Missed Opportunity to Name a Legacy: Some Reflections on Arroyo’s SONA : QC IMC

Such an observation does not intend to belittle the substance nor scope of the President’s speech. From foreign policy to the communist insurgency, from charter change to streamlining the bureaucracy, from tax measures to instilling a new civic culture—the President admittedly touched on a broad range of urgent issues. The reason the listening public was left “hanging” was the lack of an articulated framework for her administration.

This address would have been a precious opportunity to stamp her unique GMA brand of governance on her upcoming six-year term. This SONA could have given a name to the legacy she is evidently trying to build. Her “let’s just do it” call to action hardly makes up for the lack of such a governance vision. Without a framework to give meaning to her calls, how does she intend to rally administration supporters, opponents and political fence-sitters behind her call for a new “season of service” for the common good of this nation?

Her inaugural speech already left us with a long “to do” list. The SONA address could have served to “connect the dots” to give shape and political logic to her administration’s policies.

Instead, she merely expounded on her five-pronged approach to the country’s problems, without presenting interconnections. What kind of economic growth address basic needs of the poor? How can good governance contribute to a reformed energy sector? What is the rationale for overhauling public education?

Another Akbayan legislator, Representative Etta Rosales, offered some assistance: “My unsolicited advice to her is to take the rights-based approach to development. You can’t go wrong with that.” The rights-based approach, advocated by no less than the United Nation Development Program, ties together economic, social and cultural rights into a comprehensive framework for poverty-alleviation that place human dignity and freedom at the center of development.

Her commitment to a social justice agenda would have fit into this framework perfectly. The promise to address basic needs-- water, electricity, land—could have gone hand in hand, providing additional justification for a pro-poor bias.

Even if her SONA failed to inspire a bright political horizon, at least she could have elucidated on the implications of her proposals. Charter change to what end? Reaching out to the opposition for what?

Her announcement that resolutions towards amending the Constitution would begin next year resulted in a standing ovation. She has tapped into Congress’s clamor for reforming the political system, but did not reveal her motives for such a fundamental fix.

The administration’s concern about sectarianism is understandable. Hours before the SONA, Representative Joey Salcedo referred to partisan squabbling as “sibling rivalry”. Then came Arroyo’s proposal for a “marriage of conviction” not “convenience”, which is borne out of “tough love”. All this “family” imagery may not sit well with those serious about deep political reforms. This nation cannot move away from parochial, patronage-based exchanges to “intelligent” political processes by holding on to such narrow conceptions of the political arena.

The appeal to an end of “unprincipled obstructionism” by the opposition is obviously aimed at ensuring the passage of much needed legislation. Instituting regular meetings of the LEDAC ties in with this objective. But beyond such instrumental aims, building a political climate based on principles in politics (an oxymoron?) should be based on the strengthening political parties. More than vehicles to electoral victory, parties play an important role in mature democracies: the articulation of citizens’ interests and bringing these platforms into the policy process. This process can be started without shifting to a parliamentary system. Legislative proposals towards building strong political parties abounded in the 12th Congress. All is needed is the political will to make these measures a reality.

Arroyo is hardly known as a great communicator. We cannot fault her for not being a natural entertainer or mass leader. But as citizens of this country, at the mercy of presidential whims and trapo machinations, we have the right to be curious about what animates the President to say what she says and do what she does. Madame President, don’t leave us in suspense!

Democracy Watch Department
Institute for Popular Democracy

http://www.ipd.ph