A mandate for accountability

T he noise and frenzy of the elections and its immediate aftermath have now died down. As the fresh batch of leaders prepares to assume their posts, the Filipino people can now pause and reflect on the results and what they are telling us.

To be sure, much of the outcome were predictable. Candidates who showed a strong showing prior to May 12 did win. But there were also surprises—unexpected successes and failures which, aside from the electoral implications, may reveal what Filipino voters truly want.

The election of former senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan easily come to mind. They are not new to the game—both have served in the same capacity in the past, so people are aware of who they are. In preelection surveys, however, other names were dominant, but Aquino and Pangilinan were not among the front-runners.

And yet they placed among the top winners.

In their case, the people have spoken, and we all must listen. Their success shows that the public is tired of corruption, empty promises, political drama, and toxicity. We want leaders who will prioritize gut issues like jobs, inflation, agriculture, food security, poverty, and education. Most importantly, Aquino and Pangilinan, given their independence from today’s major political factions, push for accountability and genuine reform in government.

The next three years, therefore, will be a test of whether Filipinos would finally get what they have been looking for: good governance and people-centric leadership that address the most fundamental concerns of Filipinos.

After the elections, the Marcos administration has the opportunity to lay down its priorities that would effectively address people’s needs. The next courses of action are clear: recognizing the will of the people, boosting the economy, passing laws that matter, strengthening social support programs, and promoting unity and fairness. The question, however, lies on the ability of the administration to rally support from the full range of political spectrum.

After all, these concerns are shared by Filipinos no matter whom they are supporting politically. People, regardless of their affiliations, have expressed a strong need for improving their economic situation. Thus, we need to go back to three pillars that would drive the people’s economic well-being. Public-private partnerships, the empowerment of small and medium enterprises, and the push for sustainability and innovation.

The new Senate, in particular, now has the opportunity to focus on laws that will improve the lives of Filipinos. Their priorities should include making life affordable, creating jobs, improving healthcare and education, helping farmers and fisherfolk, protecting the environment, and fighting corruption.

With its call for transparency and reform, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) underscores the urgency of passing the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in the 20th Congress. Through the Philippine Open Government Partnership, the DBM has been working with government agencies, civil society, academia, and the private sector to cocreate the FOI bill and push it as a legislative priority. This bill aims to empower citizens by granting them better access to government information, thus fostering transparency, accountability, and public participation in governance.

And indeed, citizen involvement in governance hinges on access to information. We cannot fully participate in government affairs if we are not sufficiently armed with information. Over the years, there has been resistance to FOI initiatives from various sectors of government, citing diverse reasons.

DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has become more vocal about the need for fiscal transparency. The people have seen the damage brought by public officials doing as they please with government funds under the cloak of confidentiality.

But governance demands just the opposite.

The election of a new set of officials gives us hope and enthusiasm that more of our leaders would adhere to the principles of transparency and accountability. This is good because they could ensure that people’s taxes are being used prudently and with great care. Investors would similarly see that our fiscal and regulatory environments are stable and predictable. Finally, this is good for democracy, because true governance thrives on openness.

May the next three years usher in unprecedented change in governance. As citizens we must sustain our vigilance and demand accountability from our elected officials. In the end, we do get the government we deserve—and help put in power.