Truth be told

While  initiatives and actions – ranging from simple calls to prayer rallies to heated street  cries coming  from practically all sectors in society including from the ranks of the government û brewed in the capital last week in protest against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over the now  extremely convoluted ZTE broadband deal, Pangasinan  welcomed  the country’s embattled  leader warmly.

The President spent Saturday in the province all smiles while performing ceremonial duties, surrounded by some members of her Cabinet and loyal local officials, led by Governor Amado Espino Jr.

 She took the opportunity to generate further affection and loyalty by announcing “mega” projects. Well, reiterating that is, as these proposals   have actually already been lined up earlier under the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle strategy.

The “surprise gift” were her orders for the immediately release of P100 million for irrigation, and a promise to release another P100 million for the long overdue seaport in Sual. (These orders remind us of her  recent  order to release P300 million for the housing projects for the benefit of soldiers and policemen, but only after the senate investigation revealed that the NBN-ZTE deal had scrapped the housing project.)

All that is well and good and no doubt would help the province’s economy.

But why does it have to take a national political crisis before the President finally announces what’s due the province, making it appear that such “mega projects” can only be realized with a direct order only from the President? If, indeed, these are crucial to economic development, institutional measures should automatically spur “mega” plans. No need to depend on the graces and power play of personalities in authority.

The timing is not only suspect but the motive is. But nothing really new there.

For too long now, development projects have become tools for political survival of national leadership. The truth is, ours is a government that uses money to buy loyalty and political support. It has been a practice for too long that no one dares ask how the motive.

The recent “money releases” was clearly aimed at prompting local officials to shore support for the beleaguered Arroyo administration, to stave off mounting calls for full transparency and accountability in governance, the truth about “mega corruption” in today’s government, particularly the NBN-ZTE deal. 

Sure, let’s exploit the opportunity and grab what we can but that should not in any way substitute for the truth.

We still need that to be told the truth.

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