Isinailalim sa state of calamity ang Metro Manila at iba pang lugar na apektado ng malawakang baha dulot ng Bagyong Carina at habagat.
Sa pag-iikot naman ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos sa mga lugar na nasalanta ng bagyo, itinuro niya ang climate change at hindi tamang pagtatapon ng basura bilang sanhi ng matinding pagbaha sa Metro Manila.
Nito lang Lunes, sa kanyang ikatlong State of the Nation Address, binanggit ng Pangulo ang mahigit 5,000 flood control projects na natapos na. Samantala, ilang senador naman ang kumukuwestiyon kung naging epektibo at maayos ba ang pagpapatupad ng flood control projects sa mga lugar na malubhang naapektuhan ng pagbaha lalo na sa Metro Manila lalo pa at P255 billion ang nakalaang pondo para rito.
Ang naging silip ni UP Department of Political Science Assistant Chair Jean Encinas - Franco sa disaster management sa nagdaang malawakang baha at ang iba pang usapin sa ikatlong SONA ng pangulo, tatalakayin sa #TheMangahasInterviews.
Sa pag-iikot naman ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos sa mga lugar na nasalanta ng bagyo, itinuro niya ang climate change at hindi tamang pagtatapon ng basura bilang sanhi ng matinding pagbaha sa Metro Manila.
Nito lang Lunes, sa kanyang ikatlong State of the Nation Address, binanggit ng Pangulo ang mahigit 5,000 flood control projects na natapos na. Samantala, ilang senador naman ang kumukuwestiyon kung naging epektibo at maayos ba ang pagpapatupad ng flood control projects sa mga lugar na malubhang naapektuhan ng pagbaha lalo na sa Metro Manila lalo pa at P255 billion ang nakalaang pondo para rito.
Ang naging silip ni UP Department of Political Science Assistant Chair Jean Encinas - Franco sa disaster management sa nagdaang malawakang baha at ang iba pang usapin sa ikatlong SONA ng pangulo, tatalakayin sa #TheMangahasInterviews.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good day to all of you. I hope you are safe from the typhoon.
00:11We are here today to talk about the response of our government to the Typhoon Karina and the State of the Nation Address of President Bongbong Marcos.
00:24Our guest is Dr. Jean Encinas Franco, Assistant Chairperson of the Political Science Department of the UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy.
00:37Good day, Dr. Jean.
00:39Good day, Malu, and good day to the viewers of your show here in the gym.
00:46Okay. Have you been affected by the flood and the heavy rain?
00:52Not really, but of course there are relatives and friends who have been affected.
00:57There are many places that have declared a state of calamity and the response as usual is that food packs and relief goods have fallen.
01:07What is your impression so far? Is this too little too late?
01:14Of course, we have seen local government officials helping but it is still lacking.
01:26For example, there are local government units that are always flooded but they are still calling for increased rubber boats.
01:37So I don't understand why it doesn't need to be programmed.
01:41It is totally predictable that it will cause calamity, right?
01:46So I don't understand why it is still lacking while they can already prepare for it.
01:52Preparation is important.
01:54I just want to say that typhoons should not be called natural disasters because you can prepare and you can actually also prevent further damage by having enhanced preparation.
02:11To be honest, they say that there are more than 20 typhoons that visit the Philippines every year.
02:20But it seems that every year when there is a typhoon, relief goods are distributed and people are rescued.
02:30Yes, that's true.
02:31Also, it is pitiful for the evacuation centers.
02:37Although I can see that it has improved and there is privacy but I hope it will be more systematic.
02:50The opening of schools is affected especially in public schools because some schools are using evacuation centers.
03:00Will this affect the school year?
03:02We might have to go back and forth opening schools.
03:06Yes, that's why I don't know because there are people who say that every LGU should have an evacuation center.
03:14There is no need to reinvent the wheel.
03:17Maybe there are designated places.
03:21I'm sure others already have designated evacuation centers so that schools will not be used too much.
03:30And there are back-to-school cleaning brigades.
03:34It looks like they are already in Round 2.
03:37Yes, our schools should also focus on this.
03:49We have a hazard map, right?
03:54Susceptible to flooding.
03:57You know that flooding and calamities like this need a whole-of-government approach.
04:04The barangay, municipality, city, and national government agencies should help each other.
04:11Although we have NDRR-MC, we have a lot of laws, but at the end of the day it's all about implementation, right?
04:19In other places, especially in Metro Manila, the State of Calamity has already declared.
04:25It's already in the Senate Economic Planning Body office.
04:30Now, they say that it's susceptible to the release of funds and elections.
04:36These calamity fund releases cannot be abused.
04:40That's right.
04:41That's why I am calling for the declaration of calamity in one place to be susceptible to money laundering and allocations.
04:56It also needs to be monitored by civil society and residents because it can also be used in a way that should not be used for calamity.
05:08There are a lot of creative ways for it to be used.
05:13Accountability is also needed for this.
05:18It should also be used for calamity.
05:22If the use is correct.
05:24For example, if you have an evacuation center, are its facilities good?
05:32Are the people in the evacuation center dignified?
05:36Is there a hygiene kit for women?
05:39For example, are there facilities for pregnant women and children?
05:43I hope it's like that.
05:44It's not just that what they see in calamity should be given money.
05:48To be honest, the amount of rain is really different.
05:53But what they say is that it's a problem.
05:56Our drainage systems that are very barred and continuously flooding.
06:04Is it possible to increase the number of infrastructure projects?
06:07Yes, it's true.
06:08Because the infrastructure also needs to be studied.
06:14What is the maximum we can get out of the investment?
06:19Some of it we still owe, right?
06:21So there should be all ways to make the infrastructure sustainable.
06:28For example, is this the infrastructure we will do to prevent further flooding?
06:34It will not just be a way for our people to go to one place.
06:41I hope it's included.
06:43I'm sure we have environmental impact assessments for infrastructure projects, right?
06:50What they say is that when the State of Calamity declared,
06:53the Metro Manila Mayor, KDRLG Secretary Benhur Abalos, was in a hurry.
06:59What happened is that maybe because the other provinces were not in contact,
07:03maybe they were already focused on Metro Manila.
07:10But there are also many in La Union, Cordillera.
07:15There are places that are not accessible.
07:17Okay.
07:18This morning, we watched President BBM together with the OCD, Office for Civil Defense, and NDRRMC.
07:27But every official is repeating a lot of numbers.
07:33You will be confused.
07:34They are counting how many families were rescued, how many relatives were distributed.
07:39But you are the ones teaching qualitative politics.
07:43Do these numbers really have real meaning
07:46or is it just like a roll call?
07:49In the last three hours, they are repeating numbers.
07:53I hope it's included in the places that need help.
07:56What do you think?
07:57That's a good question because usually in SONA, inputs and activities are included.
08:06For example, many people trained or sent goods or something.
08:14Those are inputs.
08:15Naturally, because you are spending a lot of budget, you will report a lot.
08:20But the outcome, for example, if you rescued these kinds of people,
08:29will there be feedback from the people?
08:31Correct.
08:32How was the rescue?
08:34Were they satisfied?
08:35Maybe they were rescued but bare minimum.
08:39Okay.
08:40Okay.
08:41Sometimes, what you will ask, and President BBM sharply posed the question,
08:48this is the total number of families that were rescued.
08:51In total, how many are in the population of that place?
08:55Where is that place?
08:56Meaning, he was trying to tell his officials to give meaning to numbers.
09:01I think that's what happened in SONA, however.
09:04Numbers, kilometers of roads were built, bridges, roads, etc.
09:10What do you think?
09:12This focus on numbers, on quantity rather than on quality and outcomes.
09:18Yes, that's true.
09:19Because there is a language of technocrats, even if it's not here, even in other countries,
09:29they rely on numbers because they feel that's the only evidence.
09:33Most of the time, in terms of numbers, sometimes people's voices are lost.
09:39People's voices.
09:40What do they put in terms of infrastructure?
09:45Do they use it in the first place?
09:47Or are they misusing it?
09:49Those things are lost.
09:52I think it needs documentation and feedback mechanisms from all government agencies.
10:00But sometimes, monitoring and evaluation is really lacking.
10:05For almost an hour and a half, the President spoke in SONA.
10:09Of course, there were big news items like the ban on Pogo, the West Philippine Sea which is not just an imagination.
10:17But overall, what do you think?
10:20Did you enjoy it?
10:21Are there any highlights or memorable takeaways for you in SONA?
10:26You can look at SONA as a rhetoric or performance.
10:31You can also look at it substance-wise and the political side of it.
10:36Obviously, the political side made him happy with Pogo and the West Philippine Sea.
10:43But the West Philippine Sea is still a rhetoric.
10:47He already said that in the international community, the Philippines will not waver, blah, blah, blah.
10:54But what concrete things can he do?
10:57I know that the maritime zones are already in the BICAM.
11:02The BICAM is already in the BICAM.
11:26It's easy to say, I already produced it.
11:28So I was wondering why it wasn't mentioned by the President because it's really concrete.
11:34Then Pogo, of course, is a platform.
11:38But there were some who supported Pogo in the platform.
11:43It's like they changed their mind.
11:44They wanted to hide that they supported it.
11:48Then in education, for example, the President said, okay, the colleges and top universities.
11:59But in the private sector, the governments have nothing to do with it.
12:04What's important is the result in the international standards, in the reading.
12:10A lot of people are graduating who are not.
12:12That's what needs to be taught.
12:14So I was wondering if he forgot that there is a Congressional Commission on Education Part 2.
12:20What will he do with the result?
12:22Because the result will be out during his presidency.
12:26So what will he do immediately?
12:28What will he prioritize?
12:30So that's what I'm waiting for.
12:32Then in health, I was also anticipating that will he fund universal health insurance?
12:43That's what needs to be done.
12:45Because who will build hospitals?
12:52But who will be there?
12:54Our nurses are disappearing every day because other countries are poaching people who need nurses
13:02because they have a large population and they are old and sick.
13:05So that's what I think.
13:07There are inputs that say there are numbers, but if you narrow it down,
13:13you need to go deeper to understand that it's not enough.
13:19The real icing on the cake is the POGO.
13:23But in fact, a lot of people have been waiting for almost two or three months
13:27since the investigation started in the Senate.
13:29And the pan-Urucala that banned the POGOs really took off.
13:34It's as if the President was the last one to have a position because for the longest time, he was silent on the issue.
13:40Exactly, that's right.
13:42And I would like to thank Senator Riza Ontiveros.
13:46He was the only one who didn't have many people in his committee hearing.
13:53But there were people when the media mileage increased.
13:57So that's what I hope.
13:59But I understand because it's the opposition, but at least there was a recognition of what he did,
14:05but it was not recognized.
14:07That's really enough.
14:08And the President's order is that by the end of the year, everything should be closed.
14:13Although he has a policy that the POGOs are now banned.
14:17But in the past discussions, it seems that our local officials should be responsible,
14:25our politicians who are backers, supporters, protectors, or cuddlers of the POGOs, including the barangays.
14:33It's as if, as they say, from immigration, the lack begins.
14:38It's as if they don't have a taste of what the President got.
14:44That's true.
14:45And how will you fix the system?
14:49Because a lot was revealed in the hearing that the system of registering a birth certificate is corrupt.
14:57It needs to be reformed.
15:00Especially the Bureau of Immigration because our immigration act is still in the 1940s.
15:06It really needs to be like that.
15:08So it's also a governance issue, not an order issue.
15:12It's not just to close it, but to repair the broken processes of the government.
15:21Now, let's go back to the POGO issues.
15:26They said, first, economic benefits.
15:29You studied that in CEPO when you were there for 15 years.
15:34Those are the issues you are discussing.
15:37Are there really economic returns or money that we get significantly from the POGOs?
15:43And if they disappear, is there an economic loss?
15:47Yes.
15:48The Philippine Institute for Development Studies says that there is P3B to P14B if I'm not mistaken.
15:59But this means that the income is disappearing compared to the law enforcement,
16:08the expenses of the law enforcement in their operations,
16:12and the cost due to human trafficking.
16:17There are also a lot of people who are involved in this and there is a lot of corruption.
16:27So what if we are linked to corruption because there are a lot of POGOs, especially illegal ones?
16:35It means that they are able to enter because the system is corrupt.
16:39So what will happen is that the investors will also disappear if you see a lot of illegal activities in the Philippines.
16:45So let's not go there.
16:47So those are the things that economists are saying.
16:51It's not worth it.
16:53Okay.
16:54Now to be fair to the legal POGO operators, they say that there should be an executive order or law to shut them down.
17:02Otherwise, this would have been an order from the president that is an unfair restraint on business.
17:08What do you think about that?
17:10Yes.
17:11They say that because especially if they are legal.
17:16But what they are saying is that it should not be called POGO anymore.
17:20It should be called IGL, International Gaming Licensing.
17:26So it's an executive order but the president said it's a policy, right?
17:31But for their wrap-up, their activities here, they need to be given time.
17:39As I said, until the end of the year, I think that's enough time.
17:44Maybe they need legal procedures for the wind-down of their business.
17:50Maybe that's why they need POGO.
17:52Yes.
17:53And our problem is that they say that these IGLs might just go underground.
18:00That's true.
18:01Because if they go underground, you know that there is a demand for that kind of an activity here.
18:07If they go underground, it's more dangerous because the authorities don't see them anymore.
18:13So maybe the police should provide enhanced tools and resources for the agencies that are monitoring POGO.
18:29But it seems like the order is just directed to the PAG-COR, the licensing provider.
18:34Yes.
18:35It means that if there is a bond, there is no new license that will be issued and those who have a license and those who are illegal will be chased.
18:43But it seems like there is no order from other agencies.
18:46Especially from the PAG-COR.
18:49Yes, and also from the local government units because they are the only ones who will know if there is something illegal there.
18:54I can't imagine that they won't know if there is POGO for them because our other LGUs are very small.
19:03If you are a mayor and you are active in your work, it's impossible that you won't know if there is illegal POGO.
19:15The main issue for the people who want to listen to the President when he was in the Senate a few times is the price of goods, especially rice, work and salary.
19:28But it seems like these three things are the main focus of the people.
19:34The President only said a few things.
19:36What do you think is the lack or what he should have added?
19:41I am glad that he prioritized agriculture because I have never heard of a President who prioritized it.
19:52But this is a long process because our agricultural sector has been neglected for a long time.
20:01That's why only a few people are farming according to the Department of Agriculture in their data.
20:07But that is a long process.
20:10You can provide assistance but for the farmers, I think he did it before he became the President, but that's only up to that point.
20:17The immediate debt is the salary because a lot of people are saying that inflation is not under the control of the President because there are developments abroad.
20:32But a President cannot not respond because a lot of problems will go to the President that is not under his control.
20:41But what will he do?
20:43I understand that it is hard to raise salaries because there are employers who will say that they will not close or remove employees.
20:56But I think it needs to be discussed and studied.
21:01This is an urgent measure that the President needs to address.
21:04Plus, it needs to be monitored because some of the employees are the ones who give the real salary because our minimum wage is high compared to other countries in ASEAN.
21:22But there are others who are anecdotal.
21:27For example, if you approach a construction worker in our area, they will not give you the real salary, the real minimum wage.
21:36Others will give you P500 and others P400.
21:39That is what needs to be addressed.
21:41I think a lot of things will be affected.
21:46This is the most immediate thing.
21:48I did not mention the President.
21:50He said unemployment is down, underemployment is down, but that is in the formal economy.
21:57The Philippines is very big.
21:59In fact, 90% is in the formal economy.
22:02So we are like those who have low salaries, irregular jobs, and no job security.
22:10A friend of mine told me that hunger is a better metric.
22:16Because you can see the importance of that because a lot of people are in the informal economy.
22:24There is a wealth of people, especially those who have nothing, those who are poor.
22:28They only earn subsistence every day.
22:31Okay.
22:32On the price of rice, the first promise of the President that everyone remembers is P20 per kilo of rice.
22:41The Department of Agriculture announced that there will be a lot of Kadiwa Stores
22:46and that rice can be sold for P27 per kilo.
22:50What do you think?
22:51Is this an impossible dream?
22:53I think Kadiwa, even if it is said that it will expand, it is not sustainable
23:00because first of all, you are competing with the private sector.
23:07You cannot put every barangay in every Philippines in Kadiwa.
23:15So that is the downside.
23:18And they say that if the price of rice is like that, the farmers will be pitiful
23:24because they will not be able to afford it.
23:28So it really needs to be planned properly.
23:34And the expenses for these Kadiwa Stores, the promise is that they will launch 1,500 Kadiwa Stores,
23:41meaning one in every municipality.
23:44But the hidden cost of transportation, setup, electricity, people, and all operations costs
23:52also comes from the government or the country's funds.
23:56Exactly.
23:59Because Kadiwa might be subsidized in one country,
24:05but why would you give it to the whole country?
24:10You will also look at the income of the municipality, right?
24:15Because what will happen if there are so many,
24:17your target person might be someone who can afford it, right?
24:24That is the problem with those.
24:26Maybe those who can afford it will hoard cheap rice.
24:30Yes, and sell it so that there will be a source of income.
24:34The housing of the government is also like that.
24:37The real need is not what you can get.
24:40Okay.
24:41Now, another issue is what they say,
24:45fighting corruption and fighting criminality is important for the people.
24:50It seems like the President did not say much there.
24:53Maybe corruption is close to the kitchen because of the accusations against his family.
25:01As for criminality, what he said was about the drug war.
25:09But there is a monitoring done by the UP Third World Study Center
25:14that says that there are more than 700 drug-related killings.
25:19It seems like there is a percentage here that state agents committed.
25:24So I don't know to what extent the President said that it was bloodless.
25:31And to what extent the Third World Study says that state agents committed
25:36is because of the President's order.
25:38Just like what happened during the time of President Duterte.
25:43So what I'm waiting for is how he will support the public health approach
25:49in addressing the illegal drug problem in the country and of course the supply.
25:54The President was a bit quiet when it was reported that he wants to talk to the rebels about resuming the peace talks.
26:04It seems like Bangsamoro also heard the story of Gustol even though this is the first parliamentary election.
26:12Yes, he did not talk much about it.
26:19Considering the amount of frustration he has for the last survey.
26:27In fact, he can showcase Bangsamoro.
26:34It's a good experiment in providing autonomy to an area in the country that is conflict-ridden.
26:41So I don't know why he did not pay attention to it.
26:46Okay.
26:47There is also an issue that was avoided.
26:52It's like it's gone.
26:54There was a tsunami and a typhoon.
26:58Vice President Sara Duterte and her family traveled.
27:03On the morning of the typhoon Karina, the whole family was in Germany.
27:10Her mother, her children, and her husband.
27:13So what is that?
27:14Did the President avoid talking about the split of the so-called unity?
27:20He did not avoid it because he has accountability for the promise of unity during the election.
27:26They emphasized it too much that it's easy to disintegrate.
27:30Now, the absence of Vice President Sara Duterte, I don't think it's a responsible action.
27:38Because if you are the Vice President, you should have no personality.
27:43Even if you don't want the person to deliver, you don't want her other allies there.
27:47The SONA is not about you.
27:49It's also not about the people there.
27:52It's about the future of the country.
27:55This is a ritual and tradition that is in our constitution.
28:01And she did not watch it.
28:05So it's still up to her.
28:08Then the departure of the typhoon.
28:11I know this is personal.
28:14I think she will be even more misled by people who don't like her.
28:18But I think she can do this because she feels that her trust rating is higher than the President.
28:27But while she was in Germany, a security tandem pulled out.
28:33Was it 75?
28:35The police assigned to secure her.
28:38I don't think it's a good thing because she would have been abused and faced by Vice President Sara herself
28:47that her security contingent will be pulled out.
28:50It's true.
28:51It looks like this kind of thing will continue.
28:55It's like the candle will be returned between Vice President Duterte's camp and President Marcos' camp.
29:04There will be a different situation in May 2025.
29:09I know you're teaching society, culture, and politics.
29:12You have a textbook for Senior High School in 2016.
29:16So what will you teach in the political plane?
29:23It's not clear who will be the opposition and who will be the admin.
29:26It's not clear who will ally and who will fight.
29:29And what are they fighting for?
29:31What do you see? Is our politics a war situation now?
29:36Yes. And the regime of political dynasties is growing.
29:42What I always tell my students is that if an alien lands in a country,
29:50when asked about the politics here in the Philippines,
29:53what I will teach is political families, not political parties, not Malacanang, not the Senate.
30:00Because they are the ones leading and they are the ones fighting.
30:06It becomes personal, it becomes their own interest.
30:10To the detriment of a lot of Filipinos.
30:13What will happen to the so-called true political opposition?
30:17It's like they are whittled down to two members in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.
30:24When 2025 came, some said that this might be a make or break for the so-called pink clowns.
30:31That's true. They are the casualty of what's happening.
30:38The discourse or the narrative is Duterte and Marcos.
30:44I think they need to do everything to win the senatorial elections and the congressional elections.
30:55They need to revive the imagination of the Filipinos of what happened in the 2022 elections
31:02of those who joined and volunteered for Leroy Robredo.
31:06I hope this will be added to the 15-16 million Filipinos.
31:11I believe that they are still there.
31:13They just need to live in creative ways and maintain their position in the report.
31:21They say that this is the third reprise of the children.
31:26You said earlier that politics is family.
31:29Here in the Philippines, it's not political parties but political clans.
31:33First is President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
31:37Second is President Benigno S. Aquino III.
31:40Third is President Bongbong Marcos.
31:42It seems that we are falling in love with the children of presidents.
31:46What is the overall impact?
31:48Is there no room for newcomers or independents or non-members of the Angkan who rose as leaders?
31:56Yes, that's true.
31:58But that's not the only thing that's happening in the Philippines.
32:02This is also happening in other countries but it's really rampant here in the Philippines in more ways than one.
32:08First, because there are no mature political parties.
32:11In the US, because of the pressure of the Democrats, Biden really gave up.
32:19Now, if we don't do that, as long as it's rampant, he will run because he wants to run.
32:26He has no accountability.
32:28No one is pressuring him.
32:32Second, popularity.
32:35We really need to focus on the write-in.
32:39Of course, I don't want to change the constitution now, but we really need to think about how to vote, especially in the Senate.
32:47And now, even in the House and Senate, it's really rampant.
32:51Mothers and children, siblings, husband and wife, and in the House of Representatives, even in the local government units.
32:59Is there a way out?
33:01Is there a way out of this system where the families, the same political clans, control politics and state resources?
33:09Up to the party list actually, right?
33:11Yes.
33:12And what's happening there is why their hold on their districts or areas is getting stronger because they also have their own property.
33:21A cable TV station, a mall, if there are malls in their municipality.
33:26There are workers here, so behold it to them. It's like a cycle.
33:31There are many ways, not just from the point of view of voters, but also from the point of view of electoral reforms.
33:39Because you can also change how people vote by changing how the Senate votes.
33:46For example, what we can do in Congress is not only to widen the party list, but the correct party list.
33:55Things like that.
33:58Regulation of political dynasties.
34:00I believe that it won't just disappear, but regulation of political dynasties.
34:06And that's also what they're afraid of.
34:08That in BARMM, the political clans might have a return of the comeback.
34:13Yes, that's true. That fear is valid.
34:19So what are the bright spots, Dr. Jean, that you see?
34:25Are there still redeeming values in politics and life in the Philippines?
34:31Yes, I see some in local government units.
34:35There are rising stars and I hope that the local government officials will do well.
34:42They should not run for senator.
34:45Because I've seen some good local government officials in the Senate when I was working there.
34:53But when it comes to the Senate, they really don't feel that.
34:56Because it's deliberative.
34:58You know they don't want to, you know they're thinking about it.
35:01So they don't contribute much.
35:03Local government officials.
35:07Voluntarism is growing, at least from what I can see because of social media.
35:19In the Senate, for example, I'm very happy with the performance of Senator Risa Monteveros.
35:27I hope there will be more like her.
35:30Because she can't be alone.
35:33So there are those bright spots.
35:36And because there are 24 senators, there are seven who have a different line of investigation on issues.
35:47Yes, and sometimes there's no civility.
35:54It's not good.
35:55At the end of the day, in the Senate, you should not only choose the good ones but also those who have respect for the institution.
36:03That institution has a history of greatness.
36:07I hope the senators sitting there will value it.
36:12You served in the Senate, in the Economic Policy Planning Office.
36:16What's the difference between the Senate then and the Senate now when you were there?
36:21That's a good question.
36:24In the past, there were also artists.
36:27But now, it's like they will say anything.
36:33In the past, they were like artists.
36:36The more they study, the more careful they are in what they say.
36:39They don't speak at all.
36:41They don't speak at all if they don't know.
36:44Now, it's like there's no such thing.
36:47And also because of our 24x7 media environment.
36:57So it's like you can see every move of the senators.
37:03President BBMO also came from the Senate.
37:06Did you have a time when he was there and you were also there?
37:11What's your impression of him?
37:13You know, when he became a senator, I didn't really...
37:17Oh, I don't think I was there.
37:19Did he become a senator in 2010?
37:21I think it was in 2010.
37:23But I didn't really hear much from him as a citizen.
37:28I was just surprised that he became a president.
37:34They say election is absolution.
37:38And when President BBM ran as president,
37:41he was really chasing redemption or reviving the name of the Marcos family.
37:46What do you think? He's already the third son.
37:48Is he on his way to achieving that?
37:50Maybe those who are not really loyal to him,
37:55I think they will say that he has already achieved it.
37:58But he still has a lot of rice to eat to achieve that.
38:02And also, it's not that easy to lead in this time.
38:07Maybe he needs it to achieve that.
38:11For me, it's accountability about what happened to Marcial.
38:16Accountability of his family, where did they hide their wealth.
38:21Otherwise, for me, their name will still not be redeemed.
38:26And they say that if you look at the news in the past two years,
38:32if it's good news, the president is there.
38:34But if it's bad news, or even if he's not ready to face it, the president is not there.
38:39What do you think is his personality or character that he projects as president?
38:45That's right. I think he controls his public image too much.
38:53Especially when he rarely gets ambushed in interviews, to my recollection.
39:00And I think that's why when he doesn't know the issue that he's being tackled,
39:07when there's no decision yet, he doesn't care because he doesn't know how to package it
39:16in such a way that it will be acceptable.
39:21Maybe that's why he's like that.
39:24He takes care of his public image too much compared to the previous presidents.
39:31Of course, before President BPM, President Duterte, Rodrigo, they have different styles.
39:38One is cool, fierce, and sometimes a bit rude.
39:46While this one is gentle, fierce, and the words he uses are measured and in English.
39:55What do you think? Is that a plus point for President BPM or for President Duterte?
40:03He's lucky that he followed President Duterte because the standard is too low.
40:11When you measure him now, it's like the zone is normal again, there are no threats of violence.
40:20But let's not put aside the history of their family.
40:28We should read between the lines.
40:30If the words are normal, I hope we can look beyond that public image.
40:44Could he have improvements in his image?
40:49Some people are saying that he's too soft.
40:51Senator Ayme Marcos is louder on issues.
40:56Other officials and Speaker Martin Romualdez are more present.
41:01Could the president be bolder, clearer, and sharper in his position?
41:06I think that's his personality.
41:09But in his third zone, I saw that he's more confident in his words compared to the first and second.
41:16You really feel like there's something scary about him, he doesn't have much confidence.
41:21But being bolder, I think he might not be able to do that because that's his personality.
41:29But to be honest, let's go back to the main issue of the price of crops.
41:33He was agriculture secretary concurrent for a year.
41:37But it's like there's no cooperation.
41:40Now with the rice tariffication law, they want to suspend the application.
41:45It's like a touch-go, an initiative to respond to the price of crops, especially rice and food.
41:56It's like the food inflation, the banner inflation rate is increasing with the price of everything including gasoline.
42:05Yes, that's true.
42:06And what's happening is because they can't raise the salary, aid is becoming a trend.
42:15And there's a couch for aid but of course, it can also be used for elections.
42:22So what's scary is that people might be used to aid instead of looking for a job.
42:29As a political science professor, do you see now that the politics of aid is more prevalent now than before?
42:40That's true. I think this is the language we got from the pandemic and what the politicians used.
42:48But you're just providing aid when there's an emergency.
42:51But in normal times, what will happen is the so-called mendicancy will be promoted.
42:59Maybe the people will be lazy to work.
43:02The President did not mention the issue of our debt of national debt although a large part is locally sourced.
43:13At the same time, our problem with the falling national budget.
43:19Do you think these are the significant issues that will define the legacy of President BBM?
43:27You know, he avoids everything that might be related to his family.
43:31Corruption, debt because it's too close to the history of his family.
43:40So this is what the economic managers should be careful about and those who monitor the performance of the government should learn
43:49because the future generations of the government will pay the Philippine government.
43:58And hopefully, if there's a debt, is it a debt for investment in the future?
44:03But if it's a debt after corruption, that's what's shocking.
44:07There's a lot of rebranding happening.
44:10It's not just simple aid but the buzzwords of the time of President BBM are coming back.
44:18Kadiwa, Maharlika, and other programs.
44:22There's a new Philippine anthem and national anthem.
44:26What do you think?
44:27Is it in politics?
44:28In your teaching?
44:29Do these things work?
44:30Revivalism or recycling of concepts or brands?
44:35Yes, there are people who write about the dictatorship of other countries.
44:41They say that sometimes dictators don't have to do violence because they have all the branches of government.
44:52What they do is to have a semblance of legitimacy to the people.
44:56For example, they perform.
44:58So this is also one of the tools to say that it's true that it has changed.
45:04Because again, there's nostalgia for the people during the time of Martos.
45:09Those are the names.
45:10In your opinion, after three years, well three more years to go, four more years to go,
45:18what will be the defining character of President BBM?
45:23Because they say that President Gloria is in transactional politics.
45:27President Cory Aquino is in restoration.
45:31President Noy-Noy Aquino is brave and courageous.
45:35President Duterte is brave and courageous.
45:38What will be the defining character or legacy of President BBM?
45:46I think that if the violence in the West Philippine Sea continues,
45:51what will happen to him?
45:53Because that's what I see now.
45:54He's better in foreign policy.
45:56He will be the darling of the international community.
45:59But if he can't resolve his salary, his hunger,
46:03he will have a bad image, his legacy to the Filipinos, his fellow Filipinos.
46:13And it will affect whoever he endorses in the next election.
46:17And it will be important who will win in the United States in the upcoming election.
46:24Will it be Trump or Kamala Harris?
46:27That's true.
46:30So with fingers crossed.
46:33I hope that all the people affected by the Karina earthquake will recover.
46:39I hope it will be faster.
46:41And I hope that the operations to rescue, provide relief, and rehabilitate lives and homes will not be a simple stopgap.
46:49I hope it will last long.
46:51And lastly, Dr. Jean.
46:55What would you say to senior high school students?
46:58What should they leave with as images, ideas, or concepts of Philippine society, culture, and politics?
47:09I think for the youth, I know that it's not easy to love the Philippines,
47:17but I hope that we will continue to hope that we will be able to bring change,
47:23vote correctly, and study the candidates,
47:28and look beyond the public image, beyond the Facebook or Instagram posts of politicians,
47:36and continue to know the politics of the country.
47:39Alright.
47:40I would like to thank Dr. Jean Encinas-Franco, Associate Chairperson of the UP Political Science Department.
47:50Have a good day, Ma'am. Keep safe.
47:52Have a good day, Malu. Have a good day to all of your listeners.
47:57Thank you.
47:58Thank you.
48:10U.S. Money Reserve