Absentee President

President Noynoy Aquino III is being accused of absenti-ism. Palace lapdogs were quick to defend the President saying that in actuality, the President is hands-on in managing the crisis that quickly engulfed the entire Northern Luzon. He does'nt want to be the center of attention, that's why he decided not to go and "wet his feet" with those rescue operations. The mayor of Hagonoy appealed to Malacanang, and the palace responded by saying that indeed, the President will be visiting the submerged town except that they're just waiting for the waters to recede. 


Honestly, Malacanang does not need to explain this to the People. For decades, Filipinos have been accustomed to seeing their Chief Executive act like a mayor or a barangay captain every single time there's a natural calamity. Filipinos are accustomed of a President making a speech, then, getting some food packs and distribute it to a throng lined up for that purpose. I think it is time for us to change this.


And the reasons are not those peddled by Malacanang. Simply, the change should be anchored on the belief that executive power has now been transposed to LGU officials especially in times of great calamities. 


It is better that we allow our petty government officials to activate bayanihan within their communities instead of always looking at the national government for guidance and assistance. Since the passage of the Local Government Code, local government units have been given enough powers to prepare for natural catastrophes. Self-autonomy is the game changer since the early nineties. 


Chief executives around the world have one sole purpose which is provide strategic direction. Implementation of his directives should be relegated to his alter-egos. The only problem is, most of the times, as what my friend Susan Toots Ople noted, there is no single individual that commands during times of distress. That justifies the demand for the President's presence during these times. 


It is unnerving to think that we do have an absentee president in our midst especially during these times of uncertainty. However, it is totally unpatriotic for anyone to comment negatively on government when the best thing to do is just do everything possible to help sans government. The absence of government should be interpreted on a positive light instead of being a negative thing.