Malacanang’s first reaction to the 18-point drop in the net satisfaction rating of President Noynoy Aquino was, as usual, to shrug it off.
Instead of acknowledging that the administration was cognizant of the fact that it may have disappointed some people, and that the President is doing his best and will continue to exert more effort to achieve the administration’s goal of reducing poverty and curbing graft and corruption during its watch, the rah-rah boys have again downplayed the survey results.
Communications Secretary Ramon Carandang complained that latest survey of the Social Weather Station was misleading. “They took the approval [rating] minus the disapproval [rating], so it looks like a big drop, but if you look at the absolute numbers, which is what we tend to do at the Palace, approval was down by about 5 percent, which was more or less the same drop reported by Pulse Asia.”
In its March 4 to 7 survey, SWS said Aquino’s net satisfaction rating, which subtracts the percentage of dissatisfied respondents from the percentage of satisfied respondents, fell to +46, down 18 points from +64 in November 2010.
Well, Mister Secretary, a drop is a drop, however you look at it. And the fact that nearly every survey conducted since Aquino assumed office on July 1, 2010 has shown significant drop should have been sufficient to rouse them to the reality that they should start doing something to avert the decline, or their boss will soon find himself in the disgraceful company of his predecessor.
For starters, Aquino should dump his entire communications team and hire people who know public relations. Forget the good news website that they are proposing, because there are not too many to report anyway. Forget the two columnists that Aquino seemed so irritated about. The more you show irritation, Mister President, the more they will sting you. Forget criticizing the media; they are not the enemy. Instead, woo them to help you get your message to the people. But more importantly, show you are going in the right direction, and the media – and the people – will be there to give you high rating.
Instead of whining about the results of the surveys, Malacanang should focus on two major programs that the administration is undertaking that could show that it is serious in tackling the country’s problems.
The first program, which was announced by Aquino in a speech in Jakarta (why announce it in a foreign country is beyond us), seeks to hopefully put in place a permanent solution to the nagging squatter crisis that has plagued Metro Manila and other urban centers for decades.
Aquino told reporters in Jakarta that more than half a million squatter families in Metro Manila will be relocated and receive two hectares of farm land each under his administration’s program on illegal settlers. He said the government has identified some 1.5 million hectares of farmland that could be distributed to an initial 560,000 squatter families in Metro Manila in a bid to decongest the capital and improve agricultural production nationwide.
“The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment inventory shows we can lend, lease or give two hectares of land per indigent family provided they cultivate agricultural crops, develop, and earn from the land they will live on. If they fail to stick to these conditions, the land will be taken from them,” Aquino said.
Although there may be some kinks that still need to be ironed out, the program at least recognizes the need to find a long-term solution to the squatting problem, and the need to decongest Metro Manila and to reenergize agriculture.
I have some misgivings about giving two-hectare farmlands to each squatter family. Unless these families are given the proper motivation, the proper training and the proper support in terms of financing and buyer network, they will eventually end up selling or abandoning their small farmlands and go back to the big city, where work is available.
Remember that most of these squatter families have been away from farms and fishing villagers for years and some may not even have seen a farm in their lives, and unless properly motivated and trained, may not find farming worthwhile. The experience of Sapang Palay and other relocation projects should serve as a reminder to the program planners of the need to look at relocating efforts as part of a comprehensive national development package, not just as an aspirin solution.
For one, they have to convince the squatter families that they would have sufficient livelihood in their new home and that the government would give them the necessary training and assistance. Perhaps, instead of giving each family two hectares of farmland, give them sufficient lot for their homes and allot a bigger farmland to be managed by a farming cooperative owned collectively by the beneficiary families in the area. The cooperatives would hire workers from the relocated families, who will at the same time be owners of the cooperatives. That way the relocated squatters would have paid work and motivation to make the cooperative succeed, thus enhancing the chance of survival and growth of both the farm and the resettlement area.
The government should fully support the cooperatives, and provide ready and reliable buyers for their products. The government should also make available transportation to Metro Manila, health centers, livelihood training centers and other services, especially during the early years of the resettlement.
The resettlement areas should not be concentrated in one region, but should be dispersed throughout Luzon or, if possible, throughout the country. These areas should henceforth be part of the national development plan, and agriculture-related industries should be encouraged to put up their factories near these resettlements, both to provide work for the relocated families and to provide a market for the farming cooperatives.
Another program that should be heralded and properly pursued is the plan to build additional classrooms and repair existing dilapidated ones to solve congestion in the country’s schools.
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said on Monday that funds totaling P7 billion has been released to the Department of Education for building and repair of some 9,000 new and existing classrooms nationwide.
The budget chief said that aside from the construction of classrooms, this lump-sum fund could be used for the acquisition of school furniture and fixtures. In total, the P7 billion will cover expenses for 8,997 classrooms, which are expected to accommodate 404,865 students.
Implementation of these two programs would show that Aquino is done talking and has started his poverty alleviation program in earnest. However, as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also had great plans to push the economy and alleviate poverty, but all of them fell in the wayside because greed overcame the implementers. Majority of the funds were diverted to pockets of government officials, instead of going to the farmers, fishermen and poultry and hog raisers.
If Aquino can continue coming up with viable development programs and push them successfully through the gauntlet of graft and corruption, there is no reason the people wouldn’t give him a plus-100 rating. Perhaps then, Aquino’s propaganda boys would stop whining about the media and the surveys.