Sona not enough to uplift
The State of the Nation Address (Sona) should be a galvanizing moment for the country. It should make us feel that we are on the right track, that progress is happening. It should excite us for what’s to come. Moreover, it should be a unifying force—a rare moment when the House of Representatives, Senate, and the executive branch come together. It is a much-improved Sona this year compared to before. The President spoke in Filipino. He acknowledged Filipinos’ dissatisfaction with his government and promised to do better. He acknowledged the rampant corruption that hinders the country’s progress. The Sona itself was fine. But why don’t I feel uplifted?
The Sona came at a time of severe flooding that occurred in many parts of the country. While the President dared to call it the “new normal,” as a disaster mental health researcher, I would beg to differ. As a result of climate change, yes, we will experience more frequent and severe typhoons and weather phenomena. What shouldn’t be the new normal, however, is our lack of preparation for it. If agencies designed to protect the environment—that in turn, protect us—did their job, we wouldn’t see so many reclamation projects, mining, and quarrying that disrupt our capacity to withstand strong winds and heavy rain. If public works engaged in long-term thinking, they wouldn’t design projects that aggravate flood vulnerabilities in communities. Both types of incompetence stem from corruption, as they are incentivized to go for profit or the lowest cost, not preservation.
The Sona also came after the disappointing Supreme Court decision regarding the Vice President’s impeachment. While I leave the legalities to others, the impact of the decision leads me to feel despondent about our near future. Where can people turn for accountability from public officials? The Senate impeachment court has been laughable thus far, with Duterte allies unsurprisingly filing motions to dismiss and inventing new procedures, such as remanding the articles of impeachment to the House. I am sure that inasmuch as they delayed the impeachment, they will suddenly pick up speed in ending the impeachment court before the House gets to file its motion for reconsideration with the Supreme Court, contrary to their touted “prudence” and “restraint.”
One of the more famous lines in the President’s Sona is when he told off corrupt government officials, “Mahiya naman kayo (Have some shame).” There was much applause. Ironic, in that these are the very same people whom he’s supposedly telling off. I would love to believe that the President is sincere. But until I see cases being filed against powerful allies, I will stick to my skepticism. The only ones being successfully charged and removed seem to be those without political protection. The irony of pointing out failures and anomalies in water service when everybody knows that Sen. Mark Villar, the man who used to oversee the Department of Public Works and Highways and now heads the Senate committee on public works, belongs to the same family that owns PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., which is facing numerous complaints and grievances. How much are we willing to bet that PrimeWater will be held responsible for its inaction? How much will the Senate committee investigate how these contracts were handed out?
The President’s visible silence on the issue of online gambling is telling. Stocks of DigiPlus Interactive Corp. went up after the Sona, with investors taking their cue that online gambling is here to stay. With all the bluster around mental health, greed, and corruption, taking on online gambling would’ve been the perfect integration. So why is this on the back burner?
With the new session of the House and the Senate underway, it seems the political stage is set. On one hand, you have the Romualdez-Marcos family, who have the presidency, the Speaker of the House, and the House Majority Leader. On the other hand, you have loyal Duterte allies in the Senate gobbling up committee chairmanships left and right. Rep. Paolo Duterte likened it to a “game of thrones,” but he’s lying to himself if he thinks he’s outside of the game simply because he walked out. Not advocating for a cause other than his own family’s preservation is exactly the game.
As someone who’s on neither side of this family feud, I can’t help but wonder where the Filipino is amid this farce? Who is going to fight for our needs that don’t necessarily align with politicians’ self-interest? Who is going to invest in nation-building that doesn’t return a personal profit for politicians?
It is a lot easier to hope at the start of the year; it is much harder midway when desired change remains out of reach. But the middle of the journey is a crucial time for reflection. Do you proceed, give up, or change direction? For now, all we can do is center ourselves to be ready for whatever comes next.
