Next, with the May 14 elections coming up, we should do our part in drawing attention to the importance of appointing qualified and impartial commissioners to fill up the vacancies in the Commission on Elections. We will be electing into office some 17,000 public servants, from city and municipal councilors to senators. People Power II is our opportunity to institutionalize much-needed reforms in the Philippine society, and the election can be an avenue for jumpstarting these reforms so long as we elect people whose governance will be characterized by transparency, competence, accountability and honesty. One of the hard lessons of the last two years is that bad politics easily leads to bad economics. This is a good reason for the Mindanao business community and civil society to launch together an information, education and communication campaign clearly outlining the competencies and qualities needed in political aspirants.
Life is short.
It is time we make a positive difference. Also, over the longer term, there should be a sustained values education campaign within the business community itself. Each quarter, a human virtue was extolled, and concrete steps on how to achieve that virtue were outlined. The administration of government projects and programs needed for the economic recovery of Mindanao has to be rationalized as soon as possible. The Office of the President in Mindanao should be under one baton to better supervise and orchestrate the various programs and projects of agencies engaged in Mindanao development.