Unity unraveling?

E·N·Q·U·I·R·Y
DEMAREE J.B. RAVAL

Unity unraveling?
Sunday, 01 05, 2003

Sen. Ed Angara rightly declined the offer to join the Cabinet, preferring to work in the Senate where the people elected him. Angara represents the moderate wing of the opposition, preferring to address issues and problems rather than create them. Angara’s production for the past two sessions of the Twelfth Congress is as much a testimony of his willingness to cooperate as it is proof of the kind of leadership he can wield for country. His term as Senate president from January 1993 to August 1995 saw the renaissance of the Philippine economy under the Ramos presidency. No matter how they now grudgingly accept Angara’s primary role, and that of his party, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), the present ruling coalition behind President Arroyo – and that includes Speaker De Venecia with whom then Senate President Angara worked in tandem – cannot deny the fact that Angara’s no-nonsense determination to craft the many laws on economic reform contributed much to the praises heaped on the Ramos presidency on its able handling of the economy. Angara in the Senate during these times could again work wonders for our economy.

Angara is not vocal about his plans for 2004, preferring to work hard in the Senate. Now, he has pledged to helped President Arroyo rebuild the economy. A responsible opposition augurs well for good governance.

This critical cooperation of the opposition with the administration will not, by any means, result in abdication of the opposition’s role as fiscalizer. This is a healthier relationship, over that of a complete lack of opposition to the ruling coalition. Central to this cooperation is the forging of a common and basic development agenda that transcends personalities, with all political parties under a framework of genuine multi-party cooperation.

Now that the administration is to open to a government of national unity, it would do well for it to consider the legislative agenda that the LDP, Angara’s political party, crafted at the start of the Twelfth Congress in July 2001, and updated in July 2002. The 8-point areas for reform crafted by the LDP are: Improving the country’s fiscal position; promoting agricultural and rural development; increasing global competitiveness of Philippine industry; protecting the interest of the consumer; political and constitutional reforms; improving peace and order and national security; instituting genuine social reform; and, development of, and equity for Mindanao.

When the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) meets on Jan. 14, 2002, adoption of these areas of reform via legislation could be a clear sign of unity. After all, the opposition has been calling on the administration to address these reform areas for the past two years.

One recalls that during the Angara Senate presidency in 1993-1995, the Ledac, another Angara initiative, was a rich source of a manageable agenda for governance; and results were guaranteed. President Arroyo herself, then a senator, was part of the Angara team that crafted the laws. Arroyo – for whom Angara fought hard to chair the committees on economic affairs and trade and commerce, respectively – was the point-man, considering her economic background.

Angara and Arroyo working together again augurs well for the nation.

The opposition is pushing the immediate adoption of a specific agenda focused on concerns which are basic and non-controversial, in the areas of education, health and food production.

While the General Appropriations Act for FY 2003 is still to be finalized by Congress, the funding support for these three areas should now be addressed. In food production, for instance, Angara, former Secretary of Agriculture, is batting for a bigger budget for agriculture and fisheries modernization: he noted that the budgetary proposal is down by P1.6 billion compared with the FY 2002 budget. He also deplored the low P43.50 per capita current expenditure for health, and the per capita investment of P403.10 in education, the lowest in eight years.

Let us see how Congress responds to these concerns.

The investigations at the Senate on multi-billion scams, i.e., on Impsa, Piatco, PEA, etc. should continue, but must be concluded soon. After all, they probably see the stage for President Arroyo to pause and think about the kind of people who surround her and give her nothing but trouble, embarrassment and a bad name. A closure to all the investigations is necessary, in order that the government of national unity can move forward. The scams that sprouted the past 24 months of the Arroyo presidency should not be a baggage that will stall the country from moving forward. They are better investigated, and then referred to the prosecution arm and judicial department, should there be any need. But the mess should be cleaned out.

The matter of house arrest for President Joseph Estrada should be given priority. The call for national unity rings hollow if a president thrown out of office by a mob of 300,000, is not even given the treatment to which the entire nation now acknowledges he is entitled.

After reaching out to the political opposition, President Arroyo must now make a similar gesture to the Edsa III forces. I am mentioning particularly Ronald Lumbao, who is clamped in the jail for the unfounded charge of inciting to rebellion. Everybody knows this charge against Ronald will not stand. Ronald, a free man, can possibly serve as a vital cog to the government’s efforts at reconciliation, bringing with him the millions who ache to this day to be heard and their problems addressed. But first, drop the charges.


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