PH needs sincere bets with depth — Monsod

Civil society groups across the country were urged to lobby for sincere candidates with depth who can promote human development and end corruption.

During the annual gathering of the Caucus of Development (CODE-NGO) which covers non-government organizations and civil society groups, guest speaker Christian Monsod also called on the public to vote for such candidates.

“Civic virtues, love of country, rule of law and concern for the poor and the environment should be taken to heart so that when we are asked what is our standard in (voting for candidates) our answer is always the same: country,” said Monsod, former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman.

Monsod, who spoke out on key challenges faced by civic society organizations today, said the country needs a lot of heroes who can build a new social order.

“We need the kind of heroes that are celebrated in epic poems and stories that speak of ancient truth, of deeds, of gallantry, of values that defined us. Of learnings that resound with meaning in today’s world of broken promises,” he said.

Monsod said such heroes can be found within civic organizations who stand for their causes for the development of the country.

He said civic leaders and groups should support candidates who promote human development and end corruption.

Even if a candidate is incorruptible, Monsod said the candidate should know what it takes to carry out the mandate of social justice “that will upset the status quo.”

“Many decisions would involve counter cultural reform which many politicians assiduously try to avoid making. Thus even if we elect honest and well-meaning people in 2016, we will remain a failure of social justice and human development unless they know what to do,” Monsod said.

Monsod said “sincerity is not a substitute for correctness” and that a president with no depth on the issues will rely on advisors who “will likely come again with the same policies and governance that have failed for 29 years.”

“We need leaders who are both sincere and correct in what they do. The larger context of the elections whether we realize it or not is that democracy is at stake in this elections primarily because we are a country of mass poverty and gross inequalities,” he said.

NGO-CODE came up with the CSO Reform Agenda and Priority Issues that they presented to presidential candidate Mar Roxas during a forum at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) last Friday.

Among the priority issues presented were: ensuring empowerment democratization and good governance; reducing poverty and inequality; building peace; promoting sustainable economic development; and environment protection.