"In almost every meeting I attend for the past month, one question always seems to be asked, “Who will replace President Noynoy Aquino in 2016?” In a country that has a fascination for voting and elections, many Filipinos both here and abroad are now beginning to worry that if we do not elect another trustworthy and effective President like PNoy then all the huge gains of this administration can easily be wiped out within a year of the next administration. Some are already saying that while he is currently the clear frontrunner to replace PNoy in 2016, Vice-President Jejomar Binay’s less than stellar record in terms of promoting and practicing good governance may cause much worry among the business and international sector which can hamper our continued economic growth. Other names have been floated such as perceived administration candidate and DILG Sec. Mar Roxas, independent Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and recently elected Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares. Whether anyone from them will make it or a dark horse will suddenly appear in the horizon is anyone’s guess. Our experience in the last 2010 elections have shown that no amount of preparation and money can ensure one’s victory when it comes to winning the nation’s highest position (just ask former Senator Manny Villar). One thing for sure though is that the ruling Liberal Party (LP) will not give up its hold on the Presidency without a fight and this is why the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) of PNoy will be important in terms of laying the groundwork towards continuing his political party’s reign in our government. It’s been three years now since we elected PNoy with an overwhelming mandate. Up until now, he still continues to enjoy very good trust ratings with the latest SWS survey showing him with a net satisfaction rating of +64 which is unprecedented for a Philippine President that has served more than half of his term. While the first 3 years of his term have been aimed at promoting good governance and his anti-corruption agenda, the next three years should be aimed towards fulfilling the other half of his campaign promise which is eradicating poverty in our country. Let us remember that one major reason why he was elected into power was that our country was coming off a decade that was marred with rampant graft and corruption thus, the Filipino people elected PNoy based on his family’s untarnished track record as public servants. Now that there is a growing belief that our country is making progress in its fight against graft and corruption, the challenge is now to make ordinary Filipinos especially those living in the fringes feel its positive effects. The issue in 2016 will no longer be just about graft and corruption but it will now be whether or not ordinary Filipinos have really felt the gains of our government’s push for good governance." Read more: gmanetwork/news/story/318580/opinion/blogs/sona-2013-to-shape-2016-race
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 05:59:50 +0000
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