When this goes to print, we shall have elected a new president. I trust it would be Noynoy Aquino.
And this early, it bears stressing the fundamental mission he should undertake, especially with the renaissance of "people power" following Cory's death: to remain straight or "MATINO." For as the unfortunate joke goes, the Philippines is actually a rich country and all it takes to become truly one is to have a president who would not steal and equally not tolerate stealing.
Thereafter, Noynoy may well define his presidency with the wisdom of democratic government as Thomas Jefferson put it, thus: "That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves."
For this end, he may consider this basic 3-point agenda, to wit:
Federalization or greater local autonomy. It's simply high-time we truly did away with "Imperial Manila." There can be a three-pronged teaming approach for this following the principle of subsidiarity vis-à-vis existing political subdivisions under the Constitution: 1. Metropolitan Areas, 2. The Regions, and 3. Indigenous Peoples (inclusive of Bangsamoro) The existing set-up for metropolitan areas like the MMDA seems to be working fine although improvements can certainly be done to avoid, for example, a repeat of the government's disastrous ineptitude at the height of Ondoy. For the regions, achieving integrated cooperation among the provinces and cities as a self-sustaining economy may be pushed by the president through a dedicated regional secretary of cabinet rank and with control and supervision of all executive agencies in the region and not just a presidential adviser as has been the practice of previous administrations. And for indigenous peoples inclusive of the Bangsamoro, self-governance may be established within the framework of the Constitutional recognition of ancestral domains, international law and human rights as part of the law of the land, and local autonomy. Verily, there is no need to amend or revise the Constitution for all this effort.
Informative Governance. Genuine transparency has long been the command of our Constitution. Let us then be reminded that: "Whenever people are well-informed they can be trusted with their own government." (Thomas Jefferson) Thus, the UN Declaration on the Right to Development emphasized that: "The human person is the central subject of development and should be the active participant and beneficiary of the right to development." (Art. 2 para 1) Active participation obviously requires adequate information.
Accountability. Time and time again, we have been pushing that no one is above the law. It's only sad that there are just those who simply are able to get away with graft and corruption. Noynoy can start with ensuring the immediate prosecution of GMA and her officials alleged to have committed crimes against the public trust. He should not think that such act would be an act of revenge. As president, he has the duty to faithfully execute the laws. Precisely, prosecution of offenses is an executive function. Let justice be done.