Translation to local application

THE country has been agog over political scandals and reports of thievery in the national government for the past weeks. For most of us in the countryside, however, we view these more as “info-tainment” (information-entertainment) rather than a call to action and vigilance.  Still, many do not seem to realize the import and the impact of the goings-on in the national scene, and perhaps understandably so because nobody really feels or sees any relevance to their daily grind to keep one’s shirt on his back.

But there is. It actually mirrors what is happening in our towns and cities with one difference, the incidents of corruption in the local level do not land in front pages of national media.  A cursory review of the cases being resolved by the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan tells us what’s happening on the ground. Among the latest cases resolved involved a disbursing Officer of the Kidapawan City, North Cotabato for failing to liquidate P6-M in cash advances; a former Sulu Provincial Board Member was indicted for failure to liquidate local funds amounting to P300,000.00; a former mayor of Culaba in Biliran was indicted for non-liquidation of P236,807 in cash advances.

Consider what is happening in towns and cities in Pangasinan. The cases may not run into billions but the criminal acts of thievery and malversation of public funds are not different.  As World Bank and noted economists have established:  Amounts of corruption in local government when summed up are much greater than what national departments lose to their officials.

We must begin to worry when our national officials begin to feel they are not accountable. See how that translates to our own elected officials in our towns and cities.

 

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Sona revisited

AGAIN, what is a Sona (State of the Nation Address)?  Or, better yet, why do we have a Sona?

Article VII, Section 23, of the 1987 Philippine Constitution says that the President “shall address Congress at the opening of its regular session.”  The Constitution is silent on what Sona’s specific purpose is.  Not even a hint that the President should give both houses of Congress a report of his administration’s performance the year past.  But then, since the nation is his virtual audience on this day and not just Congress, who can stop the President from flaunting his “sterling” achievements?  Or going on a lies-making, self-exalting, spree maybe?  The Constitution is also silent on this.  The President can also cry and that, too, is not unconstitutional.

Bottom line, the Sona is that once-a-year chance for the President to chest-beat.  Sorry, but that is all there is to it.  OK, tinge it with a tear or two?

Makes no difference, either.

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