Cabaero: Cebu fading from Sona

MENTION of the provinces, Cebu in particular, figured less and less in President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).

It was in this year’s Sona, held before a joint session of Congress Monday, July 22, 2019, that there was zero mention of Cebu.

Duterte talked about corruption, poverty, the death penalty for illegal drugs and plunder, tax reforms, and the West Philippine Sea. He said Davao several times. He did mention a magna carta for the barangays and raising salaries of teachers and nurses but these will apply to all. No infrastructure project for a region or province was mentioned.

In 2016, in his first address to the nation, Duterte mentioned Cebu when he announced the Cebu rail project that will have an estimated length of 21 kilometers. He also spoke of solving transportation problems by buying more trains and pursuing inter-island connection. He mentioned the Panay rail project in the Visayas.

In 2017, Duterte mentioned projects for Mindanao and road development in other provinces, including those in Metro Cebu. He said he was giving orders to local officials to work on decongesting roads, such as removing obstructions.

Last year, in 2018, the only mention of Cebu was made in passing, in relation to the establishment of Malasakit Centers. This fading of Cebu from Duterte’s Sona does not necessarily mean Cebu is not in the President’s line of sight. But it surely means Cebu officials have to work harder to bring concerns needing presidential consent or knowledge to Malacañang.

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One trend that President Duterte plans to continue in the last half of his six-year term is the hiring of former military and police officials for government positions.

A SunStar Philippines special report on the Duterte administration looked into the hiring of 46 former military and police officers to key civilian posts in government, including 10 Cabinet and Cabinet-level positions.

The report at www.sunstar.com.ph quoted the President as saying he wanted retired soldiers and cops to have a greater role in his administration as he lamented the sluggish work of some civilian workers in the government.

But having military training and background is not a requirement for holding government jobs. There are posts traditionally designated for civilians. For example, department heads for social welfare, housing, and technical education and skills have been civilians. Under Duterte, these departments are headed by ex-military men. Rolando Bautista heads social welfare and development; Isidro Lapeña, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; and Eduardo del Rosario, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

It is understandable to bring in retired brass for national security adviser and peace adviser. But for the other positions, there must be civilians capable and willing to take on the job.

Choosing a department head must be centered on merit and the ability to perform the civilian job, and should look beyond military service.

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