Sen. Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III’s criticism of President Benigno Aquino III’s performance reflects the sentiments of many who look beyond the pork barrel corruption investigations and see how he and his lieutenants in the Palace allowed politics to derail good programs, including the rehabilitation for typhoon and quake-hit areas.
While not questioning the President’s integrity—though the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) has some lawmakers crying for his impeachment—Osmeña hit Mr. Aquino’s poor management skills for failing to solve the country’s energy crisis and the turtle-like pace of the public-private partnership (PPP) program.
The PPP especially hits home for Osmeña in light of the government’s controversial and delayed decision to award the Mactan Cebu International Airport terminal expansion project to Megawide rather than to Filinvest, whom the senator supported as the rightful winner.
But the senator is quite harsh with Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, whom he accused of failing to adequately and swiftly address the power crisis that hit Central Philippines following the devastation of supertyphoon Yolanda as well as the ongoing energy deficit that is causing whole-day brownouts in Mindanao.
Fortunately for Cebu, a private power firm announced that it would build two more plants that can add a combined 200 MW to the Visayas Grid upon completion in three to four years.
By then Aquino would no longer be in office. The new coal-fired facilities would stabilize power supply though at the cost and risk of further air pollution to their host Naga City and nearby communities.
To the President’s credit, he did finally agree to support the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for Cebu City after initial hesitation.
The Department of Transportation and Communication, whose Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya was heavily criticized by Senator Osmeña for the awarding of the terminal project to Megawide, is studying the possibility of implementing the BRT in Manila.
The President lacks the brilliance of his father Ninoy but has more experience in governance than his iconic mother President Cory, who was saddled with a nationwide energy crisis in the twilight years of her term.
President Aquino is at the homestretch with less than two years to show he can deliver more for the Filipino people other than his cleanup crusade against corruption.
Never mind if he can’t finish the infrastructure projects during his term.
Mr. Aquino’s boss, the Filipino people, deserve a whole lot more than what his administration had given so far.
He will be held to account for actual results in addressing poverty and growing the economy aside from his already herculean task of leading as Mr. Clean.
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