UNANG 100 ARAW: LAMPAS SA KONTRA-KORAPSYON, MGA TUNAY NA HAKBANG TUNGO SA REPORMA

Lampas sa kampanyang kontra-korapsyon o ‘matagumpay’ na eleksyon at mapayapang transisyon mula sa administrasyong Arroyo, ang tunay na pagsubok sa demokrasya sa bansa ay nakasalalay sa pagkilala sa mga tunay na problema at tamang kulumpon ng mga pamamaraan para bigyang-solusyon ang mga ito.

Euphoria gripped the country over the supposed success of the first ever automated national elections mainly due to the extraordinary speed of electronically transmitted poll results from the precincts. This positive development brought about by automation must indeed be recognized. However, welcome as it is, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the fierce advocates of automated polls must not overemphasize the contribution that speedy transmission makes in making elections in the country a truly democratic exercise.

The country is at the dawn of a new administration and the most natural feeling for many is optimism. This optimism for change is a nation’s response to nine years of economic and political disarray under the Arroyo administration, and indeed from worsening poverty and backwardness.

Yet even more welcome than the sense of hopefulness would be laying the basis for real change to happen. The challenges that the looming Aquino administration faces are gigantic but can be addressed if only it has the readiness to act. Its initiatives in the first 100 days are crucial in setting directions for the country.

Read full article.

Reform-oriented group Pagbabago People's Movement for Change today  joined the growing  clamor for an independent audit of the recently held and first-ever automated national elections as reports of possible errors and even fraud  due to the rushed, ill-tested, incompletely certified and therefore anomalous automation system and disorderly conditions in last Monday’s polls

With the presidential elections now over save for the official proclamation of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, we ask what is perhaps the same question in the mind of most Filipinos today: what can our forlorn people expect from an Aquino presidency?
 
The first 100 days of the Aquino administration will be crucial. This period will reveal and set the tone on the priorities of the new government as well as demonstrate the intent, if not ability, of Aquino to address the injustices that our people have long been suffering.