Speak now or forever hold your peace: questions I want to bombard candidates with

Monday, 25 January 2010 02:43 PM Jester In Exile

Those familiar with contracts involving hiring a company to do a specific job for a specified period of time know of the phrase scope of work, and when making decisions on which company to choose from there often is the list of activities that the companies will offer for the contract price.

Why can't we do the same for elections? We should ask our candidates what their scope of work will be, itemized to the point where we can track their progress, in exchange for our votes. The president, the vice-president, and the twelve senators we will elect will be serving for six years; we must have an idea of how they will spend their time in office.

We must have a working president; if the Philippines was a ship, then the man is the fellow at the tiller, and we cannot accept someone asleep at the wheel.

We must have a working vice-president; the Constitution provides for his appointment to the cabinet without need for confirmation, making his role in government more than just a spare tire but a valuable member of the administration.

We must have senators working tirelessly as legislators; co-equal to the Lower House, the Senate nonetheless has powers related to treaties and other matters of policy that the executive will ask advise and consent for. We must have learned our lessons already; why should we want a Committee on Silence and Narcolepsy in the Senate? How much of our time and our taxes have been wasted on those with chronic mental and/or physical absenteeism?

In the words of my favorite kanto heckler, "P$%#@$^%@, di namin kayo binoto para pumetiks lang, mga t$%@#!#@$!% kayo!"

In another context, however, let's consider this post to be a reaction to the sort of questions being bandied around; my beef has become this: that so many questions are rehashes of old questions instead of demands for plans and policies. For instance, there's so much hype on Villar's C5 at Taga (which doubtless should be answered), or on Aquino's Hacienda Luisita dead issue resurrection (which a lot of people would rather beat the dead horse or its new incarnation in the SCTEX issue-- an attempt viewed by quite a number to create an Aquino C5 at Taga scandal), or on Estrada's DQ/ no DQ problem (COMELEC and Supreme Court opinions being parsed here and there), or on Teodoro's winnability (cripes, haven't we had enough of their optimistic statements?) ad infinitum ad nauseam.

My point: fine, let's ask the questions we are personally interested in the answers to. Let the candidates be weighed on their answers to them, *BUT* let's start asking other questions instead of asking the same ones over and over again.

With the absence of policy debates between candidates, the most we can do is make a list of policy questions for candidates to answer, and the things that they will tell us will give us some idea of how likely we are to choose them. The better informed we are, the less likely we will make the mistake of voting someone useless.

At least, we can hope so. So, this list -- by no means comprehensive, I hope we can all take time to add to this list and demand answers from the candidates. Here we go.

Economy, Poverty Alleviation, Labor and Social Justice

All presidents since Corazon Aquino left office have campaigned with a strong emphasis on the economy and on poverty alleviation (that is, when they bothered to present the public with their platforms and intentions). Personally, I think it's time to ask the candidates what their plans and programs will be; instead of looking just at the product wrapping, we should now be conscious of the ingredients that make the cake.

- What programs and policies will you put in place towards economic recovery? What is your planned legislative agenda towards economic recovery?

- What is your vision regarding the economic structure of the Philippines? Which sectors will you prioritize for recovery and development? What legislation will you repeal, amend or have enacted? Why?

- What policies will you pursue related to the OFW phenomenon? What legislation will you have repealed, have amended or have enacted? Why?

- What policies will you pursue related to the BPO/ITO phenomenon? What legislation will you have repealed, have amended or have enacted? Why?

- Do you intend to pursue the goal of economic self-sufficiency? How will you do so?

- How will you balance the needs of our people and the demands of labor with the needs of business to make a profit and grow, and thus fuel the economic growth of our country and letting such growth trickle down to the average citizen? What legislative actions will you pursue?

- What programs and polices will you pursue to bring investments and tourism to the country? What legislation will you repeal, amend, or enact with these in mind?

- How will you address the reportedly increasing underground economy/ so-called "gray market"? What legislation will you repeal, amend, or enact with that in mind?

International Relations, Foreign Policy, and Defense

The archipelagic nature of the Philippines and its ties with foreign governments, both historical and in the present day, have posed to our country unique challenges and concerns. As such, we must have a government whose foreign policy is clear and pursued consistently, and therefore to the candidates I will pose these questions.

- What is your long-term plan for the AFP, the civilian maritime agencies, and the civilian airspace agencies? What considerations have you made in such plans vis-a-vis the archipelagic nature of the country and its geographical location in Southeast Asia?

- What policies will you pursue related to Philippine claims on Sabah and the Kalayaan Group of Islands? How will you pursue such policies? What is your planned legislative agenda for these claims?

- What international agreements that the Philippines has ratified will you abrogate, or enforce or strengthen the enforcement of?

- What international agreements that the Philippines has not yet signed will you agree with and put before the Senate for ratification?

- What policies will you pursue with regard to our ambassadorial representation abroad? How will you pursue these policies? What legislation will you have enacted, have amended, or have repealed related to our foreign service?

Law Enforcement, Domestic Security, and Civil Defense

Nobody wants to live in fear of criminals, nor does anyone wish to live in a country where fire trucks arrive an hour after one's house has burned down (and get chiseled by firemen just because they showed up) -- or at least I think so. I also do not believe that we want to live in a country where the typhoons that arrive regularly paralyze our country regularly, nor do I believe that we want to live in a country sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire without adequate preparation for earthquakes and volcanoes.

- What is your plan for the AFP's role in domestic security, law enforcement, and civil defense?

- There are several civilian law enforcement agencies, many with overlapping jurisdictions and roles, such as the PNP, NBI, PDEA, PAKTF, PACTF, PAOCTF, Task Force Kalikasan, the Bureau of Customs, the Coast Guard, MARINA, and so on; what is your long-term plan for these agencies?

- What programs and policies will you pursue in dealing with the NPA and MILF insurgencies? What is your planned legislative agenda with regard to these insurgencies?

- What programs and policies will you pursue related to NAPOLCOM, the Department of Justice, the BJMP, and other associated agencies with the goal of better crime prevention, detection, and prosecution?

- What programs and policies will you pursue related to the NDCC, the BFP, local governments, and other agencies with regard to disaster management and crisis mitigation?

Human Rights, Civil and Political Rights, and the Constitution

The Philippines has long been a signatory to many of the international conventions covering civil and political rights; even our Constitution provides for the upholding of our rights. On the other hand, there have been many lobbying for constitutional amendments, most notably on economic provisions. These bring us to questions related to our rights, our freedoms, and our responsibilities -- who do our candidates think we the people are, as citizens of the Republic?

- What policies and programs will you pursue to fight discrimination related to age, gender, religious preference, political affiliation, and so on? What legislation do you intend to put in place, strengthen, or repeal?

- Will you support prosecutorial powers or other similar means for the Commission on Human Rights to be able to pursue human rights abusers? If so, how will you do so; if not, why not?

- Will you support the decriminalization of libel and other restrictions to freedom of expression? If so, how will you do so; if not, why not?

- With the consistent involvement of religious groups in lobbying for or against secular matters, will you support the taxation of religious organizations in the same manner as cause-oriented groups or individuals? If so, how will you do so; if not, why not?

- What constitutional amendments do you intend to pursue, if any? How do you intend to pursue them, and when will you do so?

Social Services and Health Care

We have two government agencies for social services: the SSS and the GSIS. We have Philhealth for government medical insurance. We have the HDMF (known as Pag-IBIG) for government assistance for housing. What they are, unfortunately, are agencies being treated as loan banks. Looking at them in the context of social services and health care, what can we expect from our candidates?

- What are your plans for SSS, GSIS, Philhealth and HDMF? How do you intend to pursue these plans?

- What public health policies -- aside from dealing with the contentious reproductive health issue -- do you intend to put in place? How do you intend to pursue them?

- Do you intend to put a comprehensive reproductive health and population management policy in place? If so, what are the key points of your proposed policy; if not, why not?

- What social welfare policies do you intend to pursue during your term? How do you intend to implement them?

Power and Industry, Transport, and the Environment

For so long, the Philippines has been unable to strike a balance between the things we need to have but affect the environment with the need for conservation. Worse, we have had government officials who, for instance, think that planting trees -- no matter if they are exotic species that damage our own flora and fauna -- is the be-all-and-end-all of environmental protection. In other words, we have faux environmentalists in government, not merely crippled by shortsightedness but blind to ecological facts. We must demand that this situation change -- unless, that is, we want our kids in the metropolis living in a capital submerged in filthy water below and noxious smog above.

- Do you intend to pursue nuclear energy and renewable energy to augment and perhaps later replace our existing energy infrastructure addressing our base load power requirements? If so, how; if not, why not?

- While the Philippines does not yet have a carbon footprint in the same scale as other developed and even some developing countries, do you nonetheless intend to begin mitigation of our carbon emissions? If so, how; if not, why not or when?

- International safety and environmental standards have found the ubiquitous jeepney to be sorely unfit for transport purposes, as are the tricycle, the skylab, and the kuliglig; what are your plans and policies related to them?

- Heavy industry in the Philippines is still limited, and much of light industry is geared towards export; what policies and programs will you pursue related to them, with due consideration for environmental impact mitigation?

Education, Arts and Culture, and Science and Technology

Another issue being bandied about is the thorny issue of education, the offshoot of which are arts and culture, as well as science and technology. So many "pro-education" politicians; so little in the way of vision, mission, plan and program.

- What policies and programs will you pursue with regard to the Philippine educational system? What is the structure you envision? How will you implement these and what is your planned time frame?

- How will you encourage research and innovation in the country? How will you ensure that such innovations become mainstream and useful?

- What policies will you pursue with regard to information and communications technologies? What legislation do you intend to put in place?

- What programs do you intend to pursue with regard to government institutions such as the NCCA, the NHI, the National Library, and so on?

Transparency and Accountability in Government, Corruption, and the Civil Service

Much has been said about candidates being anti-corruption, being "Mister Clean" and whatever else, but beyond the soundbites there is very little discussion going on. Let's focus on basic questions.

- What programs and policies will you implement, amend, or enact with regard to the accountability of public officials? What is your time frame?

- Do you intend to pursue the professionalization and citizen-oriented service mindset of public officials? How will you do so?

- What are your plans with regard to the government bureaucracy? How will you implement these plans, and how long do you think it will take?

Do add to the list of policy questions. Let's hope the candidates get to read this post, your questions and comments, and reply accordingly; let's then later vote with such information in mind come election day. I know it might seem that we're telegraphing our intentions -- but what matters that? Not much; what truly matters is if our candidates answer, how they answer, and how much depth their answers have -- it will also be a tell-tale of their disrespect for our ability to pick and choose wisely if they do not answer and campaign with much gloss and no substance.

Ask, consider, vote. Your vote counts.

Photo by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado. Some Rights Reserved.

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Disclaimer: Comments posted here reflect our readers’ views and not the opinion of The Philippine Online Chronicles.

GabbyD 25 January 10, 04:02 PM

i 100% agree with this post. good job.

cocoy 25 January 10, 07:44 PM

Jester, can i just say this is an awesome post?

People should read this.

n_dado 25 January 10, 09:18 PM

Jester, I want you to head our debate project. Nice job!

Karl Garcia 26 January 10, 12:26 AM

debate project, as in presidential debate project?

Go,go go!

n_dado 26 January 10, 08:54 AM

yes Jester presented a plan. It is matter of placing all of them together in one place

ramil joaquin 27 January 10, 12:23 AM

Wow "Debate Project". I can't wait. Sana televise ng mga biggest networks. Para maraming makapanood.

lee2pens 04 March 10, 04:15 PM

BRO. EDDIE VILLANUEVA's (7 E'S - PLATFORM OF GOVERNMENT)

I. ERADICATE BAD GOVERNANCE
BPP strongly believes that for righteousness to prevail in and bless the land, righteousness must begin in and with government itself. People must desire and expect righteousness in government. The first battle order of the new administration, therefore, is to frontally attack and dismantle the apparatus of corruption in government and in the system.
BP will attack corruption through the following:
Before assumption of power:
By an honest, volunteer-driven campaign that will not engage in vote-buying, coercion, and other dishonest, ungodly and traditional ways of getting votes, so that the BP administration will not engage in corruption to recover campaign expenses.
Upon assumption of power:
A. By a clear, comprehensive and committed executive agenda, which shall include:
1. First, through leadership by example. BPP will not engage in and tolerate corruption. BPP commits that all these will begin with the President himself, and down to the entire slate.
2. By doing away with the rule of “Executive Privilege”, so that cabinet secretaries and other officers of the Executive Branch of the Government can testify in any legislative inquiry or investigation, subject only to the rule of mutual courtesy and respect between co-equal branches of the government, and subject to universally and well-recognized exceptions such as inquiries involving national security, where the same can be conducted by the proper committee of the legislature in “executive fashion.”
3. By request from the Chief Executive, certified as urgent to Congress, for the passage of legislation that will restore the death penalty according to the tenets of the Constitution, specifying that Congress define plunder and syndicated warlordism, among others, as heinous crimes, to signify BPP’s dead serious intent to clean the house of government itself.
4. By request from the Chief Executive, certified as urgent to Congress, for the elevation of wages and compensation for government employees as an incentive against corruption.
5. By request from the Chief Executive, certified as urgent to Congress, for passage of a law that would immediately address the problem of ECONOMIC INJUSTICE to the countryside, and calling for a system that would ensure that what is for Mindanao goes to Mindanao, what is for Visayas goes to Visayas, what is for Luzon goes to Luzon, and what is for Metro Manila goes to Metro Manila, either by:
5.a. Calling for a Constitutional Convention that would consider the possibility of adopting the FEDERAL FORM of government under a PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM with the idea of dividing the Philippines for economic administration into Luzon, Metro Manila (NCR), Visayas and Mindanao; if adopted and ratified by the people, FEDERALISM WILL ABOLISH THE PRESENT PORK BARREL SYSTEM with the funds pertaining to a regional state already going to it without passing through the national budget where it might be subjected to preferential allocation for one region to the detriment of another.
5.b. If a Con-con is not called, or if it is not forthcoming, the Chief Executive will request passage of a law bringing changes in the budget system whereby what is for Mindanao goes to Mindanao, what is for Visayas goes to Visayas, what is for Luzon goes to Luzon and what is for Metro Manila goes to Metro Manila, so that the incomes and resources of the government are equitably shared between Metro Manila and the three great regions of the Philippines and the local government units under them, ensuring a more equitable spread-out of development across the archipelago; this new policy shall be called the “assURED REGIONAL PIE” POLICY.
6. By immediately forming Presidential Accountability Task Forces, to be called Accountability Task Force 1 (and 2, 3, and so on and so forth) consisting of the best and most idealistic lawyers and accountants within the Department of Justice and other related offices or adjuncts of the Executive Department, to investigate within six months all controversial deals and transactions entered into by the previous administration and, if the prima facie evidence warrants, to forthwith cause the filing of the necessary criminal, civil and administrative cases as may be applicable against all persons responsible, under the maxim that no one is above the law. Part of this accountability program is a program for protection of whistle-blowers who do not appear to be most guilty of the crime or offense charged, and whose testimony is crucial to pin down those who appear most guilty of the same, which program shall also provide economic and other security for state witnesses as may be necessary for their full protection.
7. By strengthening meritocracy in the civil service, among others, by de-militarizing the bureaucracy; a separate reward system will be established for those who serve in the military faithfully, but the civil service will not be used as a reward for some members of the military who may be used for dagdag-bawas and other “special ops”.
8. By increasing transparency and people’s participation in the screening of the judiciary, by reverting to the model of the 1935 Constitution for appointment of justices in the Supreme Court.
9. By institutionalizing Pres. Proc. No. 62, otherwise known as the Moral Recovery Program of the government, by asking Congress to pass a law that would institutionalize it.
10. By revising the curriculum of the elementary education by including the subject on GOOD VALUES, GOOD CITIZENSHIP, and/or GOOD MANNERS AND RIGHT CONDUCT as required subject at all grade levels.
11. By tasking pertinent undersecretaries for transparency and accountability in all government offices to report to the people all transactions undertaken by government in the respective departments and offices in excess of P5M.
12. By establishing a one-stop-shop for foreign and domestic investors wanting to invest or set up new business in the Philippines, and encouraging LGU’s to do likewise, in order to facilitate ease of registration and eliminate as much as possible structural opportunities for corruption.
13. By stopping smuggling that results in loss of jobs and closure of local businesses as well as importation based on unnecessary or fabricated “needs” which are rich sources of corruption.
B. By a clear legislative agenda, to wit:
1. Support the call of the Chief Executive for passage of a law calling for a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) to consider adopting the federal form of government under a presidential model, as well as other innovations to governance that would require amendment or revision of the Constitution.
2. Pending consideration of the possibility of shifting to the federal form of government by way of the Con-con, a law shall be passed that would give economic justice to the regions of the Philippines, whereby what should be for Mindanao goes to Mindanao, what is for Visayas goes to Visayas, what is for Luzon goes to Luzon, and what is for Metro Manila goes to Metro Manila.
3. Pass an implementing law that would give flesh and substance to the ECONOMIC RENT PRINCIPLE enshrined in Sec. 18 of the Local Government Code whereby local government units and communities will have a fair share of the incomes for the heavy use of natural resources in their areas.
4. Pass a law requested by the Chief Executive for the restoration of the death penalty according to the tenets of the Constitution, defining among others plunder and syndicated warlordism as heinous crimes deserving of the death penalty.
5. Pass the Freedom of Information Act.
6. Quash the Right of Reply Bill
7. Review the effectiveness of the Office of the Ombudsman, consider the desirability of making it an elective office, submitting the study to the people that it might be considered as a possible amendment to the Constitution by way of the Constitutional Convention.
8. Pass all necessary laws that will effect changes in policy directions for the rebuilding of the nation, such as, among others, support for the agricultural sector as the foundation of our economic growth and social justice program.
II. ENERGIZE THE ECONOMY

BPP strongly believes that a social structure of poverty is one of the worst, if not the worst, form of unrighteousness, wickedness, or injustice in the social order, and that the end of all economic programs should be the levelling of the playing field for all whereby sufficiency, if not prosperity, is reachable or possible for all and not just for a preferred or favoured few. To achieve this objective, the economic agenda of BPP shall be guided by the following principles:

1. The Principle of Agriculture being the Foundation of the Economic Recovery of the Philippines:
The Philippines is an agricultural country and majority of its people, including the largest members of its poor population, belong to the agricultural sector, which is supposed to be strength of the country.
Consequently, the first economic agenda of the Bangon administration is the rejuvenation of the agricultural economy, where the country’s greatest assets and potentials lie. Enhancement and promotion of organic food production, food security, and agricultural and agro-forestry products and by-products leading also to the production of goods for clothing and shelter, as well as all other appurtenances of modern, sustainable, green, bio-diverse and organic agriculture and agro-forestry, and including computer hardware and software shall be the broad objectives of putting premium on the agricultural sector and economy of the country. The Bangon administration will throw its full support for agriculture, including subsidy of farm implements, lifting of tariffs or customs for equipment or machinery needed by farmers, funding assistance, and other helps, not only for domestic benefit, but also for global competitiveness.
The desirability of fusing the Department of Agrarian Reform and Department of Agriculture (to be renamed as the DARA) shall be seriously considered, to ensure that the twin objectives of social justice and agricultural productivity can be pursued in harmony with each other, to ensure productivity.
Government shall also support organic farming, production of organic health supplements and organic medicine, as well as clothing and shelter by-products, for domestic consumption as well as for export.
Agriculture must also be vigorously protected from unfair global trade.
2. The Policy of Self-Help First before Foreign assistance:
Bangon believes that the progress of the Philippines will not come primarily from foreign effort or help but will result first from the Filipino people’s resolve to elevate the nation. The thrust, therefore, of the Bangon administration is to develop a strong and vibrant domestic economy.
For this reason, Bangon will adopt a policy of self-help first before foreign aid, primarily among others by financing research and development for the conversion of raw materials and natural resources into finished products.
To jumpstart the Filipino self-help policy, the Bangon administration will undertake the following measures:
a. Granting tax holidays to local business institutions that will prioritize Research and Development (R&D) for Filipino inventions and products
b. Lifting tariffs and duties for the import of equipment and technology intended to aid Filipino invention and production of goods
c. Opening up of government credit facilities with special interest rates for R&D and production of Filipino inventions
d. Granting similar incentives and assistance for the green and sustainable modernization of Philippine agriculture
e. Funding scholarships for bright Filipino students to study in schools all over the world with contract to bring back their knowledge to the homeland.
3. The Principle of Filipino Security amidst Global Trade
In view of the seeming unstoppability of globalism, a Bangon administration will be careful to protect national interest and welfare in the global market. It will protect home-grown industries while at the same time encourage them to be globally competitive.
Along this line, a Bangon administration will protect local industries and businesses against the adverse effects of globalism such as AFTA (Asean Free Trade Agreement), GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), JPEPA (Japan Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement), and other similar agreements, by the following measures:
a. Political will in enforcing the policy of RECIPROCITY and EQUALITY
b. Review of such treaties and agreements and request or work for appropriate repeals, revisions or amendments as may be necessary to protect local industries
c. Subsidize or support local industries to make them globally competitive
d. Review in order to revise if not repeal the EPIRA Law, to make the cost of electricity in the country low, so that local producers and manufacturers can make the prices of their products competitive in the global market
e. Stop smuggling
4. The Principle of Kindness, Incentive, or Reward to Foreign Investors that utilizes local products, goods, or services
The preceding principle of Filipino Security amidst Globalism will be counter-balanced or complemented by a policy that rewards foreign investment which helps local industries.
The Bangon administration will attract foreign investment to come to the Philippines through the following:
a. Reduction if not removal of excise or similar taxes on foreign companies that set up businesses here which utilise local products (“local content”) for the things they produce
b. Establishment of one stop-shops for investors
c. Provision of stiffer penalties for those who illegally impose personal levies on investors
d. Long term lease of carefully classified areas of land under terms and conditions that are fair
e. Honest and righteous governance that will not tolerate corruption
f. Reduction of the cost of electricity low in the country
5. The Principle of Government being the Equalizer or Leveler of the Playing Field
As a general rule, business is left to businessmen. But government is the equalizer or leveler of the playing field when conditions arise where the profit of some results in injustice to others. A Bangon administration will step in when there is cartelization, monopoly, or similar conditions that work injustice or disadvantage to the Filipino people.
Government should reacquire its share in Petron, if only to prevent cartelization in the fuel industry.
6. The Policy of Alchemy over Mere Raw Material Production:
For too long, the Philippines has lagged behind its neighbours because it has not gotten out of its pre-industrial agricultural age. In the main, we plant and harvest using ancient tools and we produce raw materials only, such as sugar, hemp and coconut.
While the change cannot be implemented overnight, Bangon will shift the direction of Philippine agriculture in particular and the economy in general to the policy of “alchemy,” or production of finished products over mere raw materials.
Along this line, Bangon will reward both local business and foreign investors who will bring the Philippines to this new direction. For example: foreign investments that transfer knowledge, knowhow, training and technology to enable the production of finished, useful products out of Philippine natural resources will be encouraged with a moratorium on corporate and income tax for a fixed number of years until investors are able to recover their investments, or after a minimum number of Filipinos are employed by said company vis-a-vis its capital investments. Instead of merely buying vehicles from other countries for example, the Philippines will make its own engine blocks and produce its own eco-friendly vehicles.
7. The Policy of “assURED REGIONAL PIE”
Recognizing the economic injustice suffered by the countryside in the allocation of the natural wealth and income, the Bangon administration will pursue a policy and program that will assure that what is for Mindanao will go to Mindanao, what is for Visayas will go to Visayas, what is for Luzon goes to Luzon and what is for Metro Manila goes to Metro Manila. Bangon believes that greater economic activity will be spurred if the countryside is given the necessary resources to unleash its potential.
This major shift in policy in the sourcing and allocation of the national wealth and income is best achieved by a corresponding Constitutional amendment that makes permanent the shift, or by legislation that brings about the change in the budgetary process.
8. The Principle of Collective vs Central Economic Planning:
While the mechanism for the policy of the assured Regional Pie is not yet in place, a Bangon administration will already start to veer away from the current centralized planning followed by Malacanang.
Instead, our geographic and demographic economic planning will involve the provinces, cities and municipalities in a multi-stage process, the first stage of which will consist in their consultation and contribution of plans and ideas together with the collation of statistics through research.
The aggregated data will be assessed and developed by the NEDA into one economic master plan, to become the basis for the national budget to be passed by Congress and implemented by the Executive, subject to the economic policies of Bangon Pilipinas Party herein explained.
9. Developing Smart Labor while Protecting Cheap Labor:
Cheap labor has sustained the Philippine economy for hundreds of years and has spawned social injustice and economic inequality.
Bangon will protect cheap labor against exploitation and starvation wages. At the same time, however, it will develop skilled and smart labor by:
a. Granting government scholarships for poor but talented minds
b. Increasing the mandate and budget of TESDA
c. Re-gearing existing state-sponsored technical and vocational schools towards software programming for agricultural as well as entrepreneurial purposes
d. Bolstering current polytechnic learning institutions with an R&D orientation designed to build the best possible products out of Philippine human and natural resources
e. Establishing Community Entrepreneurial High Schools that can develop family and community enterprises with the view of also developing skilled and smart labor within the families and communities involved in these enterprises
10. The Institutionalization of Nationalized Microfinance for Small and Medium-Range Enterprises:
The current banking and financing industry is based on a “trickle-down” neo-classical economic theory that rewards only those who are already successful and has nothing to offer to those who are starting out from zero.
The Bangon administration will adopt the tested concept of the Grameen Bank, which has already been brought to the Philippines by some notable NGOs, and provide them with adequate capitalization, support services and technical support to enable the poor to have access to soft loans to start their businesses. It will seek to establish a National Cooperative Bank to encourage small and medium-scale industries and entrepreneurship.
11. Purchasing Power of the Peso vs Exchange Rate:
For too long, government has regarded the foreign exchange rate of the peso as if it were an end in itself, even though there are always winners and losers in any movement of the exchange rate in either direction.
Bangon Pilipinas maintains that it is the purchasing power of the peso, and not the level of the exchange rate, that is of paramount importance to Filipino consumers.
The proper goal for the exchange rate is to avoid volatility and drastic movements.
On the other hand, purchasing power, particularly of poorer Filipinos, will be safeguarded through monetary and fiscal discipline that will promote overall price stability, as well as through appropriate economic policies that will ensure the accessibility of basic commodities to all Filipinos.
The Bangon administration will keep a close watch on purchasing power and regard it as one of its key performance indicators and critical yardsticks for economic success.
12. The three-point strategy of honest leadership, debt moratorium, and increased revenue collection to address the problem of the budget deficit
Bangon Pilipinas will address the challenge of the huge budget deficit by:
a. First establishing an honest, credible, and respected leadership in government
b. Then by working for debt relief or moratorium
c. Then by improved revenue collection.
BPP believes that everything hinges on honest, credible, respected servant-leadership. If the leadership is honest and respected, creditors will not be difficult to speak to concerning debt relief or moratorium, and taxpayers will be encouraged to pay the right taxes.
III. ELEVATE THE LIVING STANDARDS OF THE PEOPLE

BPP believes that people, as bearers of God’s image, should be able to live lives of dignity where their minimum requirements for a decent human life are met and provided for, putting them in a position to further elevate their own living standards by their own industry, creativity and hard work after government has levelled the playing field for everyone. “Levelling the playing field” is a non-negotiable demand of righteousness in the social and economic order and an inescapable offshoot of loving God and loving one’s neighbour.
Along this line, the Bangon administration will:
1. Direct a national inventory of all government abandoned, idle, or foreclosed lands and direct the allocation of the same for massive urban and/or rural settlement and housing under Commonwealth Act 141 otherwise known as the PUBLIC LAND ACT, for the building up of communities for the poorest of the poor in partnership with the private sectors such a Gawad Kalinga (GK) and the Habitat for Humanity.
2. Pass a LAND FOR TAXES LAW whereby land owners willing to part with any of their lands for use by the government as relocation or socialized housing site can have the same credited as payment for any local or national tax, whether owing or forthcoming
3. Put up elementary, high school and or entrepreneurial schools therein, as well as heath centers or lying-in clinics to address the most urgent school and medical needs of the community.
4. Encourage the sharing of land by discouraging excessive landholding through the application of the principle of progressive taxation; progressively increase the percentage of land taxes for increasing large holdings (to make it undesirable to have too much land while others have none).
5. Strengthen and further expand the asset reform program of the government through:
a. Agrarian reform
b. Preserving and expanding the municipal water zones for marginal fisherfolk
c. Ancestral domain for upland farmers
d. UDHA for the urban poor
6. Institutionalize cash transfer program as incentive for parents
a. Give a certain amount to parents for keeping their children aged 6 to 13 in school
b. Give a certain amount to poor parents who regularly visit health centres (to develop a healthy citizenry)
7. Grant tax credits to companies who engage in direct, sustainable poverty-alleviation or reduction program.
8. PROTECT LABOR
Some forty million Filipinos are labourers. The labour sector needs special protection, not in a way that kills business, but in a manner that ensures peaceful co-existence and mutual benefit.
Along this line, a Bangon administration will ease tax burdens on businesses which are good or generous to their workers. Tax incentives will be granted to businesses that hire regular workers and avoid contractualization, or which grant higher than minimum wages or benefits to its employees.
Poverty-alleviation or mitigation measures by businesses for its rank and file workers will be given tax credits to encourage generosity of businesses to workers.
Treaties such as AFTA, GATT, and JPEPA will reviewed for any adverse effects on Filipino workers, and will be addressed accordingly.
The interest of labour will be preferred over foreign interest that works adversely on the Filipino worker.
9. PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
The living standards of the people cannot be protected in the long term if the environment is not taken care of. We are stewards of the environment for the next generation. The Bangon Administration will integrate environmental protection with disaster-preparedness, among others, by:
a. Imposing a moratorium on all large scale, open-pit mining, until after a policy is set in place whereby Filipinos are able to make their own finished products of their own natural resources under a mining program that protects the environment
b. Regulating small-scale mining
c. Imposing a total log ban on all forest-grown or endemic trees
IV. EMPOWER THE PEOPLE
Simultaneous with eradicating bad governance, energising the economy, and elevating the living standards of the people, the Bangon administration will strengthen the moral resolve of the Filipino people to take a more direct hand in plotting their own destinies and strengthening their tools and means towards self-determination through a series of programs that would empower them. It is a situation of unrighteousness when people are left powerless and helpless to take care of themselves or better their conditions. Righteousness demands that people be empowered.
Along with the other programs of the Bangon platform, the Bangon Administration intends to empower the people:

A. Economically
1. By generating the growth of small, medium and large-scale enterprises in producing the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter and educating, organizing and mobilizing the people to this end: SME GENERATION, GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT shall be a Centerpiece Program of the Party.
2. By establishing a Green, Biodiverse and Sustainable Agricultural and Agroforestry Security and Productivity Program supportive of agrarian reform that will ensure:
a. Prioritization of irrigation infrastructure systems, farm-to-market roads and post-production facilities
b. Government subsidy for procurement of indigenous seeds and organic fertilizers and pesticides
c. Tax exemption for local manufacture of farm implements and machines
d. assured purchase of agricultural and agro-forestry products and marketing of agricultural and agroforesty produce to foreign markets via inter-nation trade
e. Establishment of large stretches of green, biodiverse and sustainable agroforestry areas in every province and municipality
B. Politically
1. By strictly enforcing the Freedom of Information Act
2. By empowering Local Government Units, either through federalism if it shall be considered by the people’s representatives in a Constitutional Convention and ratified by the people, or the assured Regional Pie Policy explained in Item II hereof, and/or by giving teeth or substance to the Economic Rent Principle enshrined in the Local Government Code;
3. By propagating the use of the PHILIPPINE EAGLE, (already declared by law as the national bird), as the symbol of the new Philippines, the Philippine Eagle being stronger and bigger even than the American Bald Eagle, and more accurately depicting the new Filipino resolve to arise (“bangon”) to new heights of righteousness in governance and peace and progress in the land; the Philippine monkey-eating eagle will also symbolize that the new Philippines will “eat” or devour any monkey-business in governance
4. By aiding the cause of Justice for the Poor that will enable:
a. Granting of pro-bono handling incentives to private law firms and practitioners by assigning tax deductibility percentages to said cases
b. Working with the Supreme Court to allow said handling of pro-bono cases as equivalent to certain MCLE credits
c. Encouraging law schools and/or law centers to handle pro-bono or public interest cases, and granting appropriate incentives for the same
5. By ensuring freedom of speech and the press through:
a. The Magna Carta for Journalists as envisioned by journalists, broadcasters and bloggers
b. The Freedom of Information Act
c. The quashing of the Right of Reply Bill
6. By protecting human rights, including women’s rights and children’s rights, and ensuring its full exercise by all citizens.
Position on Reproductive Health Bill
Bangon Pilipinas firmly believes that the life of the unborn child begins at the time of conception. As such, we do not and will not advocate, institutionalize and/or legalize any practice of abortion or the use of any abortion-inducing pills or drugs designed to terminate the life of an unborn fetus. Neither will the Party promote, advocate nor institutionalize the practice and use of any artificial contraceptive devices. However, believing in the divine right of every individual to “free will” or the “right of choice”, Bangon Pilipinas believes that the State, as the guardian and as the constitutional protector of every facet of human rights of every Filipino, should not, in any way, shape or form, interfere with the individual’s inherent right of discretion and/or right to choose which birth control measures, artificial or otherwise, he/she may deem proper and appropriate under his/her particular circumstances, and according to his/her faith or conscience.
Furthermore, Bangon Pilipinas believes that:
a. the so-called “population explosion” is not the cause of poverty; rather, it is the effect of poverty;
b. the real, more primordial issue, is the issue of equitable sharing of resources
c. abortion-inducing drugs should never be classified as common drugs or over the counter-medicine
d. the health and welfare of women and babies is important to the state
e. moral values should be taught, more than technology or device
f. children and youth should be protected from any unnecessary and unhealthy exposure to s**ual information
7. By adopting, in the field of FOREIGN AND GLOBAL RELATIONS:
a. The Policy of Global Community Participation vs Globalized Co-optation and Destruction, which means:
• Bangon Pilipinas does not believe in globalization that destroys the nation
• Bangon rejects all notions of a new world order or one world government
• Bangon, however, affirms the need for nations of the world to interact harmoniously in an atmosphere of justice, fair play and mutual respect: this is the policy of Global Community Participation
• The only way for the Philippines to be a respected player in the global community is for the Philippines to strengthen itself nationally through honest and righteous governance and a self-sustaining and exporting economy

b. The Policy of Self-Respect before International Respect
• Before we can be respected by the international community, we must respect ourselves first
• The Bangon Administration will launch a Program to Enhance Filipino Self-Respect consisting of nationally coordinated and directed campaigns:
 Teaching Philippine pre-history, history, culture and society in governmental structures from the top down to instill Pride in the Filipino
 Cleaning up streets, rivers, esteros and surroundings and teaching the people how to maintain these
 Cleaning up the bureaucracy of corruption from the top down and encouraging the people to watch the national and local government nearest them
8. By recognizing the special role of (Overseas Filipino Workers) OFWs in nation-building.
Bangon believes that it is sad for Filipinos to leave their families by having to work abroad, not out of desire but out of sheer economic necessity. An ultimate objective of the Bangon Administration is to establish an economic environment where it will no longer be necessary for Filipinos to leave their families behind, with children growing up without their parents, or brothers or sisters, by ensuring that there are sufficient economic opportunities at home. However, this cannot be done overnight. In the meantime, Bangon will set up:
a. An OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKER SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM (OFWSSS) where OFWs can pay their premiums or remittances through special arrangement with Philippine banks abroad where they work, the fund to be deposited in government treasury shares managed by the OFWSSS
b. Special assistance Desks in main OFW ports of entry/exit as well as in every Philippine embassy
c. Family Support Programs for OFW families left in the Philippines, with particular emphasis on training these families in entrepreneurship as a way of doubling OFW remittances
d. An OFW Re-Entry and Re-Integration Program to facilitate their set-up of businesses in the Philippines upon return
e. A Presidential Office on OFW Action to pay special attention to OFWs
f. Treaties for mutual and shared responsibility with other governments in the matter of protection of OFWs
V. EMANCIPATE THE PEOPLE
Bangon Pilipinas Party believes that the fruit of righteousness is freedom or emancipation from unjust social structures and systemic greed and exploitation. Neither lawlessness nor licentiousness, but true and genuine liberty to do what is good and right, is the fruit of righteousness.
Bangon will pursue the emancipation of the Filipino people, along with the other programs of the Bangon platform:
A. Immediately
1. By increasing the budget for poverty alleviation in existing programs
2. By withdrawing AO 187, which unduly and unjustly controls membership in the National Anti-Poverty Commission
3. By bringing back the DENR’s Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2001-17, a landmark regulation in the use of the Archipelagic Principle in delineating municipal waters, thereby protecting our waters as well as our small and middle fishermen
4. By calling and leading consultations between all stakeholders on the issuance of Certificates of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADT) as regards Ancestral Domain, to settle questions of jurisdiction once and for all
B. In the medium term
1. By launching the Green, Biodiverse and Sustainable Agricultural and Agroforestry Security and Productivity Program
2. By establishing the Philippine Self-Help and Self-Determination Program, which prioritizes self-help before foreign aid especially in the matter of research and development in converting raw materials and natural resources into finished products
C. In the long term
Subject to the collective wisdom of the Filipino people through their duly elected representatives in a Constitutional convention to be called for the purpose, by submitting the question of shifting to the federal form of government under a presidential model whereby proceeds of taxation, tariffs and customs will stay in the province or region where it is paid, subject to mandatory contribution to the national government for running its national offices, and subject further to mandatory contribution to poorer regions and/or provinces as may be identified by NEDA, or by clustering poorer provinces with richer ones to ensure that resources are evenly spread out in the federal region, thereby diminishing red tape and corruption and subjecting funds to much greater transparency and accountability at the local level, and emancipating localities from the burden of subsidizing a top-heavy national government.
VI. EDUCATE THE PEOPLE
Education is a mandate of righteousness. Emancipation and empowerment require the continuing task of educating our people, especially the children and youth, by providing them with adequate training and knowledge with the view of redefining ourselves on the basis of our common history, rich cultural heritage and high ideals and traditions. Through education our people must arrive at a moral and ethical consensus as to who we are, what we want to become, and how we are getting there.
The keystone of our education program is to turn our people into Filipinos thoroughly conscious of their history, culture and destiny as a nation so that they can push the country into an era of productivity not only in agriculture and agroforestry but in entrepreneurship, science and technology.
A. By restoring and implementing in public schools and state colleges and universities:
1. Mastery of languages through a mother tongue-based multilingual educational system
2. Thorough knowledge of Philippine pre-history, history, geography, and culture
B. By establishing Community Entrepreneurial High Schools that will:
1. Build the concept and practice of entrepreneurship into all subjects
2. Turn high school students as well as their parents and communities into teams of entrepreneurs capable of growing micro to small and small to medium-scale enterprises with the cooperation of teachers and barangay/town officials
C. By ensuring that the mandate and practice of Science High Schools produce scientists and mathematicians who are capable of inventing new knowledge, products and processes
D. By ensuring that technological colleges and universities produce graduates who are not only competent but world-class in:
1. Software Programming
2. Internet and Communications Technology
3. Networking
E. By granting incentives to state colleges and universities to conduct R&D towards the production of new knowledge, products and processes especially with regard to the green and sustainable modernization of indigenous agriculture and the green and sustainable production of food, clothing and shelter
F. By ensuring the preservation, consolidation and popularization of our national identity, history and culture through:
1. The establishment of Philippine Studies Programs in all state colleges and universities
2. The strengthening of all cultural agencies of government, including the NCCA, CCP, NHI and National Museum through a significant boost in budget and private funding as well as increase of enforcement powers with regards to the preservation and protection of historical and artistic sites and streets, including street names
3. The reorientation of other government agencies with regards to Philippine history and culture as well as the preservation and protection of historical and artistic sites, streets and street names, with the NCCA, NHI and National Museum at the lead
4. The granting of tax incentives for the restoration of historical sites and streets as well as the production of public monuments and murals
5. The de-politicalization of the National Artist awards
G. By working towards free college or tertiary-level education of poor but determined and industrious students nationwide.
VII. ESTABLISH PEACE AND ORDER IN THE LAND
Peace is both a work and a product of righteousness. Righteousness demands that peace and order be built upon the foundations of justice and equal opportunity.
A Bangon administration will seek peace and order in the land through the following actions:
A. SPECIAL ATTENTION TO PEACE IN MINDANAO
Bangon Pilipinas strongly believes that the Mindanao Peace Agenda should command the special and focal attention of the new administration. The Bangon Adminsitration will seek peace in Mindanao that would strongly help establish peace all throughout the country through the following concrete means:
1. PEACE PROCESS. Immediately reconvene, continue, and as much as possible conclude the on-going stalled peace process between all stakeholders in Mindanao;
2. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. The Bangon Administration will call a Constitutional Convention to consider and address, among others, the desirability of shifting to the federal form of government under a presidential model for a permanent solution to the problem of injustice in the countryside, including Mindanao, or any other long-term solution that would establish justice and peace in Mindanao as well as the whole country, depending on the collective wisdom of the people’s representatives to the Con-con and as may be ratified by the Filipino people;
3. REVIEW AND SUPPORT the Philippine claim to Sabah and Spratlys. The claim of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu over Spratlys and Sabah as part of the Philippine Republic will be officially studied and supported by the Philippine Government under a Bangon administration. All peaceful remedies to assert the claim will be made, including among others bringing the matter before the international forum of justice, as well as an amendment of the Constitution defining the Philippine archipelago, subject to the collective wisdom of the people’s representatives to the Constitutional convention, and as may be ratified by the Filipino people.
4. Establish an ECONOMIC-ZONE IN TAWI-TAWI AND A TRANSHIPMENT PORT IN SIBOTO STRAIT, to enable the collection of transshipment from foreign vessels plying the route, according to the fees set by the U.N. Law of the Seas, and for the income to be used for the upliftment of Tawi-tawi and Mindanao
5. IMMEDIATELY DISMANTLE ALL PRIVATE ARMIES, whether in Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao.
B. OVER-ALL APPROACH TO THE AGENDA OF PEACE
Bangon Pilipinas believes that while crime and criminality will always be present in every society, much of crime and criminality have social causes. It is, therefore, a fundamental approach of Bangon Pilipinas to address the challenge of peace and order by a Policy of Addressing the Cause, while containing the Symptom.
1. The causes of the a deteriorated peace and order situation are:
a. Massive social injustice and widespread poverty
b. Neglect of the countryside
c. Unabated graft and corruption
d. Policy of militarization as an instrument of peace-keeping
2. The long-term solutions include:
a. Equitable distribution of the national wealth and income through the “assured Regional Pie” Policy in the national budgeting process as explained in II.5 hereof;
b. Federalism, or any equivalent or alternative long-term formula that would assure that what is for Mindanao goes to Mindanao, what is for Visayas goes to Visayas, what is for Luzon goes to Luzon, and what is for Metro Manila goes to Metro Manila.
c. Paying special attention to the agriculture sector and agricultural economy, where majority of the rural poor belong, and which is the source of discontent and insurgency, through measures outlined in Section II hereof;
d. Distributing government-owned idle or abandoned lands for urban and rural housing and relocation with infrastructure for support, in partnership with the private sector such as GK and Habitat for Humanity
e. Encouraging direct private sector participation in poverty alleviation programs where expenses incurred by such individuals and corporations will be tax creditable.
f. Putting up of basic facilities like water and electricity in the most depressed areas preferably through eco-friendly, alternative, and non traditional methods or means
3. Reorient the AFP and PNP towards more civilian relations-related activities, such as building of schools, homes, bridges, medical missions, etc.
4. Protect the integrity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police and taking care of their welfare by ensuring :
a. Their basic human needs, including housing, medical, and retirement benefits
b. Sufficiency of arms, weapons and equipment
c. Electronic/communications logistics
d. Education in Philippine history and culture
5. Provide for the education of AFP/PNP legitimate children up to the college level.

Bokyo Ko 10 March 10, 09:42 PM

I wonder why the writer is eager to make us believe that the Hacienda Luisita issue is already closed ("dead horse"). It is NOT a closed issue and still has to be faced by the Aquinos including Noynoy.