This column offered, in past issues, constructive criticisms of the current administration. In literary discourse this is termed as being a “devil’s advocate” -- exposing weaknesses and faults but also praising when such accolade is due.
At the onset of 2025, to determine our future, we should relate what we have in this region to what is happening in the rest of the country, especially on the political side.
In past issues I wrote about the importance of keeping the momentum we are in now. The surge of projects which in the last few years will continue to occur in at least the rest of President Ferdinand R. Marcos’ term due to the long-tern nature of their implementation. Many of these projects are indivisible, meaning if somewhere along the way these projects are not funded, they won’t be of any use at all. Therefore, for the sake of our continued economic growth, they have to be completed.
Projects in all sectors at funding levels that never happened in past administrations are being implemented and many more are planned (such as a new coastal road from Tacloban city near City Hall to somewhere near the San Juanico bridge). All of these will not occur nor will future projects get underway if there is a change in leadership and we have a new President who comes from another region.
Expectedly, having all of these big-ticket projects operational and useful to the public in 2028 will ensure a solid Eastern Visayas come the 2028 presidential elections. But this region only accounts for less than ten percent of the total voting population of the country.
Keeping the political aspect solid in this region will not be enough to keep our momentum going. This surge will need the support of the rest of the country. Also, the history of politics in this country shows that winning in the National Capital Region and the adjoining regions of Calabarzon or Region IV- A, and Central Luzon is crucial to victory in a Presidential election.These regions account for roughly half of the total Philippine voting population. Therefore, our Speaker, who many believe will be running for President in 2028 should be recognized as helping areas outside of Eastern Visayas.
Interestingly, he is able to do this through, among others, the Tingog Party-list which is very active not only in infrastructure but also in the health sector nationwide as revealed in the recent discussions in Congress and in several vlogs in social media (attacking the zero funds in the 2025 national budget signed by the President on December 30, 2024).
However, Tingog’s open and direct involvement in Philhealth received many negative reactions recently. Hence, there might be a need to change the strategy here like being there in the field assisting communities but not through any formal memorandum of agreement, to insulate Tingog from misplaced criticisms.
Another related point is the impeachment process against Vice-President Sara Duterte. There are already many complaints filed but the House of Representatives has not as a body acted on these.
Having the VP impeached will favor the presidential aspirations of the Speaker, if any, by depriving the VP of a platform from which to use government resources to boost her own presidential ambitions. But, on the other hand, it could present the VP as a martyr and underdog whose rights are being trampled and, thus, get a sympathy vote in 2028. There are two sides to the coin.
Now that the unprecedented trillion-peso budget of the DPWH, the multi-billion-pesos AKAP program that already included the role of the Senators, and so many other benefits going to the communities in dire need of financial assistance already assured, is the impeachment in the bag as well?
The key question is, therefore: is the writing on the wall for a defeat of the VP's presidential aspirations in 2028?
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