"No wang-wang" is P-Noy's only achievement - Archbishop Cruz

MANILA, Philippines (June 27, 2011) - Time and again, sky-high expectation generated by euphoria and unquenchable thirst for change is proving to be the vulnerability of popularly chosen leaders.

It hounded Cory Aquino in the later years of her presidentcy. Three years into the Obama presidency, many US voters are still wondering when the candidate Barack Obama shall finally shine. The current Philippine President Benigno C. Aquino III, who also replaced a highly unpopular predecessor, has to contend with it.

Yesterday, retired Lingayen-Dagupan and former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Archbishop Oscar Cruz, said the Filipinos are expecting more from President Benigno C. Aquino III and yet going into the first year of his administration, the "no wang-wang (no sirens)" policy remains his only achievement.

He asked, “Where is the promised matuwid na daan (straight path)? What happened to the claim that kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap (If there is no one corrupt, there is no one poor)?

“How should the shout Kayo ang boss ko (You are my boss) be understood? Is walang wang-wang (no more sirens) the only achievement of the already one-year-old administration?” Cruz asked.

Cruz said Filipinos have many aspirations for themselves and their country, for their families, community and society as a whole.

“(But) There is not simply so much wanting but also so much wrong all over the land,” he said.

Cruz said it is not surprising that Aquino’s satisfaction and trust ratings are going down, as many of the basic needs of the people remain unattended.

Aquino’s approval and trust ratings dropped in the past three months based on the recent survey conducted by survey firms Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations (SWS).

“With pomp and pageantry, the present government took over. It is now anybody’s guess what the forthcoming SONA (State of the Nation Address) will say-and what will the people in turn say thereafter. The following is predictable: Grand accomplishment report. Miserable reality show. And that’s it. And this is no guess,” Cruz said.

A group of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) gave Aquino a failing grade in his first year of presidency.

Migrante said there was no improvement in their lives even after the change in administration.

“After a thorough consultation and deliberation and assessment on what the Aquino presidency had done so far after a year, We, member-organizations of Migrante in the Middle East, declare that he (Aquino) failed to deliver what he had promised during presidential campaigns and policy pronouncements during his inaugural and public speeches,” the group said.

Migrante-Middle East said they are giving Aquino “a failing grade of 65 percent, 10 percent point below the 75 percent passing grade.”

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said the group assessed Aquino’s performance based on what he promised to do.

Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joined the fray of Aquino bashing few days ago, claiming that she left a strong economy and she sees danger signs under the weak leadership of President Aquino.

But President Aquino will nor run out of defenders.

The Philippines will still salvage a 4.9% growth despite the empty coffers and heavy debts left by the Arroyo administration, as revealed by TESDA chief Joel Villanueva.

Albay governor and noted economist, Joey Salceda, who gave P-Noy an 81 percent passing mark, attributes the modest growth to "speedy fiscal consolidation through prudent spending."

Salceda sees other Aquino achievements that will result in long-term dividends by 2012: a $20 billion increase in Gross International Reserve (GIR); Moody's and Fitch credit upgrades; the P21 billion expanded Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, popularly known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps; and the creation of 1.4 million new jobs. (From philstar.com, Vox Bikol)