WE IN Akbayan Party believe that President Aquino’s expressed openness to a second term and in amending the country’s constitution to check the power of the Supreme Court is primarily driven by a sincere desire to continue the reforms his government has implemented in the last four years.
However, we urge the President to clarify his statement on the matter to avoid unnecessary confusion. Amid the already confusing and complex state of affairs the people find themselves in right now, political clarity is important.
The government must not play into the hands of those who will use and twist the President’s opinion to feed the obfuscation created by those who stand to benefit the most from an undermined Aquino government, particularly the detained pork barrel plunderers.
First, President Aquino must be clear that even as he expressed his openness for a second term it does not automatically mean that he will seriously seek to extend his stay in public office.
Second, the President must make his position on charter change clearer. Even as the President is driven by good intentions in his openness to amend the country’s charter to check the power of the Supreme Court, an expressed openness to charter change in the current context can be sized upon by vested interests out to advance a self-serving political or economic agenda.
Akbayan shares President Aquino’s hope that the momentum of reform he has begun can be sustained in the next term. We are looking forward to how these reforms would continue beyond his six-year term. We also agree that the next president must approximate the same integrity and commitment to the reform process that he has demonstrated to carry on the campaign for meaningful change.
Yet, ultimately, trust must be placed in the people to recognize the fruits of reform, and taking upon themselves to see it sustained for the future. The same way the people have trusted him, President Aquino should have faith that he has adequately demonstrated the advantages of “tuwid na daan,” and that the people will take it forward, even if he does not take a second term.
In the meantime, one of the best ways to guarantee that the reforms President Aquino has started will continue beyond his term is to push for more reforms under his tenure.
The President must use his remaining political capital and goodwill from the people to push for deeper, broader and radical institutional changes in the government and the economy to make the reform campaign enduring and irreversible.
If ever the next government will run the country in a manner contrary to the “tuwid na daan” principle we started four years ago, with reform policies already firmly in place, any attempt to reverse them will cost the next government the acceptance of the people, its stability and in the end its capacity to govern.--Akbayan Party Cebu
Trip cutting
We call the attention of the Land Transportation Franching and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 on the alarming cases of passenger jeepneys cutting trips during rush hours.
I already heard reports that during late afternoons, multicabs going to Naga cut their route and serve their passengers only up to Tabunok, Talisay.
Recently, we were in Basak, Pardo waiting for a ride to Naga. Most of the multicabs that had a Naga route mark told us they were for Tabunok only.
So now, I am calling the attention of LTFRB 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon for him to come up with some drastic actions to solve this alarming situations of jeepneys cutting trips.
I tell you it is not that effective to give all the responsibilty to the public so abusive drivers would be reported. If that policy was effective, how come we are still witnessing many violations, like overloading and overcharging?
LTFRB should have the political will that will make these abusers fear violating our laws.
Again, drivers of around 15 multicabs that follow the Cebu City-Naga City route told us they are for Tabunok only. Where the hell did they get the guts to do that?
My friends also told me that somewhere in Foodland in Banilad, jeepneys going to Liloan and Consolacion also cut their trips during rush hours.
Now that LTFRB knows these things, can it plan an operation already? Or does it still want to wait for passengers to report the plate number of violators?--Gero Martinez, Cebu City