Relevant Issues

Most of the candidates in the upcoming election in the Philippines have not presented any kind of platform or offered plans for the country to improve its current appaling state. At the same time, the Philippine media are either too afraid to ask or incapable of scrutinizing those candidates about their lack of agenda for the country. Even the masses, ang masa, have remained silent. Maybe they got used to and have accepted their hopeless condition. Nasanay at nawalan na sila nang pag-asa. But as long as there are sparks to fight for the Philippines, not everything is lost. And before the long battle for reformation begins, the problems and those responsible for them must be brought to the world's attention. The initial fight for reform is to prevent electing incompetent leaders that are corruptible and would perpetuate corruption. The sheer ignorance and incompetency of the people running the country must be exposed to the world. And the best way to expose them is to question them about how to solve the country's problems, and then holding them accountable for their proposed plans. Based on the current conditions in the Philippines, here are a few questions that should be asked and requiring answers from all the candidates:

1. Infrastructure- What are the plans to improve the poor condition of the roads and highways? Storm drainage and sewage system to prevent flooding? Sanitary and safe drinking water?

2. Agriculture – What are the plans for land reforms? Government land redistribution to relocate squatters from Manila and other major cities? Benefits and fair compensation for hacienda workers? Laws - i.e. no elected official can buy or acquire land while serving in office - to prevent land grabbing by government officials?

3. Taxation – Open record of the country’s projected and actual collected taxes. Open record of the country’s total revenue. Open record of the taxes paid by large corporations, companies, haciendas, and especially all wealthy individuals and elected government officials?

4. Economy, and trade and commerce – Plans to create new businesses and jobs? Plans to develop the manufacturing industry, and modernize agriculture including cattle and animal husbandry, and fishing industry? Initiatives to attract foreign investors? Child labor protection law? Job discrimination law? Minimum or standard wage?

5. Emergency planning – Evacuation plans and medical assistance for victims of yearly occurring natural disasters such as earthquake, volcanic eruption, and flooding from typhoons?

6. Epidemics – Plans to eradicate and combat malaria, dengue, tuberculosis, and potentially avian/bird flu?

7. Overpopulation – Plans to combat overpopulation resulting in high infant mortality from early childhood diseases and malnutrition, and high number mentally deficient children that had suffered from malnutrition during their early development? Birth control? Limiting the number of children couples can have especially for those that cannot provide the basic means for a healthy living standard?

8. Abuse of natural resources and pollution – Plans to stop illegal logging and mining of precious metals, minerals, oil, and white beach sand and rare marine life? Plans to stop illegal fishing? Plans to curb the pollution from jeepney emissions especially in major cities? Plans to clean and revive natural bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and beaches that have become dumps for toxic chemicals and garbage?

9. Unification and national identity– Plans to unify the country and prevent regionalism by having a common national language such as English?

10. Restructuring of the military – The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and the Philippine Constabulary were all patterned after the United States. They can never be equipped, let alone, function like the US military. Plans to consolidate the different branches and modify their roles and functions to better serve the country?