From our perch here in Calumpang farm, we monitor with some measure of enthusiasm the ongoing campaign sorties of the Alyansa Labindalawa, the Marcos administration’s candidates for senator.
Like any intelligent voter (I would like to think that I am, having been at one an official of the Commission on Elections, as chief of the Comelec Education and Information Department and spokesman of the commission) I am looking for content, content, content from our candidates. So much for showbiz shenanigans.
The position of senator is not one that should be won in a popularity or beauty contest. We need thinking legislators in the Senate. We need to know how these candidates will behave in office, if they win.
Let us hear and analyze what they are saying.
Take for instance former Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr.
At a press conference in Iloilo City recently, Abalos stressed the need to amend the Local Government Code. He pointed out that this law, enacted over 31 years ago, needs to be updated to reflect modern realities.
“After three decades, we’ve seen the flaws. The objective was good, but we have to be practical. Some provisions are no longer feasible,” he said in an interview.
Abalos cited infrastructure projects like village halls and schools, which are currently designated as village and local government responsibilities but often require national support due to funding issues.
He also pointed to tertiary healthcare as an issue, noting that provincial governments often struggle to fund necessary medical services such as intubation and specialist care. He said his proposals are based on consultations with governors, mayors, and village leaders.
Abalos also called for increased benefits for job order workers, particularly productivity-based incentive pay, noting the constraints from Commission on Audit and Department of Budget and Management policies.
The senatorial candidate, who was a former mayor of Mandaluyong City, proposed the implementation of a uniform incentive productivity pay, particularly during Christmas and the end of the year, so all job order workers receive fair compensation without straining local government resources.
Abalos also renewed his call for the removal of Value-Added Tax (VAT) on electricity, emphasizing that doing so would lower the cost of living and make the country more attractive to investors.
He acknowledged concerns about lost government revenues because of this proposed move but argued that increased economic activity would offset the shortfall.
“Okay, mawawalan ka nga ng sources (of revenues) from electricity pero dadami naman ang negosyo mo (Okay, you will lose sources of revenues from electricity but your business will increase),” he said.
Abalos first introduced a resolution on the matter in 2005, implementing a two-year moratorium on electricity VAT, and remains optimistic about the economic impact of his proposals. He cited a study conducted by the USAID in 2013, that found out that
Filipino households could save over PHP6,000 annually in electricity costs if the tax were removed.
You will notice that Secretary Abalos makes sense, and his proposals are doable. He is a candidate worthy of your vote.
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