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October 8, 2010
Filipinos in California and New York saw for themselves how President Benigno S. Aquino III worked with world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, American business leaders and on his countrymen living in America during his week-long working visit last month. The first overseas trip of the President netted $2.7 billion in promised investments and the signing of an agreement for $434 million assistance from the Millennium Challenge Corporation of the US federal government.
Philippine-based business leaders, a veritable Who’s Who in business, accompanied the President in his US trip, explaining their trust and confidence in the nation’s new leader. Presumably, they also share his optimism for growth and progress ahead for the country. This probably explains the high rating of 80 to 90 percent by businessmen on the performance of the President during his first 100 days in office.
There are many sectors, however, who see otherwise, thus their poor rating for President Aquino. The transport sector, for one, gave him a failing grade for his failure to put control on the costs of gas and petroleum products, among others. Others said his action or inaction during hostage crisis at the Luneta on August 23 showed him as a weak leader.
Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz, who has been in the news for his expose on jueteng and illegal gambling, including those who are in it and are in the take, gave the President a measly grade of “C,” or 75 percent. But he expressed the hope that the President would somehow manage to improve and continue learning his job for the next six years.
Cruz had earlier said that he was at first hopeful that Mr. Aquino had what it took to be a successful President, “…but after some time, his performance proved to be rather weak.” For one, Cruz said that while Mr. Aquino easily got rid of sirens and blinkers among private vehicles as well as traffic counterflows, he failed miserably in stopping jueteng, adding that some of his officials are even linked as taking payoffs from jueteng operators. Cruz also expressed disappointment over the Truth Commission and the splitting of job between Secretary Jesse Robredo and Undersecretary Rico Puno in the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Among Congress leaders, Sen. Francis Escudero gave high marks for the President. Sens. Vicente Sotto III and Loren Legarda gave a passing mark to their former colleague in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez believes the administration posted an above-average performance during its first 100 days in office.
Whatever would be his final rating during his first 100 days in office, President Aquino said he will remain focused on moving the country forward regardless of performance ratings his administration will get.
It may well be timely to take the advice of Senator Loren Legarda who stressed that it is premature to judge President Aquino’s leadership in just 100 days. The lady senator, at the same time, called on the Filipino people to continue their support to achieve total change in governance. ”There are so many challenges that the administration is facing right now and we want to help because the success of President Aquino is the success of the people. We don’t want to judge because it’s too early to do it. There are a lot of problems which need solution,” Legarda said.
Which ever of the spectrum you believe in – cheers or jeers – clearly the President should be given a chance to prove himself. After all, he still has more than five years in office.