Task Force 2010 forum on the Open Election System

Wish to attend this but will be in Legazpi City. However, for those of you who have time, it will be great if you can attend.

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TASK FORCE 2010, in partnership with the Center for People's Rights and Participation (CPRP)
and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) cordially invites you to:

PANANAGUTAN FORUM: "The Open Election System"

by former COMELEC Chairman ATTY. CHRISTIAN MONSOD

Friday, 06 February 2009
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Social Development Complex Conference Hall
SDC Building, Ateneo de Manila University

For those interested to attend, you may visit and/or contact the SLB office, Loyola House of Studies with telephone number 426-6101 local 3440/1 or telefax number 426-5968. You may also visit/call CPRP office located at Rm. 110, Frank Lynch Hall, Social Development Complex, Ateneo de Manila University Campus, Loyola Heights, 1108 Quezon City, with telephone # 426-6001 local 4867.

Putting young blood in Congress

I just got this e-mail from Rissa (lawyer and used to work for two prominent Senators) who gave me permission to post edited snippets of her letter in this blog:

"Hello there. My law classmates and I are thinking of pursuing a cause - Putting young blood in Congress by setting up an online search for a new breed of legislators.

Our premise is if we want change then maybe it is about time to elect a new breed, not the trapos since policy is made in Congress including budget. We feel this project may have impact. Thinking now of a battle cry. Only those 45-50 years and below, but i think minimum age is 35, to be voted.

The question - is this possible online and for free where people can suggest names and the people can add their support to names online and who knows by 2010 elections we could have a new breed para may new perspectives in Senate and House. Maybe better if their curriculum vitae can be posted also. Hope you can make this possible. Thanks."

Here are my thoughts on this subject, using the PMI thinking tool to explore it, and hope you can share yours too:

Plus points of the idea above:

• New breed of legislators is such a romantic idea. I think we need young minds and new ways of thinking for solving our country's problem. Those who know that their decision will impact their lives 20 years after and not by those who may pass away a decade later and not see the ramifications of their action.
  
  
• I think a simple blog can be a good start for this project. It is only important for Rissa and her lawyer friends to allot time in posting a name a week in their blog, starting with what they have and grow from there.

Minus points of the idea:

• Those who are advocating for bloggers election coverage may not be able to participate as suggestion of names maybe perceived as personal endorsement of a potential politician candidate. Although I guess if one is transparent about it, at least readers will know where the blogger is coming from.
  
  
• The identified "young blood" maybe qualified but are they politically-savvy enough? We've seen young blood in Congress or Senate shooting themselves at the foot for not observing proper protocol and too damn rookie to play within the process as Congress or Senate still requires a lot of inter-personal politicking to move an agenda forward.
  
  
• Will these identified young blood stand a chance if they are not part of a political party that has an established political machinery? Or are these young blood part of a political wing already?

Interesting points of the idea:

• To have a site focusing on independent candidates.
• Have retired Senators or Congressman share their knowledge and wisdom to advise independent candidates.

Related:

• Better legislators on the road to 2010
  

Poverty in the Philippines

In preparing an entry for Blog Action Day, I found this book published by the Asian Development Bank titled Poverty in the Philippines: Income, Assets, and Access. Read it and be enlightened. I made a mind map as a brief interpretation on what was discussed in that publication.

(click on the image above to see its full size)

The concerns mentioned is more or less cited in the Philippines 2010 election issues discussion that we started this year.

What stand out and in reference to what is happening these days, in my observation, are as follows:

• Political patronage
  Politicians indebted to their party mates and supporters can result to policies favoring the interest of the few (such as the scandal that Senator Manny Villar is currently embroiled in on his real estate company benefiting from government infrastructure projects).
  
  This is the same case on pork barrel where the politician has the main control as to which this limited resource goes to and it often boils down still, if not all, to political patronage.
  
  The same issue on the delayed land reform. The lack of access to land is a big contributor on income inequalities between the rich and the poor and urban to rural.
  
  
• Accountable government
  The likes of Atty. Harry Roque who kept exposing government unusual debt aggregation (such as the latest railway project) is more than helpful. The corruption that emanates from the government and no one gets to be accountable for it leaves a bad taste to Filipino entrepreneurs, professionals, and employees who pay their taxes monthly. This on top of almost everything that we purchase is VAT-inclusive.
  
  
• A non-tax paying but politically influential church
  Although not stated in the ADB report, the lack of population control programs in the country further contributes to the poverty state we are in and is one way or another influenced by the church. Worst, despite the fact that churches in the Philippines collects more contribution and rank one of the highest in the world, it doesn't pay taxes.
  
  Yet, it has unfair influence on population control programs but hardly spends to help the poor. Yes, they may have money to spend on outreach programs but they mostly come from church-goers (and as we've seen in the news - even from politicians and are therefore taxpayers money). I just wish that the next leaders of our country, heads and legislators, will have enough strength to put the church in its proper place on this issue.
  
  Running a country requires resources. A bigger population needs more money. If the church insists on pushing its stand on the population issue then it must begin paying taxes that can be used to help the poor with its need on health, food, shelter, education, among others.
  
  
• Deterioration of the environment
  It is likely that we need to face an almost near deadline problem before government can start implementing environment related laws and policies. Much of the health problems, including those resulting to disability, of our countrymen are facing today is due to pollution. However, instead of penalizing and require more payment for pollutant causing vehicles, their fuel is even subsidized and implementation of the Clean Air Act delayed.

• Encourage social participation
  There is so much that can be said about our country's situation. Continuing to pay our taxes, be informed, condemn wrongful actions done by government, and support efforts that intends to stop the culture of corruption must not wane. We have to continue believing that positive change is bound to happen for as long as Filipinos like you and me will remain vigilant and be willing to speak our minds.

Interesting post you can also read about this topic:

• Poverty does not equate to unhappiness
  
• 6 ways you can help fight poverty

This is my entry for:

Are there ARMM-based bloggers?

I'm not sure how to answer that question as my search for some did not yield success. Inquirer noticed it.

I got a few inquiries back then and even entertained the idea of having anonymous bloggers on board. But I guess ARMM is one area where blogging won’t blossom soon unless attention in developing the community is made.

That is why I’ve urged organizers of blogging activities, especially in Mindanao, to include election blogging as a topic to open the discussion.

I hope that with the creation of a Bloggers Election Handbook, more folks will be more comfortable in discussing and documenting the elections.