“I certainly do not imagine for one moment that the new administration has given up in any sense on its intention to prevent corruption to address the climate of impunity and to address the question of extralegal killings,” he said.

During the negotiation for the Philippines-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), the EU recognized the serious problem of corruption and vowed to help the Philippines on the aspect of good governance and modernization of public administration.

The EU said good governance is a theme throughout the agreement and they were looking to a number of different aspects where the EU would be able to give support but not be tied down to specifics.

The Philippines and the EU are set to sign the PCA as the government indicated interest in engaging in serious negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Europe.

The PCA will form the new basis for cooperation between the EU and the Philippines.

The EU is also hoping that Congress would pass the Reproductive Health (RH) bill amid the heated debates surrounding the proposed legislation.

MacDonald declined to comment on the legislative process but said the EU is optimistic that Congress would still take serious account of the importance of poverty and preventing abortion in producing an RH measure.

MacDonald said the lack of effective access to reproductive health services in the Philippines is “antithetical” to the struggle to combat poverty and to country’s efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). –Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star)