Duterte, Moreno and democracy fatigue

Bencyrus Ellorin

THE election of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte into the presidency may be a result of democratic fatigue by Filipinos who have yet to see substantial social change 30 years after its restoration.

Duterte connected with the people with his no frills, simple solutions to pervasive problems affecting neighborhoods and homes. Whether he succeeds or not depends on how he will deliver on key campaign promises and sustain the country’s economic growth to be truly inclusive.

Every presidency is laden with hope. “Daang Matuwid” attracted the people after nine years of shaky mandate of the Malacanang occupant. Obviously, six years was not enough for the Daang Matuwid as a process to seep into Filipino neighborhood and homes. Perhaps, out of frustration, people risked civil liberties to offers of short cut solutions to pervasive problems like drugs and criminally–actually, safety and security concerns of communities.

Local governments play key role in making this administration succeed. Good enough, the presumptive president acknowledges the accomplishments of the Aquino administration. Daang Matuwid, however misunderstood and with all its shortcomings, is a process that needs continuity. The economy has grown, making the Philippines an envy to neighboring countries. Reforms started were no nonsense.

Here at home, reelected Mayor Oscar Moreno understands fully well the context of the Duterte administration. In an interview after his proclamation last week, Moreno acknowledged the democracy fatigue of Filipinos as the reason behind the election of Mayor Duterte.

But he is confident that the rule of law would prevail in the Duterte administration. “Mayor Duterte is a good lawyer. He knows what he is doing. Eventually, the rule of law will prevail,” Moreno said.

It is good the mayor acknowledges the “democracy fatigue” among Filipinos.

The upset victory of vice mayor-elect Kikang Uy could also be viewed as an expression of Kagay-anons’ democracy fatigue over the contrarian/ “babag” city council led by outgoing Vice Mayor Ian Acenas. Acenas and his purple minions have always invoked their legal mandate to block Moreno’s budget, the declaration of state of calamity because of El Nino, among others. But the people saw that while what Acenas and Co. were doing was legal, it was not moral.

A sure cure for democracy fatigue would the efficient delivery of needs-based services to the people. Mayor Moreno has been enumerating education, environment especially on solid waste management, “hapsay sapa,” forest and river protection, health, social services, public safety and traffic, and public infrastructure as the action areas of his administration.

And he looks every bit focused to provide leadership to mobilize the city hall bureaucracy and resources to deliver services along those themes.

Vice Mayor-elect Uy and the administration members of the city council, indubitably have huge tasks too. When they convene in July, urgent legislations await them, foremost is the 2016 budget. Although the purple party now holds the majority in the city council, numbers could change in no time. They no longer have the number to override a mayor’s veto.

City hall has been operating on a re-enacted 2015 budget. Meaning, from January to present, city hall’s expenditures have been limited to personnel and other expenses essential to the operation of the local government. For projects on education, health, environment, public infrastructure, public safety and traffic to be funded, the city council has to approve the P4.8-billion budget Moreno has proposed for 2016. With six months remaining in the year, an approval of that budget means a lot of catching up to do. But I believe the city hall bureaucracy is up to the challenge.

Realignment?

Officially, the configuration of 18-person (including vice mayor and ex officio member) city council is 9-7-2 in favor of the purple party, seven for the administration and two for the Centrist Democratic Party (CDP). A 10-8 Moreno majority is possible if the mayor succeeds in having an ally represent the Association of Barangay Councils as ex officio member after the barangay polls and if the two CDP councilors rejoin the administration party.

In the post-election press conference last May 9, I asked Councilor Zaldy Ocon, the lone loyalist of the mayor in the present city council, if he would welcome back erstwhile allies to the administration coalition. Zaldy gamely said, “Yes. I have no problem with that. And dili man pod war freak ang administrasyon ni Mayor Moreno.” The mayor who was seated beside him smiled.

This early, Bong Lao and Eric Salcedo who ran under the CDP have already sent feelers they would support the Moreno administration. Vice mayor-elect Kikang Uy’s leadership role will be crucial in bringing them in. His leadership is essential in transforming the city council into a principled ally of the mayor. Aside from breaking ties, he should be able to exercise leadership in introducing Moreno’s priority legislations.

This is the good news that awaits the people of Cagayan de Oro. More public expenditure means for more services for the people. I trust that there are transparency and participatory mechanisms in place to ensure that all funds from the city hall would be spent well.

This time, except for residual political bitterness, the city will be politically stable and city hall can start planning for the medium and the long term–yes, for the next six years at least.

E-mail: bency.ellorin@gmail.com