At the President’s mercy

Our representatives in Congress, the governor and the mayors have been gushing praises to the President crediting her for every local achievement as if she is the be-all and end-all for things to happen around here.

Important things, mind you, like a new bridge to replace one that was destroyed more than three decades ago or a major dam component that could significantly contribute to the nation’s rice supply and in effect to improved food security. Or simply the delivery of galvanized iron sheets for typhoon victims.

For too long now, that has been the refrain among our legislators and local executives. It even had to take a trip to the United States, for example, for 3rd District Rep. Rachel Arenas and 6th District Rep. Conrado Estrella III to convince the President to allot some money for seriously-needed infrastructure development. Now they are not only thankful for the privilege of being part of the President’s “official entourage” (even if it is murky how valuable they were at the level of making headway for national interests and foreign affairs), they can also boast of successfully getting some dole and getting things going in the province. Why it takes a transatlantic trip to discuss local concerns is disturbing.

It’s no longer enough to install giant billboards around construction sites crediting the President for her generosity to the townsfolk, they must fawn over her during overseas trips to get what is rightfully due their constituents. Patronage politics, indeed, is at its peak.

That the projects sometimes do get done is no justification.

The point in question is the pervading system of governance that is not in accordance with how our democratic system is supposed to work. Our administrative, legislative and judicial branches of government are supposed to exercise independence from each other. But with our congressmen and local executives perennially having to beg – and therefore under the burden of a misplaced debt of gratitude to the President in pursuit of development plans, they clearly have no real autonomy. And being the elected representatives and leaders of our communities, that means we all seem to be under the President’s mercy.

All that power in the hands of someone – especially one whose election to the highest post in the land remains suspect and has shown herself to be callous to public opinion – is too discomforting.

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