Do eager candidates understand what the poor really need?
Are they sincere in helping them?
Do aspiring public leader have the competence to make policies and programs to alleviate poverty?
It’s important to ask candidates these questions for the May 13 elections.
Voters who can discern the sincerity and competence of candidates courting their votes could change the game for Philippine politics and governance.
An online survey by the Inquirer last month with 5,980 respondents shows that poverty is the main concern, the top of the voters agenda.
“Which socioeconomic issue do you think candidates should focus on?” respondents were asked.
A total of 31.39 percent answered poverty.
For decades, poverty has shackled the lives of Filipinos living at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
A majority of Filipinos are not getting their basic needs of food, shelter, clothing, education and medical services satisfied.
For a country with a population of over 90 million, the exodus of over 10 million to different parts of the world in search of better jobs to support their families, underscores the reality.
It would be easy to fall into the trap of despair given the failure of of several social experiments to wipe out poverty.
But hopelesness is not an option.
This election season, poverty remains the biggest issue, the main agenda of any candidate seeking political leadership.
Candidates must demonstrate that they have sincerity and competence in meeting this challenge, not just by repeating the right economic buzz words for pogi points.
And when they come into power, they shouldn’t be allowed to accumulate wealth created on the back of taxpayers, and then forget the kabus.
This election season, voters must ignore the sweet talk of courting politicians and demand real answers and performance.
Anything less would end up another sad refrain.