Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — During his inaugural speech on June 30, 2010, President Benigno S. Aquino III uttered four words that would form a major theme for his administration: “Kayo ang boss ko.”
It was a sentiment he echoed in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) less than a month later: “Sa administrasyon po natin, walang kota-kota, walang tongpats, ang pera ng taumbayan ay gagastusin para sa taumbayan lamang.”
Four SONAs later and with less than a year left before Aquino’s term ends, political analyst Roland Simbulan of the University of the Philippines believes that the administration has been beset by a problem that dates back to past administrations:
“In the past SONAs that we have heard, not just by this administration… there are actually two SONAs happening. On one hand, the one that is heard in Congress… being delivered by the president is a SONA for the people who are privileged,“ he told CNN Philippines in an exclusive interview.
“On the ground, it seems that those growth rates for the past five years are not trickling down… I think wages have not really increased to catch up with the inflation rates of this country.”
Simbulan said that a SONA, in essence, “should reflect the people’s situation.”
Daang Matuwid
According to Simbulan, Aquino should prioritize the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill before the next president takes over, considering that Aquino began his presidency with an anti-corruption platform.
“In order to sustain anything related to anti-corruption, you need transparency in government.”
Simbulan said that the FOI bill will be a legacy of the administration should it pass.
He also believes that the president’s push for good governance has not entirely been used for the right purposes.
“I think there is a strong perception by many people… that the anti-corruption campaign is very selective… For example, certain high rankings officials, especially those identified with the previous administration have been sacked or prosecuted; and certain opposition officials have been charged and are even detained.
“On the other hand… certain people… identified with the administration or who are close to the president have been spared from the anti-corruption campaign.”
Unfinished business
On a scale of 1 to 10, Simbulan gives Aquino a 5.5, based on the administration’s impact to ordinary Filipinos.
Although he believes that certain parts of Aquino’s promises were fulfilled, Simbulan said that “there are still many things that could not be moved”.
He added that Aquino was not able to overcome the “institutional obstacles” that come with reforms, and failed to implement systemic changes such as the institutionalization of political parties.
“These things might be too much for me to expect the President to do that, but since he himself said that the ordinary, the poor people who compose the majority, are his bosses, then he should deliver.”
