Wanted: A New Covenant

Whether we like it or not, our government will always find itself unable to satisfy the needs of a large majority of our people. Face it--despite the growth of GDP, huge numbers of people still wallow in extreme poverty. The reality is the existing socio-economic structures are unresponsive to the needs of the masses and it would take a long time before an alternative system can be created. A deeper analysis is that the superstructure which makes up the Philippine State is not tailored to spur spillovers from the top to the bottom rungs of society. That answers the question posed by former Socio-economic head Solita Monsod, when she said that despite the GDP growth, an increasing number of Filipinos still remain poor.

Propositions are many. Some say, we need a revolution. Others say, we just need a leadership change. Upon introspection and studying history, we find that the solution is not that difficult or radical as it may seem.

Let me simplify the solution--a government with a Vision.

Regardless of who's on top, or which political party or personality heads the government, what Filipinos need is a focused, trained and skilled leadership, the kind that former President Fidel V. Ramos created during his administration. We don't need to change the governance model, meaning from presidential or parliamentary. The change is insignificant.

What we need is a unified effort or initiative from all sectors of society to gather into one place and plan for the future of this country. We lack a unified vision. We lack a strategic plan that would at least make this country survive future global crises. A summit of all the brilliant minds of this generation is in order.

Let's face it--an armed revolution at this point would further worsen the situation, given that 2010 is just around the corner. Establishing a Council of State at this juncture would probably be detrimental to the health of this country than allowing Gloria to finish her term. Since no one knows who will compose of this Council and the vision it wants to pursue, allowing the elections in 2010 would be fitting than moving towards the ouster of Gloria.

However, groups who really want change should, by now, again gather and discuss on the agenda they want the new dispensation to pursue. Meaning, these groups should spearhead efforts to craft a Vision and the corresponding Short, Medium and Long-term plans for this country starting on 2010.

The new government, regardless of who will head it, should be forced by these groups to adopt this agenda. This agenda should be comprehensive enough to cover all areas of governance for one goal--improve the system so that there's an efficient and effective spill-over mechanism of economic gains from the top to the bottom. Quite frankly, this mechanism can exist side by side with a defective system.

Likewise, the new government should devote its first six (6) months into short-term strategic planning. A three-year strategic plan should be implemented by the new government, followed by a five-year, then 10-year, then 20-year, then 50 year plans. This strategic plan should be implemented and sworn to by any one (whether a president or a prime minister) who should head the government.

Some would say that it's already in the Constitution. However, our charter has been written to reflect aspirations and goals; not specific implementing rules which government is expected to provide.

In order to do this, the new government should launch a New Revolution which, at its core, would aim to change the people's mindset of things and concomitantly, show these strategic plans before the people.

These strategic plans should be presented as a Covenant to the People, who will swear by it so that every Filipino walks, talks and goes in the same direction.