Polevu

Senator Cynthia Villar has sought the immediate passage of Senate Bill No. 2230, or the Anti-Obesity Act of 2023. The objective of her proposed measure is “to establish a comprehensive nationwide anti-obesity campaign to control and prevent obesity among Filipinos.”

The legislative proposal of Cynthia Villar is laudable but it is just like serving an icing without the cake. For years as head of the Committee on Agriculture, no significant law has been passed that could genuinely address the health situation of the Filipinos. The legislative measure that could have made an impact, the National Land Use Act, still remains a Mona Lisa bill — it just lies there (in her committee), and it dies there.

But you know, if the interest of Cynthia goes beyond the interest of the Villar Group of companies, her Senate Bill 2230 may not be needed anymore with the passage of a genuine National Land Use Act.

A real and purely pro-people Land Use Act may not directly curb obesity, but it can indirectly help to reduce obesity rates. The Act can promote the development of communities with safe and accessible walking and biking paths, playgrounds, and parks. By increasing access to public spaces for physical activities, people may be more likely to engage in physical activities, which can help reduce the risk of obesity.

Additionally, land use planning can support increased access to healthy food options through the creation of community gardens and farmers’ markets. This can help people make healthier food choices, which can also contribute to lowering obesity rates.

Overall, the passage of the National Land Use Act may create a resourceful environment that promotes physical activities and healthy food choices, which can indirectly help to curb obesity. The question is: Will Cynthia allow it?

Some people in Legazpi City are walking on a tight rope because of the axe hanging over the head of Geraldine Rosal, the elected mayor of Legazpi City. According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), she is disqualified for violating the election rules for allegedly engaging on vote buying. But before the second placer, Alfredo Garbin, took his oath of office, the Supreme Court issued a status quo ante order. That means Rosal will sit as the mayor until everything is settled.

Geraldine’s husband, Noel, was earlier disqualified for Albay Governor because of the same case. Unfortunately, Noel was not as lucky as Geraldine because the former was a sitting mayor when he allegedly violated Section 68(a) of the Omnibus Election Code and “gave money to influence, induce or corrupt the voters”.

The cases of Geraldine and Noel are not isolated cases. In fact, almost all local government officials are guilty of the same with some doing the act in benign manner. Or, some officials do not have aggressive opposition who are willing to move heaven and earth and seek the disqualification of the sitting and suspected incumbent guilty of Section 68(a).

To eradicate, if not minimize cases like the Rosals, the Congress could pass a law requiring reelectionists, starting with the local chief executives, to automatically resign from their public posts at the start of the campaign season. The local government will then be manned by the local government administrators who should be hired as career officials and not as employees who are co-terminus with their hiring authorities.

It should be stressed that local government administration plays a crucial role in the daily lives of citizens. Hence, the efficient and effective management of local government is essential to maintain the smooth functioning of the community. This can be done by provincial, city or municipal administrator especially during the election campaign season.

Because of their roles, provincial, city or municipal administrator should therefore be career-based administrators and hired through a competitive selection process that emphasizes experience and qualifications. This means that they should have more experience and understanding of the issues that affect the community and have taken the time to study the community. They should must have earned degrees, certificates, and other professional development courses that equip them for the job, unlike co-terminus appointees.

With careers as their long-term goals, career-based local administrators will be motivated to learn continuously and improve their skills to serve the community better. Co-terminus appointees, on the other hand, may not have the necessary skills or experience to effectively manage local government affairs. Their only qualification — the trust and confidence of their appointing officials — in this case, the local chief executives.

Continuity and consistency are key to local government administration. The local government provides a lot of essential services and policies that are indispensable to the community, and any mismanagement can significantly impact the community. Career-based administrators provide stability and continuity in the administration of the local government especially during election seasons. As career officials, they may not have to worry about changing political tides because their jobs are not tied to the election cycle or the whims of any particular leader. This eliminates the potential for frequent changes in management, creating stability and consistency in the administration of local government. The community enjoys an ongoing relationship with career officials who can maintain continuity throughout successive local government officials.

Another significant advantage in hiring career officials as city/municipal administrators is that such individuals can run the local government with minimal interference from elected officials. Co-terminus appointees are closely tied to the officials that have appointed them, and thus, they may find themselves forced to make decisions that serve the interest of the appointing official more than the community. This reduces the effectiveness and efficiency of the local government administration. Career-based administrators, on the other hand, understand the issues that affect the community and are equipped to make informed decisions that benefit the community as a whole since their continuity and reliability do not depend on politics.

Elections provide the people a platform to use their voice and select their leaders. To be able to choose effectively, there should be no interference particularly in the form of inducements in cash or in kind that could influence, induce or corrupt the voters. But, it doesn’t mean that the local government services should stop. This could be done by the career-based provincial, city or municipal administrators.

Original source here.

One news that completed the work week is the second acquittal of Leila de Lima by the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 204 on her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. The first one was in 2021 when one of the three drug cases filed against her was dismissed by the Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 205. But what are the implications of her second victory on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs?

Senator Leila de Lima’s acquittal have a number of implications.

Politically, her release or acquittal could affect the power dynamics in the Philippines and could impact the political careers of those involved. It could also be a sign of the country’s commitment to upholding human rights and the rule of law. Unfortunately, this also subtly means “Goodbye, Duterte!” for Bongbong Marcos.

Mr. Marcos wants to show the world that his family is back and wanted legitimacy as well global acceptance. His family had been in isolation for decades and will therefore sacrifice some things for a bigger gain. That could include Mr. Duterte’s interests. Second, Mr. Marcos, who made a 180-degrees turn on the Roman Statute, wanted to prove that the rule of law is working in the Philippines. Allowing de Lima to taste justice is a way of proving that the rule of law exists.

De Lima’s acquittal, however, is a blow to the Duterte administration. Her acquittal will just increase scrutiny and criticism of Duterte’s approach to the War on Drugs, which has been heavily criticized by human rights organizations for its alleged extra-judicial killings and abuse of power. With De Lima acquitted, the idea that the War on Drugs is being used as a tool to silence critics and punish political opponents, rather than as a genuine effort to curb drug crime and drug abuse in the country, will just be reinforced.

Lastly, de Lima’s victory is also expected to set a precedent for future cases related to political persecution and human rights violations. It is not just a win for de Lima but also for vocal critics and opposition in the future.

Some people in Legazpi City are walking on a tight rope because of the axe hanging over the head of Geraldine Rosal, the elected mayor of Legazpi City. According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), she is disqualified for violating the election rules for allegedly engaging on vote buying. But before the second placer, Alfredo Garbin, took his oath of office, the Supreme Court issued a status quo ante order. That means Rosal will sit as the mayor until everything is settled.

Geraldine’s husband, Noel, was earlier disqualified for Albay Governor because of the same case. Unfortunately, Noel was not as lucky as Geraldine because the former was a sitting mayor when he allegedly violated Section 68(a) of the Omnibus Election Code and “gave money to influence, induce or corrupt the voters”.

The cases of Geraldine and Noel are not isolated cases. In fact, almost all local government officials are guilty of the same with some doing the act in benign manner. Or, some officials do not have aggressive opposition who are willing to move heaven and earth and seek the disqualification of the sitting and suspected incumbent guilty of Section 68(a).

To eradicate, if not minimize cases like the Rosals, the Congress could pass a law requiring reelectionists, starting with the local chief executives, to automatically resign from their public posts at the start of the campaign season. The local government will then be manned by the local government administrators who should be hired as career officials and not as employees who are co-terminus with their hiring authorities.

Continue reading “Addressing election case-related vacuum with career-based LGU Administrators”