ATTY. GLORIA ESTENZO RAMOS
There is a proposal to require a college degree for eligibility in elective public office.
Initially, the idea is attractive, by hanging on a hope that with more years of learning in college, there is a chance for the official to provide substantive and productive outputs that will translate to policies and judgments that should provide better quality of life for the constituents.
But, then, that would be presumptuous.
One might have the best education that one’s parents can provide.
But, when values are veered more towards perpetuating self or family interest, then, at some point, the fusion of both family and official interests can often lead to trouble not just to them, but to the communities and our nation.
As scholar and thinker David W. Orr aptly puts its “education is no guarantee of decency, prudence, or wisdom.”
What we need are public servants who can stand above personal gain and who genuinely crave for the enhancement of the people’s welfare by doing the mandates of their office, without fear or favor, and pursuing their work for the vulnerable sectors, irrespective of where it leads.
Having been in the environmental advocacy for over 16 years, I have met the fiercest of eco-warriors, the purest of hearts, and the richest in wisdom in our fisherfolk, workers, women and elderly who have even barely enough for their own survival.
Many of them never reached elementary and high school level.
Their parents wallowed in dire poverty and decided that the children are of more use to the family by working in the field or ocean, than in schools.
Are they to be blamed when governments have not been successful in alleviating poverty until now?
The 2016 Ocean Hero and awarded by the Boat International and Blue Marine Foundation as the 2018 Ocean Local Hero Award , Norlan Pagal, although unable to finish elementary schooling, is a barangay councilman elected into office because people believed in his capacity to lead them.
He is a courageous public servant and his integrity is beyond question.
Each moment listening to him is enriching, awed by his wisdom and conviction.
Doors for public service will be shut for him, the indigenous peoples and community leaders who are protecting the natural ecosystems they are closely living in and fighting humanity’s transgressions and rapacity in destroying them, regardless of consequence.
We say no to the proposal.
Our wish is, and I echo Dean Jose Manuel Diokno’s dream, for “a just society run by a just government whose officials are accountable to the people.
A society whose government officials are not corrupt and whose only interest is in serving the people.
A society whose government is capable of putting criminals behind bars and punishing them.
A society whose government respects human life and our inherent dignity as human beings, and which allows our people to bring their talents to full flower.
A society we can all be proud of.”