1. Electoral Reforms
The right to vote is the cornerstone of any democracy.
The integrity of the electoral process is, thus, essential.
We need to restore the trust of the people in our electoral
process. It must start with a complete revamp of the
COMELEC, starting with the commissioners. We want to
see men/women of unquestionable integrity and probity
appointed as COMELEC commissioners.
We need to streamline the voting and canvassing process
to deter cheating. We need a fast and efficient means of
counting and reporting of election results to establish
winners at the soonest possible time. We believe
automation is a key component of making this a reality.
We need to rationalize and strengthen both the party list
and the overseas Filipino voting to widen the participation
of various sectors.
2. Judicial Reforms
Justice delayed is justice denied.
We want to see judicial processes move faster, with
greater transparency and accessibility to all citizens. Part
of the solution could be an enhanced alternative dispute
settlement and the development paralegal systems.
We need to strengthen Court of Tax Appeals and the
Office of the Ombudsman. We need to set up special
courts for settling business disputes.
And we must ensure adequate independent budget for
the judiciary.
3. Financial and Economic Reforms
A good benchmark would be the 1990s level of
government revenues in proportion to national income.
We can restore it to that level if we run after tax cheats,
collect proper income taxes from businesses, doctors,
lawyers, entertainers, and others, and legislate and
collect higher sin taxes.
We also need to exercise fiscal restraint, reduce debt by
creative non-arbitrary means, ensure level playing fields
and curb rent-seeking.
4. Reforms for the Marginalized
We need to uplift the conditions of the marginalized
sectors of our society through targeted reforms:
- To the small farmers: agrarian reform and sustainable
agri-based rural enterprise development
- To municipal fishers: marine sanctuaries and coastal
delineation
- To indigenous peoples: ancestral domain
- To the urban poor: socialized housing and sustainable
livelihood
- To labor: job generation and fair wages
5. Relevant and Accessible Education
The youth is the future of our nation. We need to equip
them for a globally competitive world. We need an
educational system that is relevant and accessible.
We need a study-now-pay-later program sponsored by
government. We need occupation-related courses, with
appropriate emphasis on math and engineering.
We expect government to provide internet and computer
accessibility.
We need to network with multi-stakeholders and feeding
programs to keep children in school and improve quality
of instruction.
We must strive for academic excellence founded on
sound moral values.
6. Health and Nutrition Program
A nation should care for its people. We must stress
preventive rather than curative health care.
We need health insurance for all Filipinos through
national-local and public-private cooperation.
Government must guarantee food security and
sovereignty, and must provide cheaper medicines and
affordable health care.
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7. Peace Efforts
Lasting peace can only be achieved through negotiations
with contending parties based on mutual trust and
respect.
Government must stop extrajudicial killings. Purely
military tactics have not worked and will not work. It will
only create new enemies of the state.
Government must step up negotiations with MILF, NDF-
CPP-NPA, RPMP-PRA, and RPMM-RPA. It must also honor
existing peace agreements.
8. Program for Overseas Filipinos
OFWs are our new heroes. Their remittances keep our
economy afloat. It is only proper for government to
protect and care for them.
We must strengthen concerned agencies, and revise
existing laws, to curb the operations of illegal recruiters.
We need to enhance OWWA coverage to provide more
responsive services to families of OFWs.
We need to widen the support infrastructure of embassies
and related agencies to provide assistance to OFWs when
they run into trouble in their host countries.
We need to develop a program to reintegrate returning
OFWs, helping them to start their own business or
providing job opportunities relevant to their newfound
skills.
9. Environmental Program
We join the global community in caring for the
environment. This means a sound program for clean air,
coastal, riverine, and lagoonal resource management.
Forest conservation and reforestation, soil fertility, solid
waste management, and community-based “sustainable”
mining.
10. Bureaucratic and Military Reforms
We need an efficient bureaucracy and military for a stable
democracy.
We must restore the practice of performance contracting
and complete staff work. We must use competence,
integrity, and commitment to good governance as basic
values in setting criteria for recruitment and promotion.
We need to adopt appropriate promotions and rewards
systems in AFP and PNP.
We must develop effective strategies for defeating state
enemies while respecting human rights, prevent rise of
international terrorism in the country, and win the peace.
11. Constitutional Reforms
We believe it is time to review and revise the constitution
to make it more responsive to the needs of the time.
However, we believe it should be done after the term of
GMA, lest it is tainted by vested interests to protect or
even extend her tenure.
We also believe in a constitutional convention, rather than
transforming Congress into a constituent assembly. It is
more acceptable and participatory.
We believe this will be an opportunity to reunite the
country, if every citizen and idea has an equal chance
through open campaigns, fair elections, transparent
convention discussions, active media coverage, and an
honest plebiscite.
CONCLUSION: Civic Involvement is Key to Good Governance
Good governance requires not only responsive officials but also active citizens.
Governance is too important to be left to the bureaucrats;
politics is too vital to be left to the politicians.
We get the government we deserve.
The electoral system is flawed, but it is necessary to do
what we can to get good people elected, rather than
surrender without a fight.
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