Critique Paper

PA 312 Public Policy and Program

Monique Diana Fandagani AB PP 3

We all know and remember Pres. Obama and his promises. But we also know that so
few of his promises have been executed and in the American Medias frustration, they
have resorted to say that their President Obama has overpromised. I hope it would
not be the same for our country and for our freshly inaugurated President Aquino.
To make a public policy one must know the public interest. And does our President and
his Administration understand the public enough to voice its needs and wants in public
policies?
For me, our President shows his knowledge and understandings of the Filipino people in
his Inaugural Address. Though is even that, it will not be certain that his policies will
specifically and completely satisfy everyone.
First of all, the Inaugural Address of the 15
th
President still undetailed and too
generalized to be scrutinized, but we will settle with this and try to criticize the depth
and the efficiency of President Aquinos supposed policies as stated in his inaugural
address.
I commend Pres. Aquinos mentioning of one of his parents and ex-presidents former
program the emergency employment. This was as Pres. Aquino said an
infrastructure program to be revived by him and this will provide local jobs. It will also
help to further the economy, in what way however we are not clear. The advantage of
this is the true and effective job openings or opportunities to the local people. But, I
wonder, as these is a program for infrastructure, wouldnt it be vulnerable to corruption
like overpricing and the like?
It is very blunt for the president to directly say that the Bureau of Internal Revenue
and Bureau of Customs, both of which he says needed to be rid of corruption and to
increase its collection for the funds for the peoples need. And what the people need is,
according to our President, vocational education for those who did not finish high
school. Also health services like Philhealth, for 3 years and a home of safe community.
Our President gave a specific number here in the health services and Philhealth, giving
3 years and all. But why is it only 3 years? Why not increase the years and in doing so
increase the peoples enjoyment of health services. I also find it bias to say that for
those who did not or cannot finish high school a vocational school is required for them
immediately. Is it proper then to dump every student who has not finished high school
in vocational school when his/her talents and needs are of different level? Shouldnt the
government provide opportunities for education more like it will do for the job
opportunities?
Our President also said that we need to have a larger police and army power. One of
its reasons is that they exist to serve and protect the people and now that the people
has doubled in population, it is not right to have them so outnumbered. I think this is a
good move for the President, but only if he will also have a policy to cleanse the ranks
of the police and the army of dirt and filth. By that I mean people who smuggles the
army or police reserve of fire arms and sells it to terrorist or to anyone; they are also
the people who despite of their status, career, and rank, participate in partisan politics.
Lets not forget those people from the police or army or marines who serves as
members of private political armies. This policy would be efficient if the number of
police and army increase with their morals straightened out.
The decision of our president to support the farmers is correct, because the Philippines
is naturally an agricultural country. Farms and fields will be put to use if the farmers are
properly equipped as the President said that the farmers will be helped in things like
developing irrigation, extension services, and in selling their products in higher prices.
In this way the agricultural economy of the Philippines will hopefully bloom. If the
farmers will do well then the students will have no trouble in enrolling to agricultural
courses that will be more affordable for their family and beneficial to our country.
Cutting red tape is every honest citizens dream. With lesser red tape, there is lesser
hassle for the ordinary people who want to process some documents. It would also gain
respect and acceptance from the common people because they can now understand
and follow the flow of the government. With lesser red tape, not only the poor, not only
the middle class, but also the wealthy business men who have been wanting to do
business with foreigners will now have no problem in trying to market them in a red
tape lesser Philippines. It is also a very good sign to tell, if there is lesser red tape,
there is a lesser chance for bribery.
With that said, we can assure our selves that our current President has indeed
beneficient plans and programs for the common people. We can now pull ourselves
together after all the years of ex-President Arroyos regime wasted on mismanagement
and underdevelopment. These awaited help from the government however will not just
appear in front of our eyes in this very second, but there are factors needed for it to
happen. Since the P-Noys term has only started, it is clear that the cooperation of
government officials, their honesty, loyalty, benevolent decisions and good governance
is required. Now that the president has issued the no wang-wang policy it is good to
see that he has been the first one to adhere to his own orders. Police had been more
strict in following traffic rules and regulations. This would be more sound if the citizens
would try and cooperate truthfully, this is not the same administration where in lagays
would be looked upon with faked ignorance and acceptance. What I am anticipating for
is the Presidents plan to settle all the previous administrations scandals and issues
through a Truth Commission. If this is indeed true, this commission would be made up
by strongly unbiased and capable individuals so that it can fulfill its purpose properly.
This policy of P-Noys would be one of the many that would settle the hopes and fears
of the nation.