Aquino urged to move forward despite legal setback

Inquirer columnist Randy David. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Despite setbacks from the Supreme Court (SC), President Benigno Aquino III was urged to continue “full steam ahead” and make the most of his sustained trust and approval ratings over four years.

“There has never been an administration in our country that has been as transparent as the present Aquino administration,” Sociologist Randy David said in the morning plenary session of the Daylight Dialogue Tuesday at the Malacañan Palace.

“Transparency is both a source of strength as well as a vulnerability. What got you into trouble with the SC was precisely the transparency that you manifested,” he said.

Makati Business Club chairman Ramon Del Rosario agreed with David saying the transparency of the Aquino administration translates into economic growth.

“This transparency and the credibility of its reform program has really resulted in this momentum for reform which in turn has translated into a momentum for economic progress,” Del Rosario said.

“It would really be a pity if the problems this administration is now encountering will make it retract into a cocoon and say it will now be extremely careful and reluctant to move forward,” he said.

Del Rosario said he liked Aquino’s speech Monday night defending the DAP because it showed the administration’s continuing forward thrust.

“I would like that mindset to continue translating into this administration’s forward thrust and forward momentum so that the next two years do not become two years of a lame duck administration,” Del Rosario said.

“I would like to see the momentum of reform and economic progress that is admired by the rest of the world to continue if this administration does not get cowed by all of these problems that it is encountering. It must forge full steam ahead with as much confidence as it has had all along,” he said.

David said that the criticisms the administration will get from being open is a small price to pay in order to move the country forward.

“It’s something that you have to deal with if you aim to govern differently, a part of yourself that you have to sacrifice. And I think it’s still a small price to pay for the long term promise of democratic reform,” David said.

“No president to my recollection in this country has been able to maintain the kind of approval and trust ratings Aquino has been able to maintain for more than 4 years,” he said.

The dialogue, organized by the World Bank with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Finance (DOF), and Malacanang, is a forum composed of plenary talks which seek to “renew trust in government, institutionalize good governance, and enhance citizen engagement.”

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