Evolving road to transformation

Mindfully Greenie

Have you noticed something different lately? It does not feel like it is already the campaign season, right? Our surroundings don’t show it, unlike in the past. For the first time, the obviously illegal posters and banners of the candidates are gone – almost, that is.

Can we now say the emblems of impunity by seekers of  elective public office are relegated to the dustbins of ancient history? That is our everlasting wish.

This refreshing and evolving road to transformation taking place before our eyes is an answered prayer. The (pre, during and post) election mayhem in the previous electoral exercise was not just repugnant to the senses and destructive to the defenseless trees and our environment, it was a clear defiance of the Rule of Law.  We have election laws regulating the size and placement of the campaign paraphernalia. But, even the electoral agency felt helpless to enforce them, amid the abhorrent culture of impunity.

Despite strong pressures locally exerted by the citizenry, including church and environmental groups, for candidates to respect the Law and our environment, no one was held accountable. It was a free-for-all, unregulated visual anarchy in the streets made possible ironically by the would-be-seekers of elective offices and, of course, timid enforcers who chose to look the other way. Remember, it takes two to tango-always.

The collective disregard of the Law by candidates was a forecast of things to come. Accountability, the environment, people and the Law were relegated to the backseat.  Institutions were seen as weak and worse, coddlers of wrong-doers in government. The clear mandates of public office were not taken seriously. Thus, delivery of basic services such as health, sanitation, environment and disaster response, went below expectations.

Thankfully, there were interventions that ensued. Important public positions were assigned to capable, courageous and dedicated leaders.  No one can question that this important legacy is something that President Benigno Aquino III, as the appointing authority, can be proud to own as his gift to our nation.

We have an unflinching and fiercely adorable Ombudsman who has changed the accountability landscape more than her predecessors did or aspired to. Who would have thought that big fish can be charged in court – and detained, for that matter? Now, we realize how crucial a truly independent Ombudsman or a public office, for that matter, is and how it has restored our trust in government.

With Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and public servants of similar no-nonsense mold at the helm, expect public accountability as a mantra that should persist, despite change in political leadership.

Now, we have a  Commission on Elections (Comelec) fostering genuine respect for the Law in our country. While Comelec under Chairperson Sixto Brillantes made history with the implementation of the automated election system and other innovations, we take our hats off to its new Chairperson, Andres Bautista, the commissioners and the national agencies working with the Comelec for taking the high road to a transparent and accountable electoral system, as symbolized by a clutter-free election campaign. They deserve our highest commendation for this singular achievement.

The Comelec is embarking on a “Name-and-Shame” campaign, committing to list on its website and media platforms the election law violators and hopefully, file cases against them. This has significantly changed the rules of the game, and resulted to a cleaner electoral landscape, with the full engagement of the citizens of course, who should report the violators, irrespective of party affiliations.

Likewise, over 40 institutions and non-government organizations have recently formed the Green Thumb coalition to mainstream the environmental agenda in political campaigns. Launched in Manila, it had its formal  take-off  in Cebu recently, with Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro making history as the first local chief executive in Cebu signing the Covenant and committing to uphold the State guarantee of the people’s right to a healthful and balanced ecology  in local governance. It should be remembered that Cebu was placed on the map when the mayor declared the Monad Shoal and Gato Island off Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan, as shark and ray sanctuaries, the first in the country.

The Green Thumb coalition is a formidable alliance among advocates seeking to integrate environmental action issues in governance and as a platform for the candidates in both national and local posts to discuss their green, brown and blue program. It encompasses the themes on  1) biodiversity and ecosystem integrity; 2) natural resources and land use management and governance (including ocean governance, of course); 3) human rights and integrity of creation; 4) climate justice; 5) mining, extractives and mineral resource management; 6) energy transformation and democracy; 7) sustainable food sovereignty; 8) people-centered sustainable development; and 9) waste management.

Yes, transformation for a better society is happening –  in our lifetime. Indeed, this wonderful whiff of change in the air could not have happened by chance and without committed leaders, institutions and people, like you and me. Mabuhay!