Critical Analysis: Ten Point Agenda

First of all, what is a Ten Point Agenda? It is the list of matters that needs to be attended or to be taken care of by our President in the conditions of our society. To me it would also mean as "pack of promises" for the people. Some of it might only be just ludicrous lies but some of it might even be true in the sense that it would really give a great positive effect in our nation. In the whole view, this gives the opportunity for a better future not only for us but also to our country. But still, further analysis will be needed to predict its results.

One of the things to be considered, mentioned in one of her agendum, is the creation of six million jobs in six years. Now, as we all know our country has been suffering economic problems. We are also in debt to many countries in the world because of our President's regime. And it’s not that easy for the President to blow such ambitious plans when even our country is still having an economic crisis. Even her plans of tripling the amount of loans for the people might almost be impossible. Prior to this, our President will likely to continue borrowing money from other nations, which would only make our country's financial crisis get even worse. And if ever she could create such numerous jobs for the people in a short period of time, we need to expect that these jobs are worthwhile, not just temporary. For instance, when we knew that these "promised jobs" will only last for a month. We will be dumbfounded at ourselves and may go angry with the President. Then there goes the President making a boast for the increase of employment rate. Such a genius President to have!

Another thing is the construction of new buildings, classrooms, provision of desks and chairs and books for students and scholarships to poor families. The State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society (Article XIV, Section 2). In a positive view, the President's plan mentioned in Point 2, aspires to improve school facilities and programs to help students and promote education in a greater sense. But still, the improvement of these facilities will remain inadequate for the students in public schools to feel comfortable in their studies. Even today, most of the public schools here in Butuan are inadequate in books and reference materials, also to the lack of maintenance of its chairs, classrooms, buildings and etc. The situation of our economy proves it in the end. We may have the ideas for a better future for these youths, but can we do so when our treasury is traitorously used for extravagant expenditures by our government?

The balance of budget. In my own opinion, of all the points mentioned by GMA, this one is the most important. Of all the points, this needs the utmost attention! A need for the balance of budget and improving our economy would be the best solution to answer some of our problems. By improving the condition of our economy, our problems will likely be easy to solve. That is, if the President could really handle the sweat of this obligation. But still, balancing the budget won't be an easy task. Even our previous Presidents can't even manage to fix this burden holistically. So much if our current President will fix it, whose regime is bundled with many scandals and corruption. Do you think she will make a difference in the near future? Even if she will not make it in the long run, at least she will make a little difference from it, her hard works and responsibilities for her people will be appreciated.

The "decentralization" of progress around the nation through the use of transportation networks like the roll-on, roll-off and the digital infrastructure. Decentralization is a good idea of moving population and industries from urban centers to local areas but in these times we are on the verge of crisis, and because of this crisis, progress will be hard to attain. If by chance, decentralization will make it. A sense of autonomy will be felt in many regions affected by decentralization. In this manner, some regions are not united. It has also its downsides. For instance, Luzon can't be that rich in resources without Mindanao. Still, decentralization is also a good idea, but it has its devastating effects on our economy. Even the bankruptcy of our nation's treasury isn't enough to sustain the improvement of these transportation networks which are now becoming worse due to lack of maintenance.

The development of Clark and Subic to me is planned not really for the benefit of the Filipinos but mainly for US, it will be only used as landing ports for American jet planes. Though it’s really a need to motivate these areas for logistics services, still, the President must put attention to the welfare of the masses instead of these air bases which are not helpful for the betterment of the conditions of our people.

The automation of electoral process is a fishy thing to me. Because when we talk about "automation", the election process will be made easy through advance technology. And when advance technology is the easiest, it also deceives people. Imagine, by using advanced technology in these affairs, it would mostly result to cheatings in the elections. If this will be implemented, the government will have the chance to manipulate the votes of the masses. Therefore, resulting to an unlawful, fraud and dishonest results in the elections. This would only make the situation worse. For instance, GMA will be elected again by means of this process. A few of us can already presume that GMA is bribing these persons controlling the election results. This is one of the diseases of our people; we are easily tempted by money; we even try to mislead the future of somebody just for the greed of money; another thing is that we tend to do these things in an easy way. Sure thing, our world is already progressing and we need to use these advance technologies to make life easier. But, the easiest things are always not the most effective! To me it would be just another source of corruption.

In this analysis, the Ten Point Agenda of our beloved President were just PLANS. Some of them are already implemented today but still some of them are not yet even prioritized. One must not expect she will keep all these promises, so don't expect too much. Also, it doesn't mean that when she makes promises, she's already doing well for the country. No. These plans will all be useless if no positive results will be felt by the masses. On the other hand, whether these are just "palakas" by our President to gain the trust of the people... Still, we need to have faith and trust the capabilities of our President. If her slogan says, she really CARES. Then, we must support her plans for the betterment of our country, instead of pointing out that she will not make it. Good for us because our President still cares for us. Imagine a country with a worthless ruler, who doesn't cares for its people.

So, we must appreciate all these proposals and ambitions presented by our ruler. For these are all for the benefit of each Filipino.

Clark Jay M. Lim, N-17.

Credits:
*My teacher in History, Mam Rhena Dinerman.
*Philippine Constitution (1987)

National Situation

As I've observed it worsens more than ever... Our national situation can't be describe in just one word, even a sentence can't have the guts to describe it. A bundle of curiosity and expressing each of our own beliefs might do to wake up the minds of the Filipino people about the problems we are facing now.

Today, majority of the Filipinos don't believe in the word "Nationalism" anymore. We keep on applying Western cultures as if we are trying hard to be like them. That the love of the Filipinos for their country and eagerness to solve these crisis' with unity has always been left unsolved or just being ignored, these could only make things even worse if not being taken care of. That because of this, they always learn to ignore problems with that "Bahala na" mentality. Which is a downside aspect in the way of what we are thinking.

Political crisis! We can't deny the fact that Graft and Corruption is really rampant. From barangay captains to the highest position of our government, political crisis is everywhere. Even the President also is not exempted, the legitimacy of the Arroyo administration is forever being questioned. Our government is bundled with scandals which would only deteriorate the present situation. But not only our beloved President is involved in these matters, as well as other politicians (even local), which some acts might not yet known to the public. Even the way we live and deceive other people because of our own motives and the forever attitude of being dishonest, it also involves in corruption.

If viewed in a different aspect, the graft and corruption acts of our officials will not only degrade or affect our economy, it will influence the minds of young people which would govern our country in the near future. If this bad situation still continues, how will the goverment officials serve as a role model for the next generation when they are not very effective? Will they serve as a good example to the aspiring youths who wants to become also like them? A big NO! If these people have the conscience for the betterment of their country why won't they show it? If they feel they really deserve the votes of the citizens then they must prove it.

One of the things that made these things even worse, is the decline of our morality. An example of this is when we've travelled for summer vacation at Cagayan De Oro with me and my family, i've happened to pass this pedestrian lane at Cogon, after the green signal had flashed in the traffic pedestrian lights when suddenly a fast motor bike approaches with a left turn to the other side of the street, it was so fast that it almost injured me if i didn't have the guts to avoid it quickly. Then i find that the motor driver put a smug on his face, showing a very mischievous attitude without knowing what the consequences might be. All this and many other wicked things i've encountered with a fellow Filipino made me even feel discouraged of becoming a citizen of this country. Everyday, newspapers, television news, news radio updates are loaded with all sorts of “misbehavior”: murder, rape, theft, robbery and others. How will our nation become a prosperous country because of these acts? These crimes might even be related to poverty, because of this we never learned to be a good citizen. We always tend to find unjust solutions so that it will be easy for us, which is really wrong.

And as we watch news' in our tv screens, it will be really obvious. Each day i watch news in our tv, i often see the degradation of the moralities of the Filipinos. Thanks to the media that shares the very truth of all of this. But still if we've seen and heard these violent moralities in the media, and still we won't do something. We will encounter a very depressing future for ourselves. So, we need to act, be united and think for our future as wise citizens of this country.

The increasing number of journalists being killed in our country is very intriguing to me. While according to the Bill of Rights (Article 3, Section 4) freedom of speech is legal in our country, even activists are also victims of injustice in all parts of the Philippines. Well, i'm not not very sure if these are really the acts of government, but still its a matter to be questioned. We are a democratic country, even if these are not works of the government, the free liberty of expressing beliefs and press will always be encouraged for the sharing of insights of what our country has become and what are really happening instead of hiding the very truth.

Poverty is very rampant! It is more obvious even if we won't watch newsies in the tv. Beggars, bums, out-of-school children and others are very rampant in many street areas here in Butuan. These children living in the streets will have the tendency to be addicted of sniffing rugby, doing drugs, do crimes just for money and will even do the least possible things just for money and prostitution is not exempted! These youths must be provided with good education instead of being left as animals. Its very unhappy to look at the situation when after you go home from school and you will pass by these peoples in streets, while people will just throw practical jokes on them and merely just laugh about those things! Instead that they must be properly educated and helped by the government, they are mostly being left unnoticed. The government must take action in helping these poor peoples. They are still among like us. Some Filipinos in other walks of life will just ignore them without noticing the poor future of these peoples. Mostly of these beggars i've usually encountered in the streets are Badjaos. Now, where is the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples Agency? They must help, protect and educate these indigenous peoples! It is their very duty to protect the rights of these people when they are abused in the society. Let us not be selfish in ourselves, these individuals are still our fellowmen and we must help them and still we must pay respect for them.

The very known causes why poverty is rampant: unemployment, unchecked population growth of the members of the family, and sometimes the disability to work because of being handicapped. Because of this, precautions must be exercise to prevent poverty from increasing. According to the survey of the National Statistics Office (NSO) the Philippine population is growing at the rate of 2.36 percent a year, which is faster than its Southeast Asian neighbors. Which makes us a direct target for poverty than our neighbors. Another survey from the National Statistics Office that as of 2005, the poverty incidence in the Philippines remains high at 40 percent, while the poverty incidence in Thailand is down to 9.8 percent and in Indonesia to 18.2 percent. An average Filipino family will only live for a 100 peso bill a day. If we can't stop all these things our future will be at stake.

Even if we solve these problems in an easy way, doing it the easy way is not always effective. We need the nationalistic spirit that our heroes had die fighting for. The need for consciousness in the situation of our country is really needed to appease the minds of the people of the burden that the nation has been carrying. We must not lose hopes in solving these problems. Let's think for the future of our nation. We must not fail our heroes who sacrificed themselves with all their blood, sweat and tears, let's view our problems as a foothold to the growing development of our nation.

Clark Lim, BSN-I, N-17.