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Egay Uy . 

TIME was when a person runs for public office, he lays down before the voting public his platform of government, first and foremost, then his capabilities to give meaning and justice to that platform. Of course, if he falls short in his personal capability, he can always tap other resources to fulfil the campaign promise such as hiring of more minds and hands, and the employment of other resources to help him out deliver the promised services.

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The country’s public offices then, which are a public trust, were filled with statesmen whose discernable primary purpose was to serve the public and give a real meaning to the term “public service.”

Time was when the Congress and local legislatures were filled with personalities who debated on proposed laws or ordinances to ensure that those measures covered every corner of related matters.  With that, the public was assured the resulting laws and ordinances were well-crafted and objective, and addressed the needs of the time.

It is sad to note that elections nowadays have become popularity contests. Or better still, unpopularity contests. Candidates keep on throwing garbage against their opponents in the electoral arena, hoping and even believing the voters will chose them over those whom they succeed damaging the reputation of.

Well, those candidates are entitled to their own imagined victory. As long as candidates keep on throwing mud against one another, the electorate will always vote for the one who has made a mark in public service, even shunning thousands of pesos used to buy their votes.

I just can hope I will live to see the day when “My vote is not for sale” becomes the norm in all elections. Then clearly, the rules will have changed.

***

Protecting the welfare and future of children does not actually rest on the shoulders of government. It is one of the primary responsibilities of parenthood.  The government merely provides the guidance and the structure so that children will be able to grow in a society that is child-friendly so they will become assets to society.

This is why the 2018 Regulatory and Complaint Board which I chair is relentlessly inspecting business under its jurisdiction to send a strong message that government is here to see to the compliance by regulated entities of applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

Needless to state, children are our future leaders. Hence, I challenge every parent to look forward to providing a better world for the coming generations.  No parent is perfect but we can always try and do our best.

(Egay Uy is a lawyer. He chairs the City’s Regulatory and Complaint Board, co-chairs with the city mayor the City Price Coordinating Council, and chairs the city’s Joint Inspection Team.  He retired as a vice president of Cepalco.)

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