ONE year is but a short time in national governance and it would be almost an injustice to judge the overall performance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the basis of what he did during the last 12 months. After all, one year is just one-sixth of his term of office and Marcos will have a full 5 years moving forward to prove what he can do for the Filipino people.
The first year, however, of any president’s administration is an occasion for assurances, expression of support and cooperation, and of course, criticisms. That is how we do it in Philippine politics, and tradition does not bestow an exemption to Bongbong Marcos.
It is interesting to note that PBBM’s allies in the Senate, starting with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, are all praises for the Chief Executive.
‘While one year is short in judging performance, it is enough time for a new president and his team to adjust and acclimatize to the environment of power. The nation will be expecting much more from President Bongbong in his second year.’
Statements of praise and recognition coming from the senators is one thing, but similar statements coming from the President’s Cabinet members is another – one that could evoke laughter. This is because these Cabinet secretaries are supposed to be alter-egos of the President, and so praising him is synonymous to Marcos praising himself.
PBBM humbly said that he agreed with an observer that his grade for the first year is “incomplete.” He admitted that he still has many things to do, especially in the Cabinet portfolio that he holds, the Department of Agriculture (DA). Actually, it is in the area of agriculture and food security that his performance has been found wanting. Lackluster agri production coupled with rampant smuggling of crops, livestock, and poultry products has saddled the economy with colossal challenges that call for immediate solutions.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III is baffled why the President continues to head the DA, noting the administration has had two controversies in sugar importation in less than a year in office.
While the Marcos administration boasts a supermajority in Congress, only four of the 42 priority bills have been passed into law in the first 12 months — including on SIM registration, postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
Even the implementation of these two new laws has met unique snags, as the government had to move the deadline for SIM registration to July this year. The BSKE postponement — the third postponement in the last couple of years — has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, although the high tribunal allowed the polls to be held this October.
While one year is short in judging performance, it is enough time for a new president and his team to adjust and acclimatize to the environment of power. The nation will be expecting much more from President Bongbong in his second year.
