NericAcosta2010.com

Neric Acosta is an experienced legislator, an educator, an ardent advocate of the environment, and an international scholar.

Currently the Vice President for Mindanao of the Liberal Party of the Philippines and Secretary General of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, Neric was formerly the Secretary General of the Liberal Party and served as representative of Bukidnon province in Northern Mindanao to the House of Representatives

His major legislation included bills on clean water, solid waste management and biodiversity protection. Neric was also the principal author of the groundbreaking Clean Air Act, a model of environmental legislation in Asia.

He has served as the House of Representative’s Chairman of the Committee on Ecology and Vice-Chairman of the Committees on Science and Technology, Human Rights, and Foreign Relations. He has represented the Philippines in numerous international forums, including the United Nations Special Assembly on HIV/AIDS and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, where he served as the Deputy Secretary General. for three consecutive terms (1998-2007).

Neric’s passion for education has earned for him various scholarships. After completing his BA in Political Science from the University of the Philippines, Neric went on to complete an MA in Public Affairs (International Relations and Political Studies concentration) from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Hawaii as an East West Center Scholar. He has attended the special programs Leaders in Development (1999) and Environmental Economics (2002) at the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. In 2004, Neric was named the first Filipino World Fellow of Yale University.

“Nakakalungkot at nakakahiyang isipin na mismong ang gobyerno ni Arroyo ang sumusuko at nawawalan na ng tiwala sa kakayahan ng mga Pilipino na manindigan laban sa korupsyon,”  Liberal Party senatorial candidate Neric Acosta reacts to the statement of deputy presidential spokesperson of Malacanang, Gary Olivar, that “…corruption is an old, old problem.  It is one of culture, di lang institution, pati kultura natin sa pulitika at civic life.”

Malacanang points to the Filipino culture and the election-season mudslinging as the primary reasons for the Philippines’ being named as the fourth most corrupt country in Asia. Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) conducted the survey.

Change in Perspective

“Kailangan nating palitan ang ating pananaw sa kakayahan ng mga Pilipino. Hindi dahil laganap ang korupsyon sa ating lipunan at sistema, katulad ng pananaw ng Malacanang, hahayaan na lang ba natin at magsasawalang kibo ba tayo?  Huwag tayong magbulag-bulagan at gawing dahilan ang kultura sa paglaganap ng korupsyon.  Sa halip, dapat magsilbing ehemplo at magsilbing instrumento ang pamahalaan sa pagsugpo ng korupsyon sa ating lipunan,” ang sabi ni Acosta.  Corruption is not a hopeless case as presented by Malacanang because in the beginning, the Arroyo leadership is the problem!  In the Arroyo government, corruption has reached record-highs.  

Lingering illness

Acosta asserts that almost all the socio-economic problems haunting our country now points to the prevailing problem of massive corruption.  “Ang mga pondong dapat nakalaan sa mga batang gustong makapasok, makapag-aral at makapagtapos ay sadyang ibinubulsa at winawaldas ng mga taong nasa katungkulan.  Kung walang corrupt, walang maghihirap!”

Acosta expressed dismay over the massive corruption in the country and the danger it poses to the minds of the youth if the next government does not address head-on this “lingering illness.”

Exemplary and Principled Leadership

“Matagal nang naghahanap ang mga Pilipino ng mahusay at mapagkakatiwalaang pinuno. Likas sa bawat Pilipino ang kabutihang loob at pagiging marangal.  What our country really needs now is an exemplary and principled leader. And I put emphasis on the word principled, “ Acosta said with strong conviction.