On July 28 2008, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be delivering her 8th State of the Nation Address (SONA). According to her press release, the 2008 SONA will “center on subsidy, electricity, food production, and infrastructure”. This silencing of the political, in favor of the economic, is reminiscent of her 200 SONA that talked about the “tale of two Philippines”. For months, the government has bypassed the political issues of illegitimacy and corruption, hiding behind the rhetoric of a stable economy marked by a strong peso and increased GDP. But with the recently weakening peso, rising oil prices and inflation rate, and the alarming shortages of rice supply, social unrest ensues.
Unfortunately, amidst the ongoing socio-economic crisis, we fail to find its roots in the moral bankruptcy of our corrupt government. Failing to address critical questions of politics, these urgent socio-economic issues may be used to foster political disengagement. The challenge for us is to act together in concrete ways within a framework that connects both social and political change.
In behalf of the BUSINA (Busina para sa Katotohanan) network, I am calling on everyone to support the noise barrage for our continued clamor for Truth, Accountability, and Reform (TAR).
For Truth:
-Legislation that would push for the public’s access to information should be supported
For Accountability:
-Improvements in the systems that ensure accountability such as Impeachment should be made
-Making the President undergo the Impeachment proceeding is in itself an accountability measure. It is through this that her innocence or guilt will be proven.
For Reform:
-The National elections will be in 2010 but we still have a questionable election process (and COMELEC appointees). Electoral reforms are crucial in overhauling our government come 2010.
-The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law has ended but more than a million hectares of land have yet to be distributed. Thus, a People’s Initiative for an extension of CARP is on its way.
-The urban poor is clamoring for reforms on the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) that would better serve a social justice agenda for the masses.
These should be the agenda of GMA’s SONA on Monday. Clamor for the true state of the nation. Join the noise barrage for Truth, Accountability, and Reform on July 24, 2008 (Thursday) at 5:00PM in Ateneo de Manila University’s Gate 2.5.
Towards social justice,
Omi Castanar Pangulo Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila
